Non-drug treatments and therapies Archive

In 2024, the FDA approved the sale of pivmecillinam (Pivya), an antibiotic to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women. When the drug becomes available in 2025, it will join the lineup of existing first-line antibiotic treatments for UTIs, such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) and nitrofurantoin (Macrobid). Doctors say having another treatment option on the same tier will be helpful, since some germs that cause UTIs have become resistant to existing antibiotics.

Androgen deprivation therapy can slow or control prostate cancer, and adding a second class of drugs improves survival when the disease is in advanced stages. But all drugs that block testosterone have challenging side effects, and a review of studies showed that cardiovascular risks worsen when these drugs are given together.

The most common reason for swelling in both ankles is incompetent valves in the leg veins. People can treat this by wearing support hose and elevating the ankles above the level of the heart when possible. Eating less salt can help prevent ankle swelling that occurs in warm weather.

Women with osteoporosis have many options for preserving bone strength and preventing fractures. The mainstays of treatment are bisphosphonate drugs.

When you're packing a hurricane go-bag, keep health priorities in mind. If you don't prepare in advance, you might leave behind medicines, medical supplies, important paperwork, and other essentials that can help you stay healthy. Here's how to plan ahead.

Guidelines advise unvaccinated people at high risk for severe COVID to take Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) soon after symptoms begin. However, a 2024 study suggests that people who are vaccinated and high-risk or unvaccinated and low-risk don't need to do so.

Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition. It can make people feel lightheaded, faint, unsteady, or like the room is spinning. Common conditions causing vertigo include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraines, vestibular neuritis, and Meniare's disease. People should see a doctor after a single vertigo episode to determine the cause. Depending on the cause, treatments might include medications, a canalith repositioning procedure, vestibular therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Staying active, not sedentary, between episodes can help people with vertigo feel better.

Many people believe they have allergies to certain medications, even though they really don't. It could be that they experienced only a drug side effect after taking a particular drug, not a true allergic reaction (which is an immune system response). Unfortunately, inaccurate information can limit treatment options. So it's best to confirm a suspected drug allergy with an allergist. That typically involves getting a simple skin test or taking a very small dose of the medication in question in the presence of a medical team.