Pharmaceutical advertising can empower patients
Autumn is flu season and that means it is high season for pharmacies selling over-the-counter cold and flu remedies. Those who aren’t reminded by their own running noses, are sure to be alerted to these types of pharmaceutical drugs by advertisements and posters. A team…
Many Pregnant Women Search the Internet for Medication Safety Information
A new study reveals that due to a lack of specific recommendations for medication use during pregnancy, many pregnant women search the Internet for information.
Quitting statins after stroke may raise risk of another stroke
Stroke patients who stopped taking statin drugs three to six months after a first ischemic stroke, the type caused by narrowed arteries, had a higher risk of a having another stroke within a year, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association,…
Long-term daily aspirin use linked to higher than expected risk of bleeding in adults aged 75 or over
Authors conclude that proton-pump inhibitors should be co-prescribed in this age group to reduce the risk of bleeds.
Certain Cardiovascular Medications May Increase Risk of Falling
A new analysis suggests that among older adults who take cardiovascular medications, those using non-selective beta-blockers may be at an increased of falling compared with those using selective beta-blockers. These types of drugs are already known to differ by their receptor binding properties and their…
Standardised Assessment Evaluates Medical Students’ Competence at Prescribing Medications
A new study describes a standardised assessment that ensures that students who graduate from UK medical schools have achieved a minimum standard of knowledge and skill related to prescribing medications. Following the introduction of the Prescribing Safety Assessment, as described in a new article published…
Diabetes treatment: how practical is personalised drug therapy?
The way type-2 diabetes is currently treated generates differences of opinion within the medical community. Whilst some favour a drug combination approach that could improve quality of life for patients and reduce costs, others are concerned about the risks and side effects of this strategy…
Delayed Use of anticoagulants for Atrial Fibrillation Patients Increases Their Risk of Dementia
New, first-of-its-kind, large-scale study includes more than 76,000 heart patients.A new study has found that dementia rates increase when anticoagulation treatment is delayed for patients with atrial fibrillation.
Long-Term Use of Aspirin Doesn’t Lower Risk of Stroke in Some Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
A new study by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City found that using long-term aspirin therapy to prevent strokes among patients who are considered to be at low risk for stroke may not be effective as previously thought.The study…
Heart failure patients readmitted to the same hospital may have better outcomes
Heart failure patients readmitted to the same facility spend fewer days in the hospital and are more likely to survive. Time is important when seeking hospital care for acute events like heart attack or stroke, but for treatment of a chronic condition like heart failure,…
Statins: no increase in muscle-related side effects in patients who are unaware they are taking the drug, analysis finds
When patients were unaware they were taking statins there was no reported increase in muscle-related symptoms. But, when patients knew they were taking a statin, they were more likely to report symptoms, a finding consistent with the nocebo effect.
Low-cost drug reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage
Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide, responsible for 100,000 deaths per year, the majority in low and middle income countries. Tranexamic acid – an inexpensive and widely available drug – could reduce maternal deaths among women with severe bleeding after child…