Posted 3 days ago in FDA Alerts

Opioid Addiction Medications in Patients Taking Benzodiazepines or CNS Depressants: Drug Safety Communication - Careful Medication Management Can Reduce Risks

ISSUE: Based on additional review, FDA is advising that the opioid addiction medications buprenorphine and methadone should not be withheld from patients taking benzodiazepines or other drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS). The combined use of these drugs increases the risk of serious side effects; however, the harm caused by untreated...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Chlorine plus Pee equals Breathing Trouble for Waterpark Workers

Another summer ends, and at least some of America's waterpark attendants may be breathing easier, a new report finds. The research -- conducted at an unnamed indoor waterpark in Ohio last year -- found that high levels of chlorine in water can mix with patrons' sweat and urine to create a toxic atmospheric brew. In fact, the investigation "found that...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Frequent Blood Donations Safe for Some, But Not All

Some people may safely donate blood as often as every eight weeks -- but that may not be a healthy choice for all, a new study suggests. The study was done in the United Kingdom, where experts recommend that blood donors wait 12 to 16 weeks before giving again. That's in contrast to the United States, where blood donations are already allowed at eight-week...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Premature Births Cost Health Plans Billions

Premature births cost U.S. employer-sponsored health plans billions of dollars a year, a new study claims. About 1 in 10 infants in the country are born prematurely (less than 37 weeks gestation), putting them at increased risk for birth defects and long-term health problems. Employer-sponsored health plans spent at least $6 billion extra on premature...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

When Adults Show Determination, Babies Copy

Grit and determination are not necessarily ingrained. Rather, they're qualities learned from a very young age, a new lab experiment demonstrates. Children as young as 15 months old learn tenacity from watching their parents, and will try harder after watching an adult struggle to succeed at a task, said lead researcher Julia Leonard. Toddlers in her...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Addictive Opioids Common for People on Dialysis

Kidney dialysis patients in the United States have high rates of prescriptions for opioid painkillers and many also receive high doses of the potentially addictive drugs, a new study finds. Pain is common in dialysis patients, the study authors explained in a news release from the American Society of Nephrology. But these patients can't take certain...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Dirty Air Might Harm Your Kidneys

Air pollution may harm your kidneys, a new study says. "Even levels below the limit set by the [Environmental Protection Agency] were harmful to the kidneys. This suggests that there is no safe level of air pollution," said study leader Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly. Al-Aly is director of clinical epidemiology at the VA Saint Louis Health Care System. He and...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Lady Gaga's Fibromyalgia Puts Illness in the Spotlight

Earlier this month, superstar Lady Gaga took to social media to announce that she has long struggled with fibromyalgia. The news has put the painful and poorly understood illness center stage. Just this week, the singer announced on Twitter that she's postponing the European leg of her 2017 "Joanne" concert tour due to what she described as fibromyalgia-related...

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,...

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 […]