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'Two-Target' Antibiotics Could Make Bacterial Resistance Much Tougher

Synthetic antibiotics that attack bacteria in two directions at once could be the solution for combatting antimicrobial-resistant bugs, a new study claims.

These dual-action antibiotics, called macrolones, disrupt bacterial cell function in two different ways.

It’s nearly impossibl...

Science Reveals 'Magic Mushroom' Chemical's Mind-Altering Effects

“Magic” mushrooms achieve their psychedelic effects by temporarily scrambling a brain network involved in introspective thinking like daydreaming and remembering, a new study reports.

Brain scans of people who took psilocybin -- the psychedelic drug in ‘shrooms -- revealed that the substance causes profound and widespread temporary changes to the brain’s default m...

Americans' Interest in Microdosing Psychedelics Is Growing

A study based on online Google searches suggests surging U.S. interest in microdosing psychedelics, such as psilocybin, as rules around the use of such drugs begin to relax.

But the safety of these drugs isn't entirely clear, said study lead author Dr. Kevin Yang.

"As public interest in using psychedelics and cannabis for health g...

Diets Heavy in Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Earlier Death: Study

People who eat more ultra-processed foods are more likely to suffer an early death, particularly from heart disease or diabetes, a new study warns.

Older adults who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods are about 10% more likely to die than those w...

Many Seniors Are Overmedicated, But ChatGPT Might Prevent That

AI could help doctors cut back on the bewildering variety of medications that seniors frequently are prescribed, a new study suggests.

More than 40% of seniors are prescribed five or more meds, and this increases a person's risk of adverse drug interactions, researchers s...

Seniors, FDA Has 5 Medication Tips to Keep You Safe

When settling into your senior years, you need to be especially careful when taking medicines, herbal remedies and supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

That's because older adults are likely to use more prescription and over-the-counter medications, which increases the risk of harmful side effects and drug interactions, the FDA said in a

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 19, 2024
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    • It's as Safe to Get Your Rx From a Nurse Practitioner as From a Doctor

    Nurse practitioners are just as good as primary care doctors at avoiding potentially harmful prescriptions for older patients -- but both need to do better, a large, new study suggests.

    Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with advanced training in doing many of the same things doctors do, including diagnosing diseases and devising treatment plans. As the United States continue...

    Rite Aid Pharmacy Chain Files for Bankruptcy

    The drugstore chain Rite Aid has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, due largely to competition and thousands of lawsuits for its role in allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.

    The company filed a notice Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission saying it would not be able to file its latest quarterly financial report before filing for bankruptcy on Sunday, CNN<...

    Oregon Decriminalized Possession of Small Amounts of Drugs. Fatal ODs Didn't Skyrocket

    Critics of a law that decriminalized drug possession in Oregon have blamed the policy for rising overdose deaths in the state, but a new study finds no evidence of that.

    Researchers discovered that while drug overdose deaths have risen recently in Oregon, it appears the trend has no relation to a law popularly known as Measure 110.

    Passed by Oregon voters in 2020, the policy decrim...

    'Magic Mushroom' Drug Psilocybin Shows Early Promise in Easing Migraines

    Psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic" mushrooms, is getting renewed interest as a potential treatment for various health conditions. Now, a new research review argues that migraines should be added to that list.

    Psilocybin mushrooms have long been used recreationally as hallucinogens -- meaning they alter users' perceptions of their surroundings. That can lead to euphoria on one en...

    Major Drug Shortages Not Likely After Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant, FDA says

    Tornado damage to a Pfizer drug-making plant in North Carolina is unlikely to trigger drug shortages across the country, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

    "We do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply, given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system," FDA Commissioner

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 24, 2023
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    • Opioid Overdose Survivors Face Higher Odds for Death in Following Year

    Surviving a trip to the emergency room for an opioid overdose dramatically increases a patient's odds of dying in the year after, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.

    Of nearly 287,000 emergency room visits in 2016, more than 8,300 were for opioid overdoses. Of these, nearly 500 patients were dead from a drug overdose in the following year and 400 died from other causes, according to a...

    5-HTP Supplement: What Is It, and Can It Help You?

    The supplement known as 5-HTP is available in both natural and synthetic versions and is used by some people to treat a variety of wellness issues.

