Get Healthy!

Results for search "Side Effects".

Health News Results - 108

Study Confirms Risk of Gastro Issues for People Taking Wegovy, Ozempic

While many have raved about the powers of popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, new research confirms the medications can trigger some nasty gastrointestinal side effects.

Known as GLP-1 agonists, they may increase the risk of stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstruction, scientists found.

"Although the incidence of these adverse events are relatively rare, af...

FDA Adds Warning to Ozempic Label About Risk for Blocked Intestines

Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes drug that has increasingly been used to help with weight loss, will now be labeled as having the potential to block intestines.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently made the label update for the drug made by ...

Gene Test Spots Those Vulnerable to Rare but Severe Side Effect of Drugs for MS, Other Conditions

A large number of drugs used to treat everything from multiple sclerosis to blood cancers to rheumatoid arthritis may cause a rare but often-fatal condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

But a simple genetic test can determine who has a 10-fold higher risk for developing this condition, which means those patients could discuss safer treatment options with their ...

Could Ativan Pose Harm to People Battling Pancreatic Cancer?

Sometimes patients with pancreatic cancer are prescribed the benzodiazepine lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety, but that may be harming their health.

A new study found this treatment was linked to worse outcomes, with shorter survival times and faster disease progression.

Alternatively, those who took alprazolam (Xanax) had a significantly longer progression-free survival than patient...

New Treatment Could Be Safer Way to Fight Brain Tumors in Kids

Each year, about 140 kids in the United States are diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma, a typically non-cancerous brain tumor that develops near the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.

Doctors treat craniopharyngiomas with surgery to remove the entire tumor or a less aggressive surgery followed by radiation to kill any remaining cells.

Now, a

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • April 25, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Most Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancers Now Forgo Immediate Surgery

    Over the last decade, more and more Americans with early-stage prostate cancer have put off radiation and surgery, the standard treatment options, new research indicates.

    Instead, many U.S. men with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer have embraced “active surveillance,” in which their disease is carefully monitored for any sign of progression that might eventually require ...

    Ozempic: Dieters Who Use Scarce Diabetes Drug Could Face Side Effects

    Mila Clarke started taking Ozempic in 2020 to help manage her diabetes, but was pleasantly surprised to find herself soon shedding pounds.

    “I was like, this is really weird because I'm not having to try very hard to do this,” said Clarke, who has been diagnosed with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and chronicles her diabetes journey on her

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • February 1, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Lots of Teen Boys Use Steroids, Often With Side Effects

    Steroid users, especially teen boys and young men, seem indifferent to the serious side effects and dependency associated with use of the drugs, a new study finds.

    “We're seeing more young adults and adolescent boys engaging in risk behaviors, such as the use of steroids, to achieve what many see as the ideal male body,” said lead author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • November 28, 2022
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Women at Higher Odds for Side Effects From Some Cancer Treatments

    Gender differences extend to cancer treatments, with women having a higher risk of severe side effects from certain treatments than men, a new study finds.

    Previous research concluded women tend to have more side effects from chemotherapy, and this new paper shows the same is true for

  • |
  • February 15, 2022
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Exercise Might Boost Outcomes for People Battling Esophageal Cancer

    Alan Holman didn't stop exercising when told he had cancer, and he's glad of it, now that U.K. researchers say moderate exercise may improve chemotherapy outcomes in esophageal cancer patients.

    Holman, 70, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December 2016, shortly after retiring from his job as a facilities manager at a shopping mall in Britain. Like many patients, he underwent

    Hit Your Head? Look for These Warning Signs of Concussion

    If you or someone you know has suffered a concussion, a medical evaluation is crucial, an expert says.

    A concussion is "a short-lived functional brain injury typically caused by a bump or blow to the head," Cleveland Clinic con...

    New Clues to Why Some Develop 'Brain Fog' After COVID

    Brain fog. It has become an inexplicable side effect of COVID-19 infection, but researchers now report they have discovered a possible reason why it happens.

    In a small study, investigators found abnormalities in the

    Side Effects From New Cancer Meds Have Silver Lining

    Skin side effects caused by cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors may be a telltale sign that the drugs are working, according to a new study.

    Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, boost the body's immune response against tumor cells and have become standard care for many patients with advanced cancer. However, many experience skin side effects from the drugs.<...

