A study testing drugs that are used for other conditions for their potential in treating COVID-19 has found that the antidepressant fluvoxamine (brand name Luvox) offered no benefit, at least at an initial smaller dose. Study participants took 50 mg of the medication twice daily for 10 days, hoping to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. A… read on > read on >
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Wednesday voted to recommend that a controversial drug meant to prevent premature births be pulled from the market. FDA officials have said they want to withdraw the medication, Makena, because of lack of evidence that it works and due to its side effects. The drug was… read on > read on >
As men and women enter their golden years, those who regularly fail to get a good night’s sleep face a higher risk for developing not one but two serious chronic illnesses at the same time, new research shows. Researchers from France, Finland and United Kingdom tracked the self-reported sleep routines and health status of nearly… read on > read on >
A person doesn’t have to pack on very many extra pounds before their risk of needing a knee replacement increases substantially, a new evidence review has found. Weight gain of just 11 pounds increases a woman’s odds of needing total knee replacement surgery by one-third, and a man’s by one-quarter, researchers reported Tuesday at the… read on > read on >
Dental coverage under Medicare could soon start expanding for seniors under a new proposal from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Still, the proposed rules would not provide full coverage for regular dental care, which has been explicitly excluded from Medicare since the program’s founding in 1965. “Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover routine… read on > read on >
In a three-day hearing that began Monday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will give the maker of a drug meant to prevent premature births a chance to show why its drug should not be pulled off the market. FDA officials have said they want to withdraw the medication, Makena, because of lack… read on > read on >
It’s official: Older Americans with hearing loss can now stroll into a big box store or pharmacy — or just visit a website — and buy hearing aids without a prescription. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved this new class of over-the-counter hearing aids in order to lower prices and improve their availability.… read on > read on >
Abbott Inc. has announced that it is again recalling some of its infant formula products, though the company said this latest recall is small and should not significantly impact nationwide supply. This recall was triggered by the fact that some bottles may have defective caps that could lead to the product spoiling, which could lead… read on > read on >
The COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid has been a game-changer in the global pandemic, shielding high-risk patients from the coronavirus’ most devastating effects. But Paxlovid can itself pose a risk for people taking widely prescribed heart medications to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots or manage irregular heartbeat, a new paper warns. Some heart patients might need to… read on > read on >
People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy may rely on the drug Adderall, but it is in short supply, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The Adderall and Adderall IR shortage is due to intermittent manufacturing delays at Teva, one of the companies that produces the medication. While other companies continue to produce… read on > read on >
