Recent Postings

This article summarizes the current evidence on the use of ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19, which does not support its use for this purpose.

The country desperately needs an FDA leader who will reverse the decades-long trend in which the agency’s relationship with the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries has grown dangerously cozier – resulting in regulatory capture of the agency by industry. Dr. Robert Califf would not be that leader.

Numerous prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause or exacerbate constipation. Knowing which medications prescribed or recommended by your doctor cause constipation will allow you to take steps to prevent or minimize this common, troubling adverse drug effect.

Learn why the FDA has limited the approved uses and strengthened the product labeling warnings for the oral drug tofacitinib (XELJANZ, XELJANZ XR), which is approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and certain other inflammatory diseases.

In this article, we discuss results of new research indicate that in men with acute UTIs and no fever, a 7-day course of oral antibiotics appears to be just as good for eradicating the infection as the commonly used 14-day course. Importantly, shorter courses of treatment can reduce the risk of adverse effects of antibiotic therapy.

In this month’s news brief, we discuss the FDA’s recent consumer alert warning that children who are accidentally exposed to fentanyl transdermal patches, know by the brand name DURAGESIC, are at risk of life-threatening overdose, even after the patches have been used for the typical full three days.

Learn why we have designated St. John’s wort, an herbal dietary supplement that is commonly available in capsules, tablets or teas, as Do Not Use.

In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome highlights a new Public Citizen report that provided a glimpse of how much Big Pharma benefits from the American health care system overpaying for drugs.

The FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication warning that abuse and misuse of the over-the-counter nasal decongestant drug propylhexedrine, a stimulant, can cause serious harm, including heart and mental health problems.

In this article, we review results of a recent randomized trial that found vitamin D supplementation was not useful for preventing depression in relatively healthy adults.

In this article, we review the process for diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents and evaluate the available treatment options for managing it.

In this month’s news brief, we discuss the FDA’s recent waring that over-the-counter alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially if used in enclosed spaces or poorly ventilated locations, can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness.

Learn about the health benefits of consuming an adequate amount of dietary potassium. To help readers assess their potassium intake, we offer a list of potassium-rich foods.

In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome explains why you should mute your TV when you see ads for the dietary supplement apoaequorin (PREVAGEN) and avoid being duped into buying this worthless supplement.

Patients taking the oral antifungal drug itraconazole (SPORANOX, TOLSURA) should be aware that it has clinically important interactions with many other prescription medications that can affect the safety or effectiveness of itraconazole or the interacting drugs.

In this article, we discuss the results of a randomized clinical trial that compared low- and regular-dose aspirin for preventing another heart attack or stroke in patients with known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Patients often wonder what steps they can take to minimize their chances of suffering a serious adverse drug reaction. This article reviews 10 simple rules developed by Public Citizen’s Health Research Group for ensuring safer drug use.