Yahoo! News: Medications/Drugs News

Medications/Drugs News

Popular Diabetes Drug Might Cut Pancreatic Cancer Risk: Study (HealthDay)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:47:02 GMT

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- A new Swiss-American study indicates that long-term use of the popular diabetes medication metformin may lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, at least among women.

FDA panel to discuss Arena obesity drug in 2nd quarter (Reuters)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:51:39 GMT

Reuters - An FDA advisory committee will meet in the second quarter to discuss Arena Pharmaceutical Inc's experimental obesity drug following the company's recent resubmission of an application seeking its approval, Arena said on Wednesday.

Marijuana Mouth Spray: Will Cancer Pain Reliever Be Abused? (LiveScience.com)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:25:00 GMT

LiveScience.com - The medical marijuana drug Sativex, which could be approved in the United States in the coming years as a treatment for pain relief, has little potential for abuse, experts say.

Siblings' brain scans may hold key to addictions (Reuters)

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:09:54 GMT

Reuters - Drug addicts and their non-addicted siblings share certain features in the brain, suggesting a susceptibility to addiction is inherited but is also a flaw that can be overcome, scientists said on Thursday.

Diabetes drugs tied to pancreatic cancer risk (Reuters)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:17:47 GMT

Reuters - A new study links the diabetes drug metformin to fewer cases of pancreatic cancer -- at least in women -- but finds other diabetes medications are associated with a higher risk of the disease.

Illinois governor urges pension, Medicaid changes (Reuters)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:48:25 GMT

Reuters - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Wednesday said the state must make changes to its pension system and to Medicaid this year, while also insisting that spending cuts alone will not fix the state's budget.

Study Looks at Possible HIV Drugs-Birth Defect Link (HealthDay)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:47:03 GMT

HealthDay - MONDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women with HIV can prevent passing the AIDS-causing virus to their babies by taking antiretroviral drugs, but there remains a possibility that some of these medications might cause birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, according to a new study.

More Babies Born With Drug, Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms (ContributorNetwork)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:51 GMT

ContributorNetwork - An increasing number of infants are born with drug and alcohol addiction and withdrawal symptoms, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Treatment for babies in withdrawal might cause more addiction problems. Here are details about fetal addiction and postpartum withdrawal.

Medivation prostate cancer drug well-tolerated in trial (Reuters)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:21:11 GMT

Reuters - Medivation Inc's experimental prostate cancer pill caused fewer serious side effects in clinical trial patients than a placebo treatment, according to full results from a pivotal study announced on Tuesday.

Heartburn Drugs May Raise Fracture Risk in Older Women (HealthDay)

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:47:02 GMT

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Older women who take popular medications to control indigestion and heartburn may put themselves at higher risk for hip fractures, researchers report.

Big Pharma donates drugs for neglected diseases (Reuters)

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:12:59 GMT

Reuters - The world's major pharmaceutical companies joined forces with governments and leading global health organizations Monday to donate drugs and scientific know-how to help control or wipe out 10 neglected tropical diseases by 2020.

Skepticism grows around Medco/Express Scripts deal (Reuters)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:54:49 GMT

Reuters - Objections to Express Scripts' $29 billion plan to buy rival pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions are accumulating as U.S. antitrust regulators weigh whether they have enough evidence to stop the megamerger.

Government health spending seen hitting $1.8 trillion (Reuters)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:56:16 GMT

Reuters - Gvernment spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs will more than double over the next decade to $1.8 trillion, or 7.3 percent of the country's total economic output, congressional researchers said on Tuesday.

Dentist ordered to jail for fraud over paper clip root (Reuters)

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:23:20 GMT

Reuters - A former Boston-area dentist accused of substituting paper clips for stainless steel posts in patient root canals was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for Medicaid fraud, authorities said on Monday.

BTG's varicose-vein drug succeeds in U.S. study (Reuters)

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:49:49 GMT

Reuters - British pharmaceutical firm BTG said the first of two U.S. trials of its varicose vein treatment Varisolve had met all its goals, bringing a launch of the long-delayed product a step closer.

Health Officials Want Suicide Warnings on Kids' ADHD Medications (ContributorNetwork)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:46:52 GMT

ContributorNetwork - Several children's health experts are pushing the Food and Drug Administration to put "black box" suicide risk warning labels on Focalin, a drug commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children as young as 6, Reuters reports. Here are details about ADHD drugs and associated safety concerns.

Many Stroke Victims Still Don't Get Treated Fast Enough: Study (HealthDay)

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:47:12 GMT

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- While a clot-busting medication can often help stop a stroke in its tracks if it's given promptly, a new study finds that a high number of stroke victims continue to fail to get to the emergency room quickly enough to get the drug.

DEA raids 2 CVS pharmacies in drug abuse probe (Reuters)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:19:07 GMT

Reuters - The Drug Enforcement Administration said on Monday it raided two CVS pharmacies over the weekend as part of an effort to curb the abuse of prescription painkillers and other potentially addictive substances.

New Anti-Clotting Drug May Cut Brain Bleeding Risk: Study (HealthDay)

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:46:47 GMT

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- A new medication that helps prevent strokes in people with the abnormal heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation poses less risk of bleeding in the brain than a commonly used drug, research comparing rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and warfarin suggests.

Brain Changes Cause Drug Addiction, Researchers Say (LiveScience.com)

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:21:00 GMT

LiveScience.com - Drug addicts and their nonaddict siblings share the same brain abnormalities linked with poor self-control and drug dependence, a new study suggests.