Medication Errors and Mortality.
Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer, according to findings in the British Medical Journal, 253:i2139, 2016. As such, medical errors should be a top priority for research and resources, say authors Martin Makary, MD, MPH, professor of surgery, and research fellow Michael Daniel, […]
Adverse Reactions to Anti-Histamines.
Antihistamines are amongst the most widely prescribed drugs. Although easily tolerated by most, there are clearly adverse reactions in some patients, especially children. Here is a summary of a new study that documents these problems. Antihistamines are associated with a variety of adverse reactions in children, including headaches, sleepiness, rashes, behavioral changes, and convulsions, new […]
FDA Declares Quinolones Drug Non-Gratis.
Fluoroquinolones like Cipro, Avelox, and Levaquin are commonly used by clinicians to treat a host of bacterial infections including, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, sinusitis, bronchitis and others. Because of common musculoskeletal complications the FDA recently made rulings. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today that unless they lack other treatment options, patients […]
Medication Errors: #3 Cause of Death in U.S..
Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer, according to findings published in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal. As such, medical errors should be a top priority for research and resources, say authors Martin Makary, MD, MPH, professor of surgery, and research […]
Narcan and ER Treatment of Opiate Overdose.
Recently published in the Acad. Emerg. Med. December 28, 2018 Most patients who overdose on opioids can be safely discharged from the emergency department (ED) as early as an hour after prehospital administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone, the study has found. Opioid-related ED visits nearly doubled in the United States from 2005 to 2014. The […]
Drug Overdose Deaths Increasing in U.S..
Deaths from drug overdose in the United States increased by 54% from 2011 to 2016 — with opioids, benzodiazepines (benzos), and stimulants the most commonly used drug classes involved, a new report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), shows. The report notes that there were […]
Melatonin is Over-rated as a Sleeping Aid.
Experts say that other issues pertaining to poor sleep quality, such as light exposure and certain behaviors, should be tackled ahead of resorting to use of the hormone melatonin to regulate sleep. But if it is used, an individual’s daily onset of natural melatonin production should be taken into account before deciding on an appropriate […]
Intoxication and Death from Synthetic Cannabinoids-Missed Dx.
Nearly half of patients with suspected synthetic-cannabinoid-receptor agonist (SCRA) intoxication test negative for an SCRA, and many test positive for another substance, researchers report. Clinicians caring for patients with reported synthetic-cannabinoid exposures must have a high index of suspicion for other drugs of abuse, trauma, or other medical conditions, and should evaluate and treat accordingly, Additionally, […]
Carcinogenic Benzene Found in Benzoyl Peroxide Products- A Recent Study.
Benzoyl Peroxide is the main ingredient in skin care products that treat and prevent acne and some related skin conditions such as folliculitis. The way these products are formulated with benzoyl peroxide (BP) plays a role in the levels of toxic carcinogenic chemical found, “benzene”, according to new research. Concerns about the potential for BP […]
FENTANYL OVERDOSES AND DEMOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES.
Fentanyl overdoses are increasing at a dramatic rate in the United States. Visits to Emergency Rooms are far more frequent now than they were just a few years ago. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that when blending with heroin becomes a life-threatening toxic cocktail as it is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Physician in […]