Prescription Drugs

We might all feel a lot better if we saw a view like this, from the North Shore of Oahu, every day.

Live In Hawaii, And Odds Are You'll Need Fewer Prescription Meds

3:05pm August 31, 2017

People who live in the Aloha State are less likely to use opioid painkillers or be prescribed antibiotics than are mainland dwellers. Healthy lifestyles have a lot to do with that.

People walk down a flooded street as they evacuate their homes in Houston, Texas, on Monday.

Stay Safe And Get A Tetanus Shot, Texas Health Officials Urge

4:51pm August 28, 2017

by Andrea Hsu

Texas public health officials are looking ahead to meeting health needs in the days and weeks ahead, including getting prescriptions to people displaced to shelters.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals, based in Bridgewater Township, N.J., bought two specialty heart drugs used in emergency treatment from Marathon Pharmaceuticals in 2015, and then dramatically increased each drug's price.

47 Hospitals Slashed Their Use Of Two Key Heart Drugs After Huge Price Hikes

7:44pm August 09, 2017

by Sarah Jane Tribble

These two older drugs, nitroprusside and isoproterenol, are frequently used in emergency and intensive care situations and have no direct alternatives, say cardiologists.

One of the secondary symptoms Greg deals with is paranoia, even when he knows his is not a rational fear.

More Than Memory: Coping With The Other Ills Of Alzheimer's

8:01am June 24, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Many people with Alzheimer's suffer medical and mental health issues that have nothing to do with memory loss, including slow healing, incontinence, paranoia and depression.

Juanita Milton, who suffers from COPD, uses her nebulizer with albuterol sulfate at her home in Live Oak, Texas.

Many COPD Patients Struggle To Pay For Each Breath

10:57pm June 02, 2017

by Sarah Jane Tribble

One in 9 Medicare enrollees have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many of them can't afford the inhalers that keep them out of the emergency room.

Queue Listen Now

Adult ADHD can be difficult to diagnose.

Adult ADHD Can't Be Diagnosed With A Simple Screening Test, Doctors Warn

9:12am May 29, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Despite support from the World Health Organization for the latest adult ADHD screening survey, some researchers worry that it will lead to over-prescribing of powerful amphetamines.

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The anti-inflammatory drug Bextra was taken off the market because it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke.

One-Third Of New Drugs Had Safety Problems After FDA Approval

9:16pm May 09, 2017

by Sydney Lupkin

More than 70 drugs approved by the FDA from 2001 to 2010 ran into safety concerns that prompted withdrawals from the market, "black box" warnings or other actions.

Pharmaceutical companies send "detailers" to hospitals to persuade doctors to prescribe their medications.

Doctors Prescribe More Generics When Drug Reps Are Kept At Bay

2:53pm May 02, 2017

by Charles Ornstein

Doctors were more likely to choose generic drugs over pricier brand names when teaching hospitals limited access by pharmaceutical sales representatives, a study finds.

Those ubiquitous drug ads are selling cures to ills we'll probably never have.

Those TV Drug Ads Distract Us From The Medical Care We Need

5:00am April 29, 2017

by John Henning Schumann

Doctors spend lots of time answering questions about the latest drug ad, and that means less time answering questions that could really help your health, a primary care physician says.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., listens as Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., speaks to members of the media Wednesday outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington following their meeting with President Trump.

Trump, Democrats Look For Common Ground On Drug Prices

10:32pm March 08, 2017

by Sarah Jane Tribble

Two congressmen met with President Trump seeking support for a bill to expand the government's ability to negotiate drug prices. But it's not clear it would have much impact or will gain support.