Latest Drug News

• Drugs Advertised on TV Aren't Better Than Existing Options: Study

  Most drugs advertised on television don't work better than existing alternatives, a new analysis shows. And manufacturers spend more on advertising for those less beneficial drugs, compared to ones that work better.

• A Vaccine Against Deadly Fentanyl Might Be Near

  The shot would block the ability of fentanyl to enter the brain and cause the “high” that users crave.

• More U.S. Kids Are Heading to ERs After Drinking Cough Suppressant

  Health officials report an increasing number of young children are showing up in emergency rooms after accidentally ingesting the cough suppressant benzonatate.

• 'Massive Global Failures' in COVID-19 Response, Report Says

  Widespread global failures at multiple levels in the response to COVID-19 led to millions of preventable deaths and reversed progress made towards U.N. goals for sustainable development in many countries, according to a new Lancet COVID-19 Commission report.

• Deadly 'Rainbow Fentanyl' Looks Like Candy, Could Entice Kids

  The bright colors, shapes, and sizes of fentanyl pills and powder are to attract and drive addiction among kids and young adults.

• Black Men Less Likely to Get Monkeypox Vaccine

  New CDC data shows only 10% of the Jynneos vaccine doses have been given to Black people, even though they make up a third of U.S. cases.

• New MS Treatment Shows Promise in Trial

  The drug ublituximab beat a standard oral medication for MS in reducing patients' relapses and proved better at preventing areas of inflammatory damage in the brain.

• America's Love Affair With Sleeping Pills May Be Waning

  Researchers found use of sleep aids dropped 31% between 2013 and 2018.

• LSD Is Making a Comeback Among Young Americans

  New research estimates that the use of LSD rose from less than 1% in 2002 to 4% in 2019 among people aged 18 to 25.

• Countries With Universal Health Care Had Better Child Vaccination Rates During Pandemic

  A new study reveals countries that are closer to achieving universal health coverage saw smaller declines in routine childhood vaccinations during the pandemic.

• How New Federal Legislation Might Cut Your Drug Costs

  Under the law, Medicare will now be allowed to negotiate the cost of some drugs which should reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

• U.S. Opioid Prescriptions Are Declining

  A new study found the downward trend in prescribing opioids also applied to cancer patients and people with other chronic pain.

• Vaccinations Cut U.S. COVID Deaths by 58%: Study

  A new study says the U.S. COVID vaccination program saved hundreds of thousands of lives during the first two waves of the pandemic, slashing the coronavirus' expected death rate by as much as 58%.

• FDA Panel to Weigh Improved Booster Shots From Moderna, Pfizer

  Because the virus mutates so quickly, the FDA may approve the new vaccine formulations as COVID cases are expected to surge again this winter.

• FDA Authorizes COVID Vaccines in Kids as Young as 6 Months

  The emergency use authorization means parents could start vaccinating young children as early as next week, pending CDC approval.

• For Survivors, School Shootings a Lasting and Mean Companion

  For children who survive mass shootings, the outcome over the next few days, months and years depends on many factors, but how parents address the trauma both immediately and long-term can make a huge difference, experts say.

• Upadacitinib Earns FDA Approval for Ankylosing Spondylitis

  The FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq) as an oral treatment for active ankylosing spondylitis in adults.

• CDC Reports Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in Florida

  The CDC has issued a health warning about an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida, primarily among gay and bisexual men, including those living with HIV.

• Florida to Get $870M From CVS, Drug Companies in Opioid Case

  The money must be spent on tackling the opioid crisis in the state, including prevention efforts, treatment, or recovery services.

• Obama Tests Positive for COVID-19

  In a Twitter message Sunday afternoon, the 44th president said, he has had a “scratchy throat” for several days “but am feeling fine otherwise. "

• CDC Preparing to Update Mask Guidance

  The CDC will soon update its COVID-19 guidance -- including masking recommendations -- as cases continue to drop, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, said Wednesday.

• Not Your Parents' Pot: Teen Cannabis Use Raises Red Flags

  Not Your Parents' Pot: Teen Cannabis Use Raises Red Flags Jan. 24, 2022 -- Marijuana. Mary Jane. Weed. Pot. Skunk. Shake, shatter, and pre-rolls. No matter what you call it, thanks to expanded medical and recreational availability of cannabis in the United States, a growing number of adolescents are using the drug — with potentially dangerous and mostly unintended consequences. And both parents and practitioners are being caught off guard.Deborah, a parent in Boston (who requested that her name be masked to protect her family), knows the risks first-hand. Last year, her 19-year-old son landed in the

• CBD and Cannabis Products for Acne, Psoriasis? Buyer Beware

  Many turn to CBD and cannabis products to treat a variety of skin conditions. But researchers warn that the science on their safety and power hasn't kept up with demand.

• Hospitals Are Rationing COVID Pills, Infusions as Cases Rise

  To deal with supply shortages, health care providers are developing algorithms to determine who gets treatment.

• Walmart, Kroger Raise Price of At-Home COVID Test

  Walmart and Kroger raised the price of one of the most popular and least expensive at-home COVID-19 test kits after an agreement with the White House to sell the tests at a lower cost expired.