More than 15 percent of reproductive-aged women have filled a prescription for an antidepressant medication during the years 2008–2013, according to a new analysis published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month and the CDC is working with the March of Dimes to raise awareness about the use of antidepressant medications by women of reproductive age, and what women should know and do for their own health and that of their babies. There is conflicting evidence about the potential link between some antidepressants and certain birth defects. Some commonly used antidepressants are sertraline (Zoloft), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), and citalopram (Celexa).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7709851-march-of-dimes-antidepressant-pregnancy-study/
Mark your calendars now – those leftover OTC and prescriptions in your medicine cabinet have got to go!
Chances are, if you open your medicine cabinet, you’ll find some some leftover medication that “might come in handy someday.” The reality is, those medications may have expired and are either ineffective or may cause more harm than you know. With cold and flu season upon us, it’s a great time to purge the medicine cabinet. Better to prepare now than scramble when you are sick. Clean out clutter and stock up on the staples!
Express Scripts clinical innovations saved its clients $45 billion in 2018 and delivered a 25-year record low drug trend of just 0.4 percent across employer-sponsored plans, according to data released today in its annual Drug Trend Report, an authoritative analysis of drug spending in the U.S.
Express Scripts’ solutions for driving lower drug prices and fostering the use of lower-net-cost treatments are making medication more accessible for beneficiaries. Unit drug costs decreased in 2018 for employer-sponsored and Medicare plans, while utilization of medications rose.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8478051-express-scripts-2018-drug-trend-report/
Parents want to do the best for their children, especially when they’re not feeling well. That often means giving liquid, over-the-counter (OTC) medications when they have a cold, fever or the flu. But even the best intentions can go wrong when it comes to dosing children’s OTC medicines.
OTC cough and cold medicines are safe and effective when used as directed – this includes always giving your child the precise, recommended dose. When it’s late at night and your child is sick, it may seem easier to reach for whatever is nearby, like a kitchen spoon, instead of taking the time to find the right dosing cup or syringe that came with the medicine. While 63 percent of parents surveyed say they prefer milliliter dosing devices to measure their children’s liquid medicine, 8 out of 10 parents* have given the wrong dose of liquid medicine to their child by accident.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8171651-chpa-educational-foundation-know-your-otcs/
The first comprehensive long-term study comparing different medications for type 2 diabetes is launching nationwide. The GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness) Study will compare the long-term benefits and risks of four widely used diabetes drugs in combination with metformin, the most common first-line medication for treating type 2 diabetes.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64578-grade-glycemia-reduction-approaches-in-diabetes-comparative-effectiveness
LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization today launched a new mobile application designed to make understanding and living with lung cancer less daunting and considerably more manageable. The new Lung Cancer Navigator mobile app provides lung cancer patients with access to the latest medical and treatment information related to their specific lung cancer diagnosis, and serves as a convenient hub for organizing customized care and support networks, asking questions, describing and tracking symptoms, and managing multiple medications.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7865551-lungevity-lung-cancer-navigator-app/
Blink Health, America’s leading prescription drug savings platform, today launched a program to help #TreatType2 diabetes by committing to give away $10 million worth of medication to patients with type-2 diabetes. People living with diabetes who create an account on Blink Health’s website or free mobile app, starting today, will receive a free, one-year supply of the three most commonly prescribed generic medications for type-2 diabetes: metformin, glipizide and pioglitazone. The program will also cover these three medications for existing Blink Health patients who use them.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8117451-blink-health-type-2-diabetes-medications/
