Author: deirdrewyeth

Prednisone Known To Have Sinister Side Effects All medicines come with side effects, some good, some bad. The corticosteroid prednisone is no exception. Prednisone has life-saving anti-inflammatory properties. But this miraculous drug is also known to have sinister side effects. Most doctors will warn patients about weight gain, body hair growth, insomnia, acne, nausea, headache and redistribution of fat to various parts of the body. (Typically, these side effects are minor but increase with longer-term use. See Need to Know: Corticosteroids.) But too few patients are warned about the psychological side effects of prednisone, and patients can be surprised and…

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Su Robotti, Founder of MedShadow, and Jonathan Block, Content Manager, discuss a new study that reveals overdiagnosis of asthma. Is it possible you’ve been misdiagnosed? How would you know? Watch to learn more. Su Robotti: Hello my name is Su Robotti and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: I’m Jonathan Block and I’m the content manager here at MedShadow. SR: Thanks for joining us. Jonathan and I wanted to bring to your attention a study on adult onset asthma. It seems as perhaps not all the adults who have been diagnosed with asthma, may have asthma or maybe there…

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Opioid Cough Suppressants for Children Subject of Upcoming Meeting Concern expressed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians about the use of cough suppressants, and in particular opioid cough suppressants, in children has lead FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to make that the subject of an upcoming meeting of the Pediatric Advisory Committee. Gottlieb announced today that the panel will focus on creating processes for determining risk-benefit judgments in the use of prescription opioid products containing hydrocodone or codeine for the treatment of cough in pediatric patients. The AAP and AAFP participated in a roundtable…

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Recreational smokers of marijuana are 3 times more likely to suffer from hypertension than nonsmokers of pot. That is the conclusion of a study done by researchers who combined data of those who responded to questions on marijuana use during the 2005 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with data from the 2011 public-use linked mortality file of the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers hypothesized that smoking marijuana would increase cardiovascular disease and hypertension risk , and their study confirms that link. The researchers, from the School of Public Health, Georgia…

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This week, Su and Jonathan discuss why MedShadow is sponsoring a petition asking the DEA to change marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug. The little research we currently have about marijuana — medical or recreational – is of poor quality. We need stronger research, and for that to happen, the DEA and other agencies must change the classification. Su Robotti: Hello, my name is Su Robotti and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: I’m Jonathan Block, and I’m the content manager at MedShadow. SR: Today, Jonathan and I would like to talk to…

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This week Su and Jonathan take a look at the most common ingredients in bug repellents. Which are safe bug repellent and which are most effective? Answers to that and a look at a homemade citronella arrangement. Su Robotti: Welcome to MedShadow TV. My name is Su Robotti, and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: I’m Jonathan Block, and I’m the content editor of MedShadow. SR: Today, Jonathan and I are going to talk about safe bug repellents. Bug repellents are a much more important than just keeping away little flying things that annoy you. Mosquitoes: There are multiple…

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While most people focus on outdoor allergies, indoor allergies can be just as debilitating. Su and Jonathan discuss strategies for dealing with them that avoids OTC and prescription meds. Also see our feature, Medicine-Free Methods of Dealing with Indoor Allergies. Su Robotti: Hello, I’m Su Robotti, and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: Hi, I’m Jonathan Block, I’m the content manager here at MedShadow. SR: Today, Jonathan and I are going to talk to you about household allergies. I know everybody is talking about seasonal allergies, but household allergies bother you the whole year round. And by household allergies…

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In honor of Valentine’s Day, Su Robotti, Founder of MedShadow, and Jonathan Block, Content Manager, discuss how certain foods can increase sexual drive and libido, while others can be a wet blanket. Before planning a romantic dinner, you need to watch this video. Su Robotti: Hello. I’m Su Robotti, and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: I’m Jonathan Block. I’m the content manager here at MedShadow. SR: Today, Jonathan and I are in the mood for love, but sorry, not for each other. It’s Valentine’s Day approaching rapidly. We had one of our wonderful authors, Tory Rodriguez, research and…

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FDA

This week, Su and Jonathan discuss a new study that shows that fast-tracked and prioritized drug approvals by the FDA lead to greater adverse events. Patients beware. Suzanne Robotti: Hello, my name is Suzanne Robotti, and I’m the founder of MedShadow. Jonathan Block: I’m Jonathan Block, I’m the content manager here at MedShadow. SR: Today, we’re going to talk to you about a new study that just came out from JAMA. JAMA is a journal of American Medical Association. It’s not a research study. It’s an unusual study and that it is evaluating how many drugs were recalled or were…

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