The Lancet, 03/25/2016 da Costa BR, et al. Researchers sought to investigate the effectiveness of different preparations and doses of non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on osteoarthritis pain in a network meta–analysis. It was determined that diclofenac 150 mg/day is the most effective NSAID for the treatment of pain and function in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods […]
March 23, 2016 New safety warnings also added to all prescription opioid medications to inform prescribers and patients of additional risks related to opioid use FDA News Release Written by Tricia C Elliott MD, FAAFP The new CDC opioid-prescribing guidelines1 along with the recent FDA changes to include box warnings on immediate-release opioids have certainly […]
MARCH 22, 2016 Scientists from the United States and Australia have confirmed there is reduced gray matter volume in several areas of the brains of people who take opioids for more than a few days (Pain Med 2015 Dec 26. [Epub ahead of print]). The researchers randomly assigned 11 people with low back pain to […]
03.15.2016 Urges physicians not to use opioids first-line for chronic pain by Kristina Fiore Associate Editor, MedPage Today The CDC has released its final guidance on opioid prescribing, urging clinicians not to use the painkillers as first-line therapy for chronic pain and suggesting limits on dose and duration when they do have to be prescribed. […]
March 16, 2016 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in diabetic patients treated with metformin was evaluated in the secondary analysis of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)/Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Both short-term and long-term metformin use were associated with combined low and borderline-low B12 […]
03.15.2016 Explain risk and discuss nonhormonal contraception by Kay Jackson Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Women who are overweight or obese and using oral contraceptives had a significantly increased risk of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) compared with women of normal weight not taking oral contraceptives, an unmatched case-control study showed. Overweight and obesity were associated with […]
March 08, 2016 JAMA : The Journal of the American Medical Association TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The authors of this clinical evidence synopsis reviewed the efficacy of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute musculoskeletal pain caused by sprains, strains, and overuse. Good pain relief was reported, particularly with gel formations and some patches without an increase […]
03.05.2016 Need for surgery high if steroid injections repeated within 6 months by Nancy Walsh Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today ORLANDO — Patients with the hand ailment stenosing tenosynovitis — “trigger finger” — who need more than one corticosteroid injection within 6 months are likely to need early surgery and to develop the condition in […]
Nancy A. Melville March 04, 2016 Antibiotic toxicity can represent an unrecognized cause of delirium in hospital patients, with manifestations observed in three distinct phenotypes, new research shows. “While toxicity from antibiotics has certainly been reported in the past, this is the largest analysis of the spectrum of toxicity from antibiotics,” lead author Shamik Bhattacharyya, […]
02.15.2016 German claims data show association; stronger in men than women by Kristina Fiore Associate Editor, MedPage Today Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were associated with an increased risk of dementia, and the relationship was stronger in men than women, according to a study of German medical claims data. In an assessment of data from the […]
February 10, 2016 JAMA internal medicine TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study were used to evaluate the relationship between cumulative lifetime marijuana use and cognitive function in middle age. Current use of marijuana increased the risk of deficits in verbal memory and processing speed. After adjusting for confounding […]
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Feb;22:59-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.11.006. Epub 2015 Dec 8. Draper B, Rigoni N. Abstract PURPOSE: The concurrent use of CAM therapies with traditional allopathic medical practice is increasing. This study investigates the concurrent use of prescription medication in patients attending a chiropractic student teaching clinic for the first time. The need for […]
Tuesday, 26 January 2016 By Jean Verrier Contributing Writer People who take Benadryl every night to sleep should probably think seriously about an alternative….if they can remember to do so. In a recent report published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found convincing evidence that frequent and long-term use of anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl increases the risk of dementia. […]
Laird Harrison January 20, 2016 Vomiting, behavior changes, and sleep disturbances each affect about one child in 20 taking a short course of oral corticosteroids, a new study shows. Moreover, almost one in 100 gets an infection while receiving the commonly prescribed medications, researchers say. “We should perhaps alert families of children taking short-course corticosteroids […]
01.18.2016 ACP, CDC remind doctors to be cautious about antibiotic prescribing by Kristina Fiore Staff Writer, MedPage Today Two doctor groups are reminding physicians to use antibiotics sparingly this cold and flu season. The American College of Physicians and the CDC urged doctors not to dole out antibiotics for colds, sore throats, bronchitis, and sinus […]
Popul Health Metr. 2016 Jan 15;14:2. doi: 10.1186/s12963-016-0071-7. eCollection 2016. Ruhm CJ. Abstract BACKGROUND: Drug poisoning mortality in the US has risen rapidly but the drugs involved are frequently unspecified on death certificates. METHODS: Reported and adjusted proportions of specific drug types involved in fatal drug poisonings were calculated using vital statistics mortality data from […]