Wikipedia often omits important drug information: study
Consumers who rely on the user-edited Web resource Wikipedia for information on medications are putting themselves at risk of potentially harmful drug interactions and adverse effects, new research shows. Dr. Kevin A. Clauson of Nova Southeastern University in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and his colleagues found few factual errors in their evaluation of Wikipedia entries on 80 drugs. But these entries... Read more
5 million in U.S. go to alcohol, drug self-help groups
About 5 million Americans attend meetings of self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous for alcohol and drug abusers, and nearly half of them reported remaining clean, a federal study released on Monday showed. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration examined the popularity of meetings like those run in many communities by AA and Narcotics Anonymous. In these kinds of meetings,... Read more
Iressa as Good as Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer
The cancer-fighting pill Iressa works as well as chemotherapy as a second-line treatment for lung cancer, researchers report. Although neither therapy prolongs survival beyond eight months, Iressa (gefitinib) causes fewer serious side effects and may be a better choice for patients who did not do well on their first round of chemotherapy. “A pill, with less side effects, taken once a day, has... Read more
Colorectal Cancer Treatment Costs Vary Widely
The cost of treating colorectal cancer can vary by tens of thousands of dollars per patient. To reach that conclusion, researchers compared the eight most commonly prescribed therapeutic regimens used to treat more than 400 patients at 115 ambulatory care centers across the United States. The regimens, which included supportive agents often required to ease treatment-related side effects such as nausea,... Read more
Insurers make pitch for health coverage mandate
The health insurance industry said Wednesday it will support a national health care overhaul that requires them to accept all customers, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions, but in return it wants lawmakers to mandate that everyone buy coverage. Lawmakers have signaled their intent to craft health care legislation early next year, and the insurance industry’s support would make passage... Read more
Enrollment for Medicare Drug Plans Begins Again
With the enrollment period for Medicare’s Part D prescription drug coverage program for 2009 kicking off Nov. 15, experts are advising seniors to choose a plan carefully because premiums and covered medications can vary from plan to plan. “As we enter the fourth year of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, we continue to see high satisfaction rates among beneficiaries and high... Read more
Calcium, Vitamin D Won’t Prevent Breast Cancer
Although calcium and vitamin D may keep your bones strong, these vital nutrients don’t appear to help postmenopausal women lower their risk of breast cancer. “The message is that there’s benefit from calcium and vitamin D for fracture risk, but taking those supplements won’t be doing much for breast cancer risk. You wouldn’t expect that you’re doing it to improve... Read more