Side Effects

Joyce Hollman

Alzheimer’s drug’s accelerated approval leads to deadly stroke

Ever hear the expression, “out of the frying pan, into the fire”? In healthcare, that expression could apply when a drug meant to treat a disease carries side effects far worse than the disease itself. That’s exactly the case with a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

New osteoporosis drug: All hype and heart attack?

A new drug has been shown particularly effective at reducing the risk of fracture in women with severe osteoporosis. Great news, but there’s a catch: a 30 percent increased risk of heart attack, not to mention elevated risks for hypertension, diabetes and stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

Could a sleeping pill prevent Alzheimer’s?

Research has established a definite link between poor sleep and cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s. Sleep medication seems the easy answer, but some of those can also raise dementia risks. But there’s a new pill on the block, and researchers think it has potential to lower amyloid and tau…

Carolyn Gretton

Paxlovid mouth: The unpalatable truth about the COVID-19 antiviral

One of the most common treatments for COVID-19 is the antiviral Paxlovid. While it’s reported to be effective at shortening the severity and duration of the virus, it has its drawbacks — among them a nasty side effect known as “Paxlovid mouth” you’ll need this advice about…

Joyce Hollman

7 medications that make your bladder work overtime

About half of all adult women deal with some level of incontinence. Many men do too. A surprising cause is often medication that’s taken for other conditions. Here are seven classes of medications linked with urinary incontinence, and some natural ways to take back control of your bladder.

Craig Cooper

I took metformin for a week and this happened

Metformin, the leading prescribed “wonder” drug for type 2 diabetes, is reported to be anti-aging, anti-cancer and even helpful with weight issues. So, truth be told, I wasn’t looking at metformin as a drug — I was looking at it more as a “superfood.”