    Here's a look at what this supplement is, its safety profile, side effects and drug interactions, and the potential health benefits that 5-HTP has to offer you for a balanced lifestyle.

    What is 5-HTP?

    In your body, 5-hydroxytryptop...

    Less Than a Third of Heavily Advertised Drugs Have 'High Therapeutic Value': Study

    Television ads for drugs are filled with glowing images of people living their best lives, all thanks to that new med they've been prescribed.

    But drugs being touted on TV often have little to no benefit compared to other treatments, a new study published online Jan. 13 in JAMA...

    Who Will Respond Best to Ketamine for Severe Depression? New Study Takes a Look

    Made infamous as the club drug Special K, ketamine is nowadays being seen as a wonder drug for some folks with hard-to-treat depression.

    However, a new study finds that some types of patients are more likely to gain a rapid and significant benefit from ketamine than others.

    Overall, while most patients did benef...

    Cost of Epilepsy Meds Continues to Soar

    Costs for epilepsy medications in the United States are skyrocketing, outpacing inflation and straining federal insurers Medicare and Medicaid, according to new research.

    Spending on antiseizure medications more than doubled in eight years for the government insurers, largely because of third-generation and brand-name drugs, the study found.

    "While it's very important that Medicare ...

    Using an Online Pharmacy to Buy Meds? It's Buyer Beware, FDA Says

    It might be tempting to buy prescription medication online, but buyers should beware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

    While some pharmacy websites operate legally and can offer convenience, privacy and lower costs, others may be selling unapproved, counterfeit and unsafe medications, the

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 18, 2022
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    • Is Mind-Altering Ayahuasca Safe? No, But Folks Who Try It May Not Care

    Ayahuasca, a powerful psychoactive drug derived from a South American plant, is a traditional Amazonian-based medicine and an increasingly popular hallucinogenic brew used by devotees worldwide.

    But what is the ayahuasca experience really like?

    An

  • Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 17, 2022
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    • Colorado Says Yes to Medical Use of 'Magic Mushrooms'

    Colorado voters have voted narrowly to approve the medical use of "magic mushrooms"in Colorado.

    "I'm in awe of what we were able to accomplish,"said Veronica Lightning Horse Perez, a lead proponent for legalizing psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound in mushro...

    Could Psychedelics Help You Kick the Habit?

    Smoking is an incredibly hard habit to break. Anne Levine of Baltimore can attest to that.

    But Levine, 58, is getting help from a potential new tool: psychedelics.

    The four-decade smoker has tried to quit a dozen times. But once she became part of a res...

    Magic Mushroom Hallucinogen May Treat Problem Drinking

    Jon Kostas, a lifelong resident of New York City, started bar-hopping at age 13. At the height of his alcoholism, he was consuming as many as 30 drinks a night.

    Desperate for a way out, Kostas, 32, turned to a new therapy: psilocybin -- the psychedelic compound found in so-cal...

    LSD Is Making a Comeback Among Young Americans

    If you think hallucinogens like LSD are a thing of the past, think again.

    New research estimates that the use of mind-altering LSD rose from less than 1% in 2002 to 4% in 2019 among people aged 18 to 25. And, overall, 5.5 million Americans used some kind of hallucinogen in 2019.

    "According to our results, hallucin...

    Use of Pot, Hallucinogens Soaring Among Young Americans

    Marijuana and hallucinogen use are at an all-time high among young adults, U.S. health officials reported Monday.

    Compared to five or 10 years ago, the use of these drugs over the past year has risen significantly among 19- to 30-year-olds, according to the Monitoring the Future panel study. The new dat...

    Want That Pill to Work Fast? Your Body Position Matters

    If you need to take a pill, you might want to take it lying down -- on your right side, that is.

    Researchers studying how body positioning affects the absorption of pills found that one taken when a person was lying on the right side speeded pills to the deepest part of the stomach. That pill could then dissolve 2.3 times faster than if the person was upright.

    "We were very surprise...

    Here's How New Federal Legislation Might Cut Your Drug Costs

    The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to bring out-of-pocket drug costs down for many U.S. seniors, but most of its benefits aren't immediate.

    Under the law, Medicare will now be allowed to negotiate the cost of some drugs. That should eventually bring down out-of-pocket costs for seniors with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, according to John Clark, a clinical associate profess...

