Posted today in Medical

Scare Up Some Halloween Safety

There's no trick to staying safe on Halloween, safety experts say. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers. It's best if children wear light-colored costumes and face paint or make-up instead of potentially vision-obstructing masks, according to SafeKids Worldwide. Costumes should be the proper size to prevent trips and falls. Children...

Posted 3 days ago in New Drug Approvals

FDA Approves Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) for Use in Children with Cystic Fibrosis Ages 6 through 11 who have Two Copies of the F508del Mutation

(BUSINESS WIRE) September 28, 2016 -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) for use in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages 6 through 11 who have two copies of the F508del mutation. People with this mutation represent the largest...

Posted 2 days ago in Pharma Industry News

Monthly News Roundup - September 2016

Amjevita, a Biosimilar to Humira, Wins FDA Approval Amgen’s Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) is the first adalimumab (Humira) biosimilar approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is used for the treatment of seven inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and plaque psoriasis. Amjevita is an anti-TNF-α monoclonal...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

2nd Antibiotic Halves C-Section Infection Rate: Study

Doctors routinely give an antibiotic before a cesarean-section, the surgical delivery of a baby, to prevent infection in the mother. But, a new study suggests that adding a second antibiotic can cut the risk of infection even more. The researchers found that adding azithromycin to standard antibiotic therapy cut infection rates by 50 percent. "A simple...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Health Tip: Health Risks of Childhood Obesity

-- Obesity among children can lead to numerous health problems now and for many years to come. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says obese children are at greater risk of developing: High blood pressure and high cholesterol. Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose. Asthma, sleep apnea and other breathing...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Acne's Silver Lining: Slower Aging of the Skin?

There's some potentially good news for people with a history of acne -- their skin may age more slowly than those who didn't have to suffer mottled skin through adolescence. That's the suggestion of a British study that included just over 1,200 twins. One-quarter of them struggled with acne at some point in their life. "For many years, dermatologists...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Health Tip: Why Can't I Stop Sweating?

-- Everyone sweats, but sweating profusely may be a sign of hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating. The American Academy of Dermatology mentions these risk factors: Having another member of the family who sweats heavily. Having a medical condition such as gout, a tumor or diabetes. Taking certain medications or supplements. Undergoing...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

HPV Vaccine More Effective Than Thought: Study

The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which doctors believe causes most cases of cervical cancer, appears even more effective than believed, a new study finds. "After eight years of vaccination, the reduction in the incidence of cervical neoplasia [abnormal growth of cells], including pre-cancers, have been reduced approximately...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

High Blood Pressure Might Affect Some Kids' Thinking Ability

High blood pressure may affect the brains of some children and teens, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed the cognitive (thinking) abilities of 150 youngsters. The kids were between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Half of the kids were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure, while the other half had normal blood pressure. The researchers compared...

Posted 2 days ago in Medical

Exercise May Not Lower Women's Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Regular workouts may cut a woman's chances for heart disease and certain cancers, but new research suggests they won't lower the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). The new study "did not provide evidence to support" the notion that exercise lowers MS risk, said study author Kassandra Munger, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. For the...

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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 […]

Posted in Blog

Off-Label or Off-Limits? Should You Use A Drug For An Unapproved Use?

Off-Label Drug Use: What Is It? You may be surprised to learn that you have probably been prescribed a medication “off-label” at one point or another by your doctor. Maybe you’ve heard of “off-label” drug use in the news, but what does this really mean? “Off-label” use of a drug refers to prescribing a medication […]