Posted today in Medical

Don't Let the Tick Stick

As tick populations and the threats they pose increase across the United States, people need to know how to deal with them, a skin doctor suggests. Ticks can cause serious illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy). "Although most ticks do not carry disease, it's important...

Posted 3 days ago in New Drug Approvals

FDA Approves Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for Previously Treated Patients with Recurrent Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Whose Tumors Express PD-L1

(BUSINESS WIRE) September 22, 2017 --Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy, for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic...

Posted 3 days ago in FDA Alerts

Ocaliva (obeticholic acid): Drug Safety Communication - Increased Risk of Serious Liver Injury

ISSUE: FDA is warning that the liver disease medicine Ocaliva (obeticholic acid) is being incorrectly dosed in some patients with moderate to severe decreases in liver function, resulting in an increased risk of serious liver injury and death. These patients are receiving excessive dosing, particularly a higher frequency of dosing than is recommended...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Health Tip: Do You Have Athlete's Foot?

-- Athlete's foot is a fungal skin disease that leads to pain and itch, notably between the toes. The warm, moist and dark environment created by our footwear is an ideal breeding ground for fungus. The germ often lingers on pool decks and in public showers. The American Podiatric Medical Association says athlete's foot symptoms may include: Itching...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Yoga May Bring Better Sleep to Breast Cancer Patients

A certain type of yoga may provide lasting benefits for breast cancer patients who have trouble sleeping, researchers report. The study included 227 women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer who were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group practiced Tibetan yoga at least twice a week, another group did a simple stretching program,...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Health Tip: Identifying Chicken Pox

-- While chicken pox is not as common as it used to be, youngsters and unvaccinated adults are still at risk. The highly contagious disease is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the first dose of the chicken pox vaccine be given at 12-15 months of age, and a second dose at 4-6 years of age. The...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Survey: 9 of 10 Americans Take Cancer Prevention Steps

About 95 percent of Americans take some action to prevent cancer, according to a new survey. Three-quarters of respondents said they don't smoke; 74 percent limit their alcohol consumption; 72 percent stick to a healthy diet; and 90 percent are aware of their family's cancer history, the survey found. Women are far more likely than men to take all...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

When It Comes to Exercise, Quality Trumps Quantity

You've probably heard that you need to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. But a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that a mix of different types of exercise brings better results than simply adding more quantity. That's important if you spend hours at the gym, but focus solely on strength training or...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Even a Little More Activity Could Save Millions of Lives

Just a half-hour of physical activity a day could prevent millions of early deaths and cases of heart disease worldwide, a new study says. "Meeting physical activity guidelines by walking for as little as 30 minutes most days of the week has a substantial benefit, and higher physical activity is associated with even lower risks," said study lead author...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Coming Soon: Glaucoma Self-Care, From Home?

For many glaucoma patients, repeat trips to a doctor's office to check on their eyes can be a real pain. But new research supports the usefulness of a device that allows glaucoma patients to measure their own eye pressure -- in the comfort of their own home. Researchers found that among 100 glaucoma patients, most were able to successfully use the...

Recently added consumer and prescribing information: Aliqopa, benznidazole, Kymriah, Duzallo, Mavyret, Idhifa, Vosevi, Nerlynx, Tremfya, Bevyxxa

Posted in Blog

Drugs.com Recognized as ‘Health Information Website Brand of the Year’ in 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study

The team at Drugs.com is humbled and heartened to have been recognized as the ‘Health Information Website Brand of the Year‘ in the 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. The annual Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study measures and compares a brand’s health over time and against key competitors. Other categories measured include travel, financial, automotive and entertainment. […]

Posted in Blog

REMS@FDA: An Upgraded Patient Safety Program

REMS Overview Fact: Prescription drugs are complicated, and they are getting more complicated every day. Issues with complex drugs and side effects is not just a concern for the healthcare provider, it directly impacts the patient and caregiver, too. We’ve all heard the long list of adverse effects and warnings that unfold during a primetime […]

Posted in Blog

Drugs.com the First Major Consumer Health Publisher to Implement Full HTTPS Encryption

Drugs.com is pleased to announce the introduction of full HTTPS encryption for all web site visitors. With this significant and important change, nearly 70 million monthly visitors will have access to critical health and medicine information in a safe, secure and private environment. Why HTTPS Encryption? Almost everything you do on the Internet leaves a digital […]