    Methadone ODs Didn't Rise in Pandemic, Supporting Use as At-Home Treatment

    Giving more patients at-home access to the opioid addiction treatment drug methadone during the COVID pandemic did not lead to more overdose deaths, a nationwide study shows.

    The research, which covered the period from January 2019 to August 2021, found that the push to let more patients take home doses rather than visit a clinic daily did not increase harm among users.

    "Treatment ...

    Odds for Emergency Room Visits Rise With Pot Use

    Toking up increases your risk of landing in the hospital, a new study reports.

    Recreational marijuana use was associated with 22% greater odds of needing to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized, Canadian researchers found.

    The study showed physical injuries, lung ailments and ga...

    Intentional Overdoses Rise Among U.S. Kids, Teens

    A growing number of U.S. kids are attempting suicide by medication overdose - with the biggest increase seen among preteens, a recent study shows.

    Researchers found that between 2015 and 2020, there was a 27% increase in overdose suicide or attempted suicide among U.S. children and teenagers. While teens accounted for most of those incidents, it was 10- to 12-year-olds who showed the bigg...

    How the 'Magic Mushroom' Drug May Tweak the Brain to Ease Depression

    Psilocybin - the active component in "magic mushrooms" - may help rewire the brains of people with depression.

    Psychedelics including psilocybin have shown promise in treating many mental health disorders in recent years, and a new study is among the first to begin to unravel precisely how they work.

    "T...

    Ketamine May Be Emergency Deterrent for People at Risk of Suicide

    A new clinical trial strengthens the case that ketamine -- once famous as a club drug -- can rapidly ease suicidal thoughts.

    Researchers found that among 156 adults hospitalized for severe suicidal thoughts, those given two doses of ketamine often saw those disturbing ideas go away within a few days.

    By day three, 63% were in full remission, compared to just under 32% of patients gi...

    People High on Pot Used a Driving Simulator. Here's What Happened

    You smoked a joint an hour and a half ago. Now it's worn off enough that you feel fine to get behind the wheel.

    But you're fooling yourself, a new study says. You're likely about to drive under the influence of weed, endangering yourself and others.

    Marijuana ...

    Common Gout Drug Is Safe in Patients With Kidney Issues

    Allopurinol, a frequently used gout medication, does not appear to drive up the risk for dying among gout patients who also struggle with chronic kidney disease, new research shows.

    The finding is based on an analysis of two decades worth of British health records. And it may put to rest recent concerns regarding a well-known drug that both gout patients and kidney disease patients have u...

    More Folks Drive High When Pot Made Legal: Study

    Here's more evidence that marijuana may make driving more dangerous: As pot has been legalized in more countries and states, a greater number of people are driving intoxicated by the drug and crashing, researchers report.

    THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, has been detected in twice as many injured Canadian drivers since 2018, when

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 13, 2022
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    • Opioid Misuse Keeps Rising Among Older Americans

    The opioid addict you know might not be the college kid who has always dabbled in alcohol and drugs.

    It could be your grandparent.

    Opioid misuse doesn't discriminate by age -- and rates are rising steadily among adults aged 55 and up, new research shows.

    "You can still use recrea...

    Marijuana Can Really Mess With Your Sleep, Study Suggests

    Many folks turn to pot to help them relax and get a good night's sleep, but new research finds the practice may do the exact opposite.

    "I think [the results] were somewhat surprising because, in our mind, anecdotally cannabis seems to help with sleep, but "¦ the evidence to support that notion is just not there yet," said senior study author Dr. Karim Ladha. He is an anesthesiologist and...

    'Magic Mushroom' Drug Edges Toward Mainstream Therapy

    Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in "magic mushrooms," psilocybin.

    Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and had an experience that changed the course of his life.

    "At some point in that time I felt like a higher power or s...

    Wearable Device Spots, Reverses Opioid Overdoses

    A wearable device that could inject a lifesaving antidote for an opioid overdose might be on the horizon.

    A new study shows that the device, worn on the stomach like an insulin pump, can detect when someone stops breathing from an overdose and inject the drug naloxone to restore breathing.

    "Fatal drug overdoses in the United States are at an all-time high, and opioid overdoses accou...

    Addictive Opioid Painkillers Might Not Be Needed After Knee Surgery

    Addictive opioid painkillers aren't the only option for patients seeking relief following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee reconstruction, researchers say.

