All posts tagged: Medication

Laughter therapy offers new hope for millions in UK with common lung condition

Laughter therapy offers new hope for millions in UK with common lung condition

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Incorporating laughter therapy into treatment plans could help ease respiratory difficulties in patients suffering from a widespread lung condition, new research indicates. Scientists behind the study suggest that the “simple, low-cost” intervention performs on par with conventional breathing drills and may work to “complement existing care” for individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the UK alone, an estimated 1.7 million people suffer from COPD, including roughly 600,000 who remain undiagnosed. The clinical trial evaluated 63 patients diagnosed with COPD who were receiving care at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey. Researchers assigned a third of the group to laughter therapy sessions, while the remaining participants were guided through pursed-lip breathing routines or received no specialised exercises. Rather than relying on an inhaler, people could turn to laughter therapy (PA) After being shown how to perform the techniques, patients …

Warning issued to Brits taking 1 common medication | UK | News

Warning issued to Brits taking 1 common medication | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Low supplies of a common medication are expected to last until later this year. Venlafaxine 75mg immediate-release tablets will likely be unavailable across the country until November, following a Tier 2 medium-impact alert issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The common medication is an antidepressant. However, the shortage does not affect modified-release venlafaxine tablets. 37.5mg, 75mg and 150mg capsules are now being recommended to support the increased demand. Prescribers of this medication have been instructed not to issue any new prescriptions of the 75mg tablet until the shortage has been declared over. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are aware of issues with Venlafaxine 75mg immediate release tablets affecting some suppliers. “We are working closely with all suppliers to resolve the problem, speed up deliveries, and ensure patients can continue to access their medicine. “We have issued comprehensive guidance on how to manage patients affected by this shortage, including advice on using other types and strengths of the medicine which remain available.” A copy of the …

James Talarico teams with Mark Cuban on new healthcare ‘monopolies’ plan

James Talarico teams with Mark Cuban on new healthcare ‘monopolies’ plan

Published by Sam Flores

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) speaks at a campaign rally on March 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Talarico is visiting various locations around the state in the lead up to tomorrow’s primaries. Danielle Villasana | Getty Images Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is out with a new plan, first shared with CNBC, to break up what he says are healthcare monopolies and bring down the cost of prescription drugs. And he’s teaming up with entrepreneur Mark Cuban to launch it. Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives who is running against state Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the most closely-watched Senate races of the 2026 election cycle, will appear with Cuban for a live event and podcast recording in Fort Worth on Saturday to discuss the plan. “Mark and I agree it’s time to break up the Big Medicine monopolies that control our broken healthcare system,” Talarico said in a statement to CNBC. “Healthcare corporations are ripping us off — jacking up premiums and profiting off our pain. This plan …

The Medication Waiting Game | Psychology Today

The Medication Waiting Game | Psychology Today

Published by Jenni Sidey

I took a new ADHD medication this morning. Within an hour, I had a pounding headache, heavy eyes, and thoughts that felt like they were running at half speed. I am currently writing this from the couch, which is where I have been all day. I’m drained in a way that not even a nap could fix (although I tried). This medication is supposed to help me focus, be more productive, and get more energy. Clearly that’s not what’s happening. But this is not my first rodeo. I’ve been managing meds for various mental health diagnoses since I was in high school. I’ve been through four anxiety disorders and years of trial and error and error and error. I’ve had more conversations with psychiatrists than I can count. So I know how this goes. The meds help, or they don’t, or they do until they don’t. You change the dose, the type of medication, and start over. And every single time, you swallow the pill with a stubborn hope that this one will work. Anxiety …

Can ADHD Medication Make Autism Traits More Noticeable?

Can ADHD Medication Make Autism Traits More Noticeable?

Published by Jenni Sidey

As more people are being diagnosed with both ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), new questions have started to emerge. One is the idea that stimulants “unmask” autism traits that were previously hidden. This does not happen to everyone with both diagnoses, but it is a topic that deserves further discussion. Not every ADHD medication is a stimulant It is essential to remember that ADHD treatment is not always based on the use of stimulants. ADHD treatment can involve both medication and non-medication approaches, which can even be used together. When treatment includes medication, it can be divided into two groups: stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants include different formulations of Ritalin (methylphenidate), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), and Adderall (composed of four amphetamine salts). Non-stimulants include Strattera (atomoxetine), Intuniv (guanfacine), and Kapvay (clonidine). Treatment can also include psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and other approaches that help manage symptoms in daily life. In this post, the focus is on the effect of stimulant use on ASD traits, although there are reports of people who noticed similar changes even with …