    No Side Effects From Your COVID Vaccine? Don't Worry, It's Still Working

    Even if you don't have side effects from your COVID-19 vaccine, it's likely still working to protect you, a reassuring new report shows.

    Many people who receive the mRNA COVID vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna experience body aches and fatigue that indicate the vaccine is triggering ...

    Newer Hormone Treatments for Prostate Cancer May Raise Risk of Depression

    TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay Now) -- Advanced forms of hormone therapy are very effective at keeping prostate cancer in check, but they also can double a man's risk of falling into depression, researchers have found.

    Prostate cancer patients treated with the latest forms of hormone blockers were twice as likely to develop depression compared with men treated with older forms of hormo...

    Vaccine 'Nocebo': If You Expect Side Effects, They May Come

    Before getting their first dose of a COVID vaccine, many Americans were nervous about how they would react to the shot, but new research shows that fears of side effects may actually make side effects more likely.

    To investigate this so-called "nocebo" effect in people receiving COVID-19 vaccines, ...

    How Safe Is a 'Holiday' From Bone-Strengthening Meds?

    People on bone-protecting drugs often take breaks from them for a few years. Now a new study finds that a "holiday" from the medication risedronate (Actonel) may come with a slightly increased risk of hip fracture.

    Researchers found that compared with a drug holiday from alendronate (Fosamax), taking a few years off from risedronate came with an 18% higher risk of hip fracture.

    The ...

    Once-a-Day HIV Pill Works Well for Kids

    An international trial found that a once-a-day antiretroviral medication for kids with HIV is not only cheap and easy to take, but also better at suppressing HIV than standard treatments.

    "Our findings provide strong evidence for the global rollout of dolutegravir for children with HIV," said Dr. Diana Gibb, a professor of epidemiology at University College London and a principal investig...

    Real-World Data Confirms Pfizer Vaccine Safe for Kids Ages 5-11

    New U.S. data based on nearly 9 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine delivered to kids ages 5 to 11 shows no major safety issues, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    The vaccine was first authorized for use in th...

    Weed May Mess With Your Medicines, Causing Harm

    Many people turn to marijuana or cannabidiol to ease their achy joints and help them sleep, but a new study suggests that could wreak havoc with any other medications they're taking.

    Why? Because the body uses the same set of enzymes to process them all, scientists report.

    The chemicals in mari...

    Certain Meds Raise Odds for Delirium After Surgery

    Older adults have a higher risk of delirium after hip and knee surgery if they're taking anxiety, depression or insomnia drugs, researchers say.

    "Our findings show that different classes of medicine are riskier than others when it comes to causing delirium after surgery, and the older the patients are, the greater the risk," said lead study author Gizat Kassie. He is a postdoctoral resear...

    Young People Recover Quickly From Rare Heart Side Effect of COVID Vaccine

    It happens very rarely, but most teens and young adults who do experience heart inflammation (myocarditis) after a COVID-19 shot have mild symptoms and recover quickly, new research shows.

    “Overwhelmingly, data continue to indicate that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccinat...

    Do Immune-Based Cancer Drugs Work Better in Men?

    Women are two times more likely than men to die after receiving a combination of cancer immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors, but it's not clear if that difference is due to side effects or because the treatment isn't working, researchers say.

    This new class of highly targeted drugs -- which includes pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo) or ipilimumab (Yervoy) -- has re...

    Neurologists' Group Issues New Treatment Guidelines for Early Parkinson's

    Guidelines for treating movement problems in people in the early stages of Parkinson's disease have been updated.

    The new treatment recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) focus on dopaminergic medications, which increase dopamine levels or mimic dopamine effects. Parkinson's is a movement disorder that occurs when nerve cells in the brain fail to produce enough dopam...

    Neurologists' Group Issues Guidance to Families on Controversial Alzheimer's Drug

    Neurologists must make sure Alzheimer's patients and their families understand that the controversial drug aducanumab does not restore mental function, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) said in new position statement that includes ethical guidelines.

    "Aducanumab is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease, yet since it has been approved by the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration], patients...

    As Many as 1.6 Million Americans Lost Sense of Smell Due to COVID-19

    Lyss Stern lost her sense of smell when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March 2020, and it still hasn't returned.

    Stern, 47, a New York City author and mother, has seen countless doctors and taken many types of medicine, vitamins and supplements to get her sense of smell back. She also undergoes acupuncture regularly and saw an energy healer -- all to no or very little avail.

