Medical writer & reviewer. Oncology pharmacist. Essays & interviews.
AI Word Monsters Eating Us All
AI Authorship and authenticity: Why I finally joined the AI conversation—and how to navigate it with kids
May Is Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Why Bone Health Matters for Everyone
May is a month of renewal as plants and trees flourish with new growth and generations gather for graduations and gorgeous sun-filled days. May is also Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Just like the natural world, our bones are in a constant state of regrowth.
TL;DR: Osteoporosis is a common condition caused by low bone mass and a higher risk of fractures. Bone loss can happen for many reasons, and anyone can develop osteoporosis. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to keep their bones healthy!
Are OTC Statins Available? Not Yet, But They Could Be Soon
Expert guidelines on taking statins, a group of first-choice medications for managing high cholesterol, have changed over the years. In 2022, for example, experts changed the criteria for when prescribers should start their patients on a statin for the first time. But one thing has stayed the same: Many people who could benefit from statins don’t take them. To help improve access to these treatments, efforts are underway to make statins available over the counter (OTC). Here, we’ll cover safety concerns and discuss when we might see the first OTC statins on pharmacy shelves.
The Side Effects of Inequality: How Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials Affects Drug Effectiveness and Safety
Medication is a core component of patient care. Most adults regularly take some prescription drugs, and most also agree, according to a 2024 public opinion poll by KFF, that new drug therapies make people’s lives better. Access to safe and effective medications should be available to all, but equitable access often falls short. Marginalized groups, who often face higher rates of chronic disease, frequently encounter barriers to obtaining medications, such as limited insurance coverage. However, these inequalities often begin long before a drug even reaches the market.
What is psyllium, and is it good for you?
For generations, psyllium has been a go-to solution for pooping problems. As a kid in the 80s, I remember my grandma mixing the orange powder into a glass of water to have alongside her morning coffee and toast. More recently, psyllium has gotten a millennial makeover, after drawing interest from younger crowds. From gluten-free bread recipes to boutique supplements with catchy names like ColonBroom, you can find psyllium all over socials. You may see it rebranded as “poor man’s Ozempic” or listed as a cure-all for [insert whatever ails you at the moment].
27 Jan The Side Effects of Inequality: How Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials Affects Drug Effectiveness and Safety
By Daphne Berryhill, Med Shadow Foundation
Medication is a core component of patient care. Most adults regularly take some prescription drugs, and most also agree, according to a 2024 public opinion poll by KFF, that new drug therapies make people’s lives better. Access to safe and effective medications should be available to all, but equitable access often falls short. Marginalized groups, who often face higher rates of chronic disease, frequently encounter barriers to obtaining medications, such as limited insurance coverage.
The Breakfast Club Effect: Coming of Age in Gen X Stereotypes
Forty Years Later: What the Movie Got Right, What It Missed, and Why the Lessons Still Matter
Cabergoline for Fertility: How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Taking Cabergoline?
Cabergoline is a prescription medication used to treat hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels). Prolactin is a hormone made by your pituitary gland. It’s important for regulating testosterone and estrogen levels. It also helps encourage breast milk production after giving birth. However, too much prolactin can cause a range of issues for women. This includes trouble getting pregnant. In some cases, you might take cabergoline to decrease prolactin levels and help with ovulation. This improves your chances of becoming pregnant.
Inside the FDA Drug Development Process: The Limits of Clinical Trials in Preventing Side Effects
Each year, a select group of novel new drugs enter the U.S. market. In 2023, 55 new drugs were approved—adding to the more than 20,000 prescription drugs already in circulation. The process of evaluating and approving new drugs dates back to the 1960s, when the FDA began requiring evidence of a drug’s safety and efficacy based on data collected in multi-phase controlled clinical trials. As the decades have passed, the FDA has refined and reformed its process, with important efforts being made to increase clinical trial diversity, protect enrolled participants, and shorten the bench-to-market
Why Do Demure Expectations Still Haunt Girls and Women Today?
"Pick me, pick me" turns into "Keep me, keep me." Will those haunting voices ever go away?