Over-the-counter (OTC) medications Archive

A growing number of people ages 60 and older suffer from knee osteoarthritis. If lifestyle strategies, such as weight loss, physical therapy, exercise, and oral or topical medications don't offer sufficient pain relief, people may benefit from either corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections. Injections can provide immediate pain relief, reduce inflammation, and increase mobility. However, they are a temporary treatment that won't cure knee osteoarthritis or change the course of the disease.

There are four main FDA-approved erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs: sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil, and avanafil (Stendra). While all ED drugs work the same way, they differ in how quickly they act (from 15 to 45 minutes) and how long the effect lasts (from six to 36 hours). Which one is the best choice for a man depends on his lifestyle and whether he takes medication that ED drugs may interfere with.

People often aren't aware of the full range of conditions that physical therapy (PT) can effectively treat. PT can be used not only after surgery or injury, but also for stroke, brain injuries, balance problems, neuromuscular conditions, spinal cord injuries, and more. PT is also done to help people avoid falls, as well as for pelvic floor dysfunction and vertigo. People participating in PT work with physical therapists to determine goals and plan a course of treatment to meet those goals by improving mobility, strength, and flexibility.

A 2024 analysis found that many people without heart problems are taking daily low-dose aspirin therapy, even though it might have more health risks than benefits. Some of them have not consulted with a doctor about whether daily aspirin is safe for them.

Many people who develop rheumatoid arthritis later in life don't receive optimal medications to treat it, called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Reasons for this include the high costs of DMARDs, concerns about drug side effects, coexisting conditions that complicate treatment, inaccessibility to health care, or perceived frailty that makes doctors nervous about prescribing DMARDs. People who feel they should be getting DMARDs (but aren't) should ask about ways to make such treatment feasible.

Contrary to previous recommendations, people who think they are having a heart attack or stroke should not take an aspirin on their own. Their symptoms might be caused by a different problem that might be made worse by taking aspirin.

The medication Suboxone has helped many people who are addicted to opiates, but even within the addiction treatment community there are misunderstandings about this drug and its effects on the brain.

Just because you can get a particular test or treatment or take a supplement doesn't mean you should. One study suggests as much as 20% of all health care in the US is unneeded. Skipping unnecessary care might actually improve your health, while saving time and money.

A 2024 study suggests that hormone therapy for women under 60, including micronized progesterone and estrogen taken through the skin, effectively treats menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats while posing few health risks.