Latest Medication News

Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdown

Jun. 27, 2024 17:53 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 200 people have been charged in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud schemes with false claims topping $2.7 billion, the Justice Department said on Thursday. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the charges against doctors, nurse...

Most kids get antibiotics for pink eye, study shows. Experts say they're usually not needed

Jun. 27, 2024 16:44 PM EDT

Doctors are prescribing antibiotics to most kids and teens who have pink eye, despite guidelines that discourage their use, researchers reported Thursday. More than two-thirds of U.S. children and teens who saw a doctor for pink eye left with a prescription for antibiotic eye drops,...

The legal odyssey for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and its owners is complex. Here's what to know

Jun. 27, 2024 14:35 PM EDT

Members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma have been cast as prime villains in the U.S. opioid epidemic. The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a deal for the company to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids through bankruptcy court. The deal...

US health officials strengthen endorsement of RSV shots for oldest Americans

Jun. 26, 2024 17:06 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Wednesday made a stronger endorsement for RSV vaccinations for people 75 and older, but offered a narrower recommendation for people 60 to 74. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepted the recommendations from a...

Arkansas sues 2 pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of fueling opioid epidemic in state

Jun. 24, 2024 19:26 PM EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Monday sued two pharmacy benefit managers that oversee coverage for insurers, employers and other large clients, accusing them of fueling the opioid crisis in the state. Attorney General Tim Griffin filed the lawsuit against Express Scripts Inc....

More African nations focus on HPV vaccination against cervical cancer, but hesitancy remains

Jun. 24, 2024 00:44 AM EDT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Yunusa Bawa spends a lot of time talking about the vaccine for the human papillomavirus that is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. But on most days, only two or three people allow their daughters to be vaccinated in the rural part of Nigeria where he works....

Maine doctor convicted on multiple counts of illegally distributing opioids

Jun. 22, 2024 16:01 PM EDT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine doctor who runs an addiction treatment center has been convicted on multiple counts of illegally distributing opioids including oxycodone, hydromorphone and fentanyl. Dr. Merideth Norris, 53, of Kennebunk, Maine, was found guilty in federal court...

Obesity drug used in Mounjaro and Zepbound may help treat dangerous sleep apnea

Jun. 21, 2024 18:21 PM EDT

A popular obesity drug may help treat a dangerous disorder in which people struggle to breathe while they sleep, a new study finds. Tirzepatide, the medication in the weight-loss drug Zepbound and also the diabetes treatment Mounjaro, appeared to reduce the severity of sleep apnea...

North Carolina lawmakers appeal judge's decision blocking abortion-pill restrictions

Jun. 21, 2024 15:57 PM EDT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders are appealing portions of a federal judge's order this month that blocked several state laws that restrict how abortion pills can be dispensed, including the requirement that only physicians can provide the drugs to patients. ...

Family wants DNA testing on strand of hair that could hold key to care home resident’s death

Jun. 21, 2024 14:14 PM EDT

A single black hair could help bring clarity to the mysterious death of a 50-year-old Philadelphia woman who choked on a large disinfectant wipe at a care home for people with development difficulties. Staff found Cheryl Yewdall face down on the floor, lips blue and in a pool of...