Americans will spend half their lives taking prescription drugs, study finds

An American born in 2019 will spend a larger share of their lifetime taking prescription drugs than being married or receiving an education, according to new research by Jessica Ho, associate professor of sociology and demography at Penn State. She found that American males will spend approximately 48% of their lives taking prescription drugs. The number jumped to 60% for […]

Commonly prescribed hypertension drug, amlodipine, not actually dangerous

A new paper in the journal Function, published by Oxford Univetrsity Press, finds that a widely prescribed drug for treating hypertension, amlodipine, is not dangerous for patients, despite recent concerns from researchers and clinicians that taking amlodipine may have risks. Approximately 700,000 Americans die from hypertension each year and researchers believe some 116 million Americans (and one in five adults worldwide) have […]

New research may make future design of nanotechnology safer with fewer side effects

A new study may offer a strategy that mitigates negative side effects associated with intravenous injection of nanoparticles commonly used in medicine. The study was published today in Nature Nanotechnology. “Nanotechnology’s main advantage over conventional medical treatments is its ability to more precisely target tissues, such as cancer cells targeted by chemotherapy. However, when nanoparticles are injected, they can activate part […]

Are opioid prescription rates changing for US adolescents?

A new analysis reveals that rates of opioid prescribing to US adolescents have decreased in recent years, primarily limited to non-surgery indications. Opioid prescription rates for surgery have remained stable. The analysis, which is published in Pediatric Anesthesia, assessed data from the 2015–2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, which are nationally representative, large-scale surveys conducted annually by the Agency for Healthcare Research […]

Pharmacists can improve access to life-saving vaccines

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer. Over 1,400 Canadian women are affected yearly, with almost 400 deaths, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. It is completely preventable with the HPV vaccine, and yet, unfortunately, many people are unvaccinated. University of Waterloo researchers have found a possible solution […]

Pharmacist-led intervention can improve medication adherence among Latinos with type 2 diabetes

UCLA-led research suggests that diabetes control can significantly improve for Latinos when a pharmacist implements an intervention that addresses these patients’ barriers to medication adherence. In this pharmacist-led intervention, pharmacists reviewed the patients’ lab results, vital signs, and barriers to adherence. They then used this information to design a personally-tailored intervention to boost medication adherence and optimize the treatment regimen. […]

University of Cincinnati research shows widespread naloxone distribution not enough to impact overdose death rate

The highest ever number of opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States was recorded in 2020 at 68,630, a 68% increase in just two years. Naloxone is a medicine that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, but a new study out of the University of Cincinnati finds that widespread community distribution of naloxone through a take-home naloxone (THN) program did […]

Study shows nearly 300% increase in ADHD medication errors

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most common pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. In 2019, nearly 10% of United States (U.S.) children had a diagnosis of ADHD. Approximately 3.3 million children, or roughly 5 out of every 100 children in the U.S., are currently prescribed medication for ADHD. In a new study, published today in Pediatrics, researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central […]

How GLP-1 agonists help in type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide were developed for treatment of type II diabetes but have also been successful as weight-loss agents for non-diabetics. Many new agents are now in the pipeline. IMI spoke to Hannah Beba, Consultant Pharmacist in Diabetes, Leeds Health and Care Partnership to find out more. [embedded content] GLP-1 agonists mimic the action of the naturally-occurring incretin […]

Higher buprenorphine doses associated with improved retention in treatment for opioid use disorder

Individuals with opioid use disorder who were prescribed a lower buprenorphine dose were 20% more likely to discontinue treatment than those on a higher dose, according to a study of patients prescribed buprenorphine in Rhode Island from 2016 to 2020, as fentanyl became widely available. The study, published today in JAMA Network Open, was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse […]