Latest Drug News

• 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

• 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.

• New Medication Approved for Underserved Sickle Cell Community

  Oxbryta holds the hemoglobin in a particular shape that prevents sickle cells from stacking, preventing complications like organ damage and pain.

• The New COVID Antiviral Pills: What You Need to Know

  Which COVID patients should get the pills and how soon should the pills be taken?

• CDC Shortens COVID Isolation, Quarantine Times

  The CDC recommended shorter COVID-19 isolation and quarantine periods on Monday, cutting the time for people without symptoms and close contacts from 10 days to 5 days.

• FDA Approves First Injection Regimen for HIV Prevention

  Until now, two types of daily pills (Truvada and Descovy) were the only options for what's called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

• FDA Allows Abortion Pill to Stay Available by Mail

  Patients will be able to have a telemedicine appointment with a provider who can prescribe the pills and send them to the patient by mail.

• Weed May Mess With Your Medicines, Causing Harm

  A new study suggests using marijuana could wreak havoc with any other medications you take because the body uses the same set of enzymes to process them all.

• Drug Can Keep Leukemia in Remission for Years in Younger Patients

  New research confirms long remissions after treatment with the drug ibrutinib and chemotherapy.

• Only Half of U.S. Nursing Home Residents Have Received Boosters

  The CDC reports only about half of fully vaccinated nursing home residents have received a vaccine booster dose.

• Cities Detecting Omicron Through Wastewater Testing

  A number of U.S. cities have detected the Omicron variant by running tests on wastewater.

• Nation's First Overdose Prevention Centers Open in NYC

  The centers provide people a place to bring their drugs and use them under the supervision of trained staff members who will provide clean needles, prevent overdoses and offer connections to addiction services.

• Some Meds You Take May Increase Your Blood Pressure

  Trying to manage hypertension? Taking drugs for other conditions might make your blood pressure worse.

• CVS Health, Walmart and Walgreens Played Role in Opioid Crisis

  The Ohio case is the first time the retail side of the drug industry has been held accountable in the U.S. opioid crisis

• Does Eating Nuts Lead to Better Breast Cancer Outcomes?

  In a cohort study of more than 3,000 patients over 10 years, eating nuts was associated with significantly better disease-free survival compared with no nut consumption.

• State Lotteries Didn't Help Boost Vaccination Rates

  According to a new study, lotteries in 19 states designed to encourage people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 did not alter the rate of those who got the shot.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Technology May Help Combat the Flu

  Pharmaceutical companies are working to develop influenza vaccines that would use the same mRNA technology that has made the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccines so successful.

• Two Meds Better Than One for Many With High Blood Pressure: Study

  Doctors typically prescribe one blood pressure medicine at a low dose and increase its strength as needed.

• Booster Shot Back-and-Forth Creates Uncertainty, Confusion

  Most people are following the guidelines on getting their Pfizer booster shot, while some not yet eligible are 'gaming the system.'

• Flu Shot Highly Recommended This Year

  Waning natural immunity in the public due to last year's missing flu season will leave people -- and especially young children -- susceptible to the virus, warn flu trackers assessing this year's risk.