    "Ye...

    11/15 -- Long COVID Rare in College Athletes

    Long COVID is rare in college athletes, but those who have had COVID-19 should see a doctor if they have chest pain during activity, the authors of new study advise.

    The extent and effects of persistent symptoms in athletes after COVID-19 infection have been unclear, so researchers went searching for answers.

    "For the vast majority of athletes, this study shows that a return to play...

    More Evidence That COVID Vaccines Are Safe for Cancer Patients

    COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for most cancer patients, a new study confirms.

    Cancer patients have an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID because their immune systems have been weakened by their disease or treatments.

    "We pursued this study because there were limited data on the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in people with active cancer; no published pro...

    Your Expectations Could Shape Your Odds for Vaccine Side Effects

    When it comes to a COVID-19 shot, fear might be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    A new study found that folks who worried about possible side effects after vaccination were more likely to actually experience those side effects.

    Along with explaining why some people feel poorly after getting a jab, the findings may also help guide efforts to convince hesitant people to get vaccinated.

    ...

    How Two People With HIV Suppressed Virus After Stopping Treatment

    There are two ways that HIV patients' bodies can keep the virus under control after they stop antiretroviral therapy, a new study shows.

    The findings could point to ways to help people with HIV keep the virus in remission without having to keep taking medications that can have long-term side effects, according to researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease...

    Shorter Course of Post-Op Radiation May Work Well for Prostate Cancer Patients

    After prostate cancer surgery, men can safely undergo fewer radiation treatments at higher doses, a new clinical trial shows.

    Researchers found that the shorter regimen -- given over five weeks, instead of seven -- did not raise patients' odds of lasting side effects.

    Safety has been a "major concern" because when patients have fewer radiation treatments, the daily dose needs to be ...

    How Folks Are Coping With Post-COVID Loss of Smell, Taste

    People who've lost their ability to smell and taste due to COVID-19 have significant struggles, but they can find ways to cope with their situation, a new study shows.

    One of the most common side effects of COVID-19 is the loss of the sense of smell, which severely affects the sense of taste. This can lead to anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life.

    In this study, five women...

    Antidepressants Plus Common Painkillers May Raise Bleeding Risk

    Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a mainstay of depression treatment, but a new study warns that taking common painkillers alongside SSRIs may raise the chances for intestinal bleeding.

    In a review of 10 published studies involving 6,000 patients, researchers found that those taking SSRIs (such as Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft) and pain medicati...

    Confusion, Seizures: People Hospitalized After Taking Veterinary Drug for COVID

    It's a drug that's been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns.

    Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United States. But instead of protecting against the virus, the use of a medicine typically reserved for horses and cattle has...

    More Than Half of COVID-19 Survivors Will Get 'Long COVID'

    Long-term symptoms of coronavirus infection, known as 'long COVID,' affects more than half of COVID-19 survivors, and health care systems should be prepared to treat them, researchers say.

    So far, 236 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and many have had lingering physical and mental health problems for six months or longer.

    "The burden of poor health in COV...

    Nearly Half of U.S. Breast Cancer Patients Use Pot or CBD; Many Don't Tell Doctors

    When Brooklyn-based mom and fashion designer Suzanne Weiner began treatment for breast cancer three years ago, her medical marijuana card was her best friend.

    "Pot helped me tremendously with the anxiety and stress of my diagnosis," she said. "I was a mess." Weiner still smokes marijuana regularly to help lessen the side effects of an ongoing treatment that helps keep her cancer at bay.

    When COVID Triggers Loss of Smell, Younger Patients Recover It Sooner

    Most adults who lose smell or taste due to COVID-19 infection regain those senses within months, but a quick recovery is more likely in those under 40, a new study finds.

    It included 798 participants in an ongoing survey who reported a loss of either sense after testing positive for COVID.

    Side Effects of Pfizer Booster Shots Similar to First Two Doses

    As millions of Americans sign up to get their Pfizer booster shot, a new government report delivers reassuring news about its expected side effects.

    The study, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, evaluated the experiences of individuals who were able to get third doses starting in mid-August because they had compromised immune systems. In those cas...

