Medications and treatments Archive

In its 2016 guidelines, the American Academy of Neurology recommended the use of onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox) injections as a way to help reduce the frequency of chronic migraines.

A class of drugs commonly used in over-the-counter and prescription drugs to treat such problems as insomnia, diarrhea, high blood pressure, depression, and urinary incontinence may be linked to cognitive impairment. Scientists believe the drugs block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that helps process information, which scientists believe is responsible for the effect. 

To stay on your regimen, you'll have to be organized and learn about each of your drugs.

Many older adults take five or more prescription medications, increasing the risk of harmful drug interactions.
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Taking several types of medications can be challenging. But this is something you have to get right. If you don't, you may have unwanted side effects, or you may not properly treat your chronic condition. "I see people who average 15 medications, and it's very difficult for them to juggle that many pills," says Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

News Briefs

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A Harvard study published March 3, 2016, in JAMA Oncology adds to increasing evidence that aspirin use may help stave off colorectal cancer and suggests that aspirin is also associated with a small reduction of overall cancer risk.

Researchers looked at aspirin use among almost 136,000 men and women in two studies over 32 years. They noted that regular aspirin use—taking either a 325-mg tablet or an 81-mg tablet two or more times per week—was associated with a 3% reduction in cancers over all, although they saw no effect on major cancers like those of the breast, prostate, or lung. The researchers say the overall reduction was due mostly to a 15% risk reduction for gastrointestinal cancer and a 19% risk reduction for colorectal cancer.

News Briefs

The CDC wants doctors to stop treating chronic pain by prescribing opioids, such as oxycodone (OxyContin). The CDC published guidelines on opioid prescription March 15, 2016, in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Opioids are powerful painkillers typically used to treat severe pain after surgery or pain with terminal illness, and sometimes used to treat chronic pain. But long-term use of these drugs comes with the risk of dependence, addiction, overdose, and death, as we reported in March.

The CDC is recommending that doctors instead treat chronic pain with non-opioid painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil); anticonvulsants (gabapentin or pregabalin); tricyclic antidepressants; or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The CDC also suggests treating chronic pain with nondrug therapies, such as physical therapy. If you and your doctor feel the benefits of opioid therapy outweigh the risks, the CDC urges doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose, and reassess risks and benefits at least every three months. The recommendation is not intended for people taking opioids for terminal illness or palliative care.

Dr. Michael Bierer explains the most common misconception about addiction and offers tips for recognizing if you might be developing an addiction.

Dr. Wynne Armand talks with Dr. Terry Schraeder about the increase in opiod addictions and shares prevention and treatment methods for those experiencing an addiction to prescription opioid medication.

Declining testosterone is a normal part of aging, but is replacement therapy right for you? Here is what you need to know.

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Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has surged in popularity over the past decade. Millions of older men have turned to TRT to restore hormone levels in hopes of refueling energy and reigniting their sex drive.

Yet TRT remains controversial because of its uncertain benefits and potential health risks. Safety concerns were raised years ago when studies showed a possible association between TRT and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Proton-pump inhibitors are among the most-prescribed medications, but is long-term use safe?

Proton-pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid, which helps to treat symptoms of acid reflux.
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Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal problems, are among the most popular drugs in the United States. In fact, the FDA estimates about one in 14 Americans has used a PPI.

Each of your medications may be affecting how the others work, leading to harmful side effects and complications.

Each additional medication you take increases the risk of drug interactions.
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Are you taking more than one drug? Are you taking a few different types of medications? Are you seeing several different doctors? If so, you may be at increased risk for drug interactions, which occur when a drug, a supplement, or even a food affects the way your body processes a medication. Such interactions can make a drug more powerful—so that a standard dose becomes an overdose—or can render it less potent or altogether ineffective.