    As the United States wrestles with skyrocketing rates of opioid abuse and drug overdose deaths, the findings may come as good news.

    After ACL surgery, Advil and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminop...

    Over 100,000 Americans Died From Drug Overdoses in One Year: Report

    New government data confirms what many have suspected: The pandemic has prompted a record number of drug overdose deaths, with more than 100,000 Americans succumbing to addiction as COVID-19 raged across the country.

    That figure is almost 30% higher than the previous year, when 78,000 overdose deaths were reported, according to provisional figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control...

    Medicare Could Negotiate Drug Prices Under Democrat Proposal

    A measure designed to lower prescription drug costs for seniors has been added to President Joe Biden's social safety net and climate change bill that Democratic leaders hope to bring to a House vote this week.

    For the first time, the measure would enable the federal government to negotiate prices for medications covered by Medicare, The New York Times reported.

    Under the proposal, ...

    Number of Teens Who Vape Marijuana Doubled in 7 Years

    Teenagers have followed the vaping trend into marijuana use, with recent studies chronicling a boom in pot vaping among adolescents in the United States and Canada, researchers report.

    The percentage of teens who've experimented with vaped pot has more than doubled in recent years, and vaping among frequent marijuana users has quadrupled, according to the study.

    Currently about 1 in...

    Scientists Develop Quick Test for Marijuana Use

    Researchers may be one step closer to developing the equivalent of a Breathalyzer for detecting marijuana use.

    In an early study, scientists found that their rapid test was able to reliably detect THC in people's saliva in under 5 minutes. THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active ingredient in marijuana.

    Right now, the "gold standard" for detecting marijuana use is to meas...

    DEA Warns of Fentanyl in Counterfeit Opioid Pills

    People buying pills that look like prescription opioid painkillers or stimulants who are not buying them from a licensed pharmacy may be buying a lethal drug, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warned this week.

    This was the first public safety alert the DEA has issued in six years, CNN reported.

    Many of these counterfeit pills are laced with fentanyl and methamphetam...

    Pot Use by Pregnant Women Rose During Pandemic: Study

    Marijuana use by mothers-to-be may have increased by as much as one-quarter during the pandemic, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found a substantial increase in the number of women in Northern California using pot early in their pregnancies after the pandemic emerged compared to the previous year.

    "Our previous research has shown that the prevalence and frequency of prenatal canna...

    Opioid Use Disorder Is as Deadly as Heart Attack: Study

    Hospitalized opioid addicts die at a rate similar to people who have a heart attack after leaving the hospital.

    Nearly 8% of patients addicted to opioids died within 12 months of hospital discharge, according to researchers from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

    "We need systems that can address comprehensive needs of people with substance use disorder and serious medical i...

    Half of Adults With ADHD Have Struggled With Alcohol, Drug Use

    Fully half of all young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also battle alcohol or drug abuse.

    And folks with ADHD who have a history of depression or anxiety are particularly vulnerable to substance abuse problems, a new study showed.

    "People with ADHD may be self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to keep their depression under control, and of course, th...

    Fatal ODs From Illicit Tranquilizers Jumped 6-Fold During Pandemic

    Overdose deaths linked to illicit "designer" benzodiazepines have surged in the United States, as underground labs crank out new synthetic variations on prescription tranquilizers like Valium, Xanax and Ativan.

    Overdose deaths involving illicit benzos increased more than sixfold (520%) between 2019 and 2020, rising from 51 to 316, according to data from 32 states and the District of Colum...

    Rising Number of U.S. Cardiac Arrests Tied to Opioid Abuse

    There's been a sharp rise in opioid-related cardiac arrests in the United States and they now equal those associated with other prime causes, a new study finds.

    Of more than 1.4 million cardiac arrest hospitalizations nationwide between 2012 and 2018, more than 43,000 (3.1%) occurred in opioid users, and there was a significant increase in opioid-associated cardiac arrest over the seven-y...

    How Your Medicines Make Their Way Into Rivers, Lakes and Bays

    Leaky sewer pipes are to blame for large amounts of human medicines getting into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, a new study reveals.

    Researchers found that tens of thousands of doses of drugs get into Chesapeake Bay in Maryland every year due to seeping sewer pipes.

    "Pharmaceuticals enter freshwaters through multiple pathways, including effluent from wastewater treatment a...