Headaches, back pain, joint and muscle stiffness are just a few of the reasons people pop over-the-counter painkillers in search of relief. However, industry professionals and physicians continually raise questions about the safety of these drugs since the Food and…
In this article, I’ll address what to know when taking supplements along with prescription drugs. Then I’ll look at how to safely get off prescription drugs (when possible) and their safer alternatives. Taking supplements and prescription drugs together Over the…
Imagine lying in your hospital bed, surrounded by advanced medical equipment and some of the sharpest medical minds available. You would think that you are in a safe environment, able to receive immediate and critical care should any health emergency…
More than 9 million Americans unknowingly increase their risk of cancer daily by using smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco and snuff. These products contain a potent carcinogenic compound called (S)-NNN, which falls under the category of compounds called nitrosamines.…
In 2008, a study conducted by Medco Health Solutions found that over 51 percent of Americans were taking at least one prescription drug for a chronic condition. The same study showed that three out of four people aged 65 and…
The federal government’s Open Payments database, which discloses drug and device industry payments to doctors, has been reported to be missing more than $1 billion in payments made between August and December 2013. The database was created to promote transparency…
Living a life free from pain and poor health is a universal desire, driving many of us to seek relief from pharmaceutical drugs. However, there are many dangers related to prescription drugs that aren’t well-known or fully understood. Too often,…
Did you know that if you’re being treated for a serious illness, but are part of a randomized test of a new drug, you might only have a 50-50 chance of receiving real medication? This is because in many medical…
Expectant mothers who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression during their pregnancy may be putting their children at risk for brain malformations. SSRIs are a common class of antidepressants including familiar brands such as Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft,…
An obscure injectable medication called H.P. Acthar Gel, made from pigs’ pituitary glands, has surged up the list of drugs that cost Medicare the most money, taking a growing bite out of the program’s resources. The drug, which has been…
In the name of patient privacy, a security guard at a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, threatened a mother with jail for trying to take a photograph of her own son. In the name of patient privacy, a Daytona Beach, Florida,…
The federal government has recently implemented a new system allowing physicians to check the payments attributed to them by drug and device makers. This information will be made public later this year under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which is…