    Tough Choices: Chemo That Can Save Kids With Cancer Can Also Damage Hearing

    The cancer drug cisplatin can save children's lives, but often with the side effect of hearing loss. Now a new study shows that young children are especially vulnerable, and the hearing damage may begin early in the course of treatment.

    The researchers said the findings highlight the need to screen kids' hearing during each round of cisplatin treatment, to catch problems early.

    Major Study Finds No Serious Health Issues From Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines

    An ongoing study of more than 6 million Americans found no serious side effects linked to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

    "These results from our safety surveillance are reassuring," said Dr. Nicola Klein, director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center in Oakland, Calif. She spoke in a Kaiser Permanente news release.

    Klein is also a leader of Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), which stu...

    Few Symptoms After Your COVID Shot? Don't Worry, You Still Got Immune Boost

    Just because you didn't have a significant reaction after your COVID-19 shot doesn't mean it's not working, researchers say.

    "It wasn't known if a lack of symptoms following vaccination or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection would indicate a less-than-adequate antibody response in people who received either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, so we studied an available group of staff from our...

    Two-Thirds of Mild COVID Cases Leave Long-Term Symptoms

    A little more than two out of every three people who have mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 will go on to develop long-term symptoms.

    That's the troubling takeaway from a University of Arizona Health Sciences' study launched in May 2020.

    "This is a real wake-up call for anyone who has not been vaccinated," said lead researcher Melanie Bell, a professor of biostatistics in the unive...

    Two PrEP Meds Work Equally Well; One Is Much Cheaper

    The two HIV prevention drugs available in the United States are equally safe and effective, and the biggest difference between them is price, a new study contends.

    However, a sizable minority of patients have switched from the older and cheaper "preexposure prophylaxis" (PrEP) formulation to the newer and much pricier one. In many cases that switch might not have been warranted, the resea...

    After Nearly 9 Million Pfizer Shots for U.S. Teens, Serious Side Effects Rare: CDC

    U.S. health officials have some reassuring news about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in young people: Among millions of U.S. teens who've received Pfizer's shots, serious side effects have been rare.

    As of July 16, close to 9 million teens, aged 12 to 17, had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine -- the only one okayed for that age group. Among roughly 9,240 reported side effects, 91% ...

    High Blood Pressure: Which Drug Works Best for You?

    Two long used types of blood pressure drugs are equally effective, but the less popular one seems to have fewer side effects, according to a large "real-world" study.

    The two classes of medication are both recommended as "first-line" treatments for high blood pressure: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

    ACE inhibitors have been a...

    Rash, Itch After COVID Vaccine Rare & Quickly Resolves

    Rashes, itchiness and other skin problems can develop after people receive COVID-19 vaccines, but such problems are rare and go away quickly, new research shows.

    For the study, the researchers looked at more than 40,000 employees of a Boston hospital system who received two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) and completed at least one symptom survey after...

    Too Many Older Americans Are Taking Daily Aspirin

    Many older adults are still taking a daily baby aspirin to ward off first-time heart problems -- despite guidelines that now discourage it, a new study finds.

    Researchers found that one-half to 62% of U.S. adults aged 70 and up were using low-dose aspirin to cut their risk of heart disease or stroke. And aspirin use was common even among those with no history of cardiovascular disease -- ...

    Many Americans Take Meds That Weaken COVID Vaccine Response

    A small but significant percentage of Americans take medications that can hamper their immune system and its response to COVID-19 vaccines, researchers say.

    Their analysis of data from more than 3 million adults under 65 with private insurance found that nearly 3% take immunosuppressive drugs. Those include chemotherapy medications and steroids such as prednisone.

    Two-thirds took an...

    Moderna Vaccine Can Trigger Red, Itchy 'COVID Arm,' But It's Temporary

    In rare cases, people who receive the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may experience a red, itchy patch of skin a few days later at the injection site, a new report finds.

    They shouldn't panic: This "COVID arm" reaction, although annoying, was short-lived in all cases and was easily treated with topical steroid creams, according to a team of researchers at Yale University.

    "No ser...

    Are You Taking a Med That's Raising Your Blood Pressure?

    Nearly one in five Americans with high blood pressure use medications that can cause blood pressure to spike, a preliminary study shows.

    The researchers said the findings are concerning, given how many people have difficulty controlling their high blood pressure.

    "A large number of Americans are not meeting their blood pressure goals," said lead researcher Dr. John Vitarello, an int...