A huge government study shows that half of all people eliminated their symptoms of depression by taking antidepressants, but many of those people had to combine drugs or try multiple treatments before having success. Another quarter of those studied showed improvement on drugs. Results often took six to 12 weeks, which is longer than doctors…
If you are, check this out: Strange behavior by insomniacs taking prescription drugs, ranging from binge eating to having sex while asleep, have raised safety questions about anti-insomnia medications like Sanofi-Aventis’ Ambien. Apparently, these side effects “have been around for years, but the incidence is rising because of an explosion in the drugs’ use.” About…
Today’s big heart health story is that the cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor has been shown to remove plaque from the arteries, reversing a major risk factor for heart attacks. The study followed 500 patients who were taking the maximum dose of the drug, which is known as a statin drug. The amount of the drug taken…
Two news stories today have to do with drugs and supplements for heart health. The first (linked here from the New York Times says that taking B vitamins to block homocystine and prevent heart attack and stroke was not effective for those most at risk. Three studies with more than 9,000 participants showed that taking…
Today’s must read is this article from AlterNet about the surge in benzene formation in certain bottled beverages. Interestingly, the main problem drinks seem to be those with orange or fruit flavor and diet sodas. That’s because its the combination of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, both anti-microbial preservatives, that…
With the death of Dana Reeve making news all over the world, there’s a new focus lately on lung cancer, especially since she got lung cancer having never been a smoker and not working in a smoky environment. Most women who don’t smoke think they aren’t at risk for lung cancer, but it is the…
