Nausea Drug Shows Promise Against Opioid Addiction

A drug currently used to treat nausea can prevent symptoms of withdrawal from illegal and prescription opioid drugs such as heroin, morphine and codeine, a new study shows. The Stanford University scientists behind the research added it can do so without some of the serious side effects caused by existing treatments for addiction to these drugs. Initial tests in mice showed that the drug ondansetron... Read more

Menopause drug linked to breast cancer relapse: study

A synthetic steroid used to treat menopause symptoms and prevent osteoporosis significantly increases the risk of a relapse in breast cancer patients, according to a study released Tuesday. The steroid, called tibolone, should not be prescribed to a woman who has had or is suspected of having breast cancer, concluded the study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet Oncology. Women with... Read more

Medical pot backers say L.A. raids betray Obama vow

Several recent federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries in California have betrayed President Barack Obama’s campaign pledge to halt such busts if elected, medicinal cannabis advocates said on Wednesday. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents served search warrants on four medical marijuana vendors in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, seizing more than 200 kg (440 pounds) of cannabis,... Read more

Hallucinations Are Rare Side Effects of ADHD Medications

Children who take medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may rarely experience some disturbing side effects, such as hallucinations. U.S. government experts reviewed clinical trials and post-marketing reports of side effects from the commonly prescribed ADHD stimulant medications, such as Concerta, Ritalin and Strattera. They found that out of every 100 “person-years”... Read more

Vets Often Forgo Medication When Co-Pays Rise

When the co-payment amount for prescription drugs goes up, veterans tend to stop taking needed medications, a new study has found. Reporting in the Jan 27. issue of the journal Circulation, University of Pennsylvania researchers found that adherence to medication dropped more than 19 percent among veterans who had to make co-payments when that amount was increased in 2002. By comparison, medication... Read more

Drug from genetically engineered goats a first

You’ve heard of making cheese from goats’ milk, but prescription drugs? In what would be a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats moved closer to government approval Wednesday after experts at the Food and Drug Administration reported that the medication works and its safety is acceptable. Called ATryn, the drug is intended to help people... Read more

Diet pills from Brazil pose health risks: report

A new report highlights the potentially serious health risks of using imported Brazilian-made prescription diet pills that combine amphetamines and other prescription medicines, such as anti-anxiety agents and antidepressants. Banned amphetamine-based weight loss pills are easily available via the Internet and are being illicitly imported into the United States, warns the report’s author, Massachusetts-based... Read more

Resolving to Break an Addictive Habit?

No matter the addiction — drugs, gambling, shopping, smoking, alcohol or more — people who want to kick their habit in the new year might find help in a new Harvard University publication. “Overcoming Addiction: Paths toward recovery” offers guidance for breaking unwanted addictive habits. The advice applies universally, because what all addictions have in common, the Harvard... Read more

Older people mixing drugs: study

Potentially dangerous mixing of medications is common among older people and non-prescription drugs are the culprit more than half of the time, a new study has found. US researchers found nearly one out of every 25 people aged 57 to 85 took dangerous combinations of drugs with the potential for serious interactions, the study found. For men ages 75 to 85, it was as high as 1 in 10. “The public... Read more

Managing Headaches During Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant and you’ve got a headache, it may not be wise to turn to medication to control your pain. The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions for additional ways to manage a headache while you’re pregnant: Soothe sinus headaches with a warm cloth or compress across your nose and eyes. Manage tension headache pain with a cold wrap around the bottom of your... Read more

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