Have you experienced a shortage in your NHS medication? We would like to hear from you | Pharmaceuticals industry

Have you experienced a shortage in your NHS medication? We would like to hear from you | Pharmaceuticals industry

Published by Sam Flores

Health leaders have warned Britons are facing some of the “most severe” shortages of NHS medicines on record, including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that medicine shortages pose a “serious risk to patient safety”. While the Middle East conflict has made supply chains more volatile, it is not the only factor driving shortages, the NPA said. Lack of ingredients, manufacturing disruption, the UK’s smaller medicines budget compared with other EU countries, and, in the case of HRT, changing prescribing habits have all played a part. We would like to hear whether you have experienced any shortages of your NHS medication. What has happened? How are you coping? Share your experience You can share your thoughts in the form below or by messaging us. We will get back to you before we publish any of your submission. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us …

Popular over-the-counter gas medication sold in US recalled for possible contamination

Popular over-the-counter gas medication sold in US recalled for possible contamination

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more An over-the-counter medication for relieving gas and bloating has been recalled due to potential chemical contamination. According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, manufacturing company Haleon has voluntarily recalled four lots of Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels, which were distributed to different retailers nationwide. “The lots are being recalled due to potential contamination with a diluted propylene glycol-based coolant from a machine leakage during the packaging process,” the company said in an announcement shared by the FDA. “There is a potential that ingestion of the Softgels contaminated with the diluted propylene glycol-based coolant may result in adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.” Affected Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels — made to quickly break up gas bubbles in …

When a Medication Side Effect Mimics Mental Illness

When a Medication Side Effect Mimics Mental Illness

Published by Jenni Sidey

Many adolescents are curious about medications and may be tempted to experiment with drugs they find at home. Unfortunately, even a single pill can sometimes produce unexpected and distressing consequences. A Lesson Michael Will Never Forget Michael was a 17-year-old honor student with no history of mental illness. One afternoon, while looking through his parents’ medicine cabinet, he noticed a prescription bottle labeled: “Take one tablet as needed for severe anxiety and agitation.” Curious about its effects, he swallowed one pill. Within an hour, Michael felt unusually calm and sleepy. He decided to take a nap. But when he woke up several hours later, something was terribly wrong. He felt an overwhelming inner restlessness unlike anything he had ever experienced. Sitting still became almost impossible. He paced around the house, shifted constantly from foot to foot, and found it painful to remain seated for more than a few moments. As the evening progressed, his anxiety intensified. He became increasingly irritable and unusually argumentative with his parents. That night, he slept very little. By the following …

Scientists discover how some people control HIV without daily medication

Scientists discover how some people control HIV without daily medication

Published by Jenni Sidey

For decades, HIV treatment has depended on one hard truth: once medication stops, the virus usually comes roaring back. Modern antiretroviral drugs can suppress HIV so effectively that many people live long, healthy lives. They can work, raise families and prevent transmission. Yet the virus never fully disappears. It hides deep inside immune cells, waiting for another chance to spread. Now, researchers from Aarhus University Hospital and international collaborators have uncovered new clues about how a small group of people managed to keep HIV under control for years without daily medication. Their findings suggest the immune system may be capable of doing what medicine alone has struggled to achieve. The key appears to lie in a powerful partnership between antibodies and T cells. Summary of assays performed. (CREDIT: Nature Immunology) “We can see that two branches of the immune system work together to control the virus. One targets one aspect of the virus, the other targets another. Together, they are effective enough to prevent the virus from escaping,” said Professor Ole Schmeltz Søgaard of Aarhus …

Parental mental health — not medication — drives autism correlation, study finds

Parental mental health — not medication — drives autism correlation, study finds

Published by Sam Flores

A sweeping new review of prenatal antidepressant use underscores a finding that has surfaced repeatedly throughout the last decade: While parental depression is strongly linked to child neurodevelopmental disorders, taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not appear to significantly increase a child’s risk of autism. In an analysis of 37 separate studies covering more than 25 million pregnancies, a research team from the University of Hong Kong found that children born to women who took antidepressants while pregnant were indeed more likely to later be diagnosed with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But when the researchers took into account confounding factors such as a family history of neurodevelopmental disorders or mothers’ preexisting mental health conditions, the correlation disappeared. The data showed that children born to women with a history of depression were more likely to be diagnosed with autism or ADHD, regardless of whether their mother took psychiatric medication. Children were also more likely to be diagnosed with autism and ADHD if their fathers took antidepressants during their gestation, even if their mothers did not — …