Getting Past the Hype

Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and the New Safety Warnings: What It Means for You

The FDA issued new safety warnings for statins in February 2012 about the increased risk for diabetes, memory loss and muscle pain, symptoms that we have been warning patients about for some time. | more

Is Newer and More Expensive Care Better?

You get what you pay for, right? Many people assume that more expensive care is superior. However, care that is far less expensive is sometimes just as good or even better. | more

“Pink Viagra” (Flibanserin): lots of risks and almost no benefit

There is no doubt that some women lose sexual desire, especially as they age. It would be great if there was a safe and effective drug to help them, but this drug is not it. | more

Do Hair Dyes Cause Cancer?

The bottom line for now, pending additional research, is that people who have been using permanent hair dyes since the 1980s appear to be at little to no increased risk of lymphoma or other cancers. | more

Examining the Safety of Natural Supplements

In their quest for health and beauty, half of all American adults take natural supplements to solve all sorts of problems. But do these products really work, and how much do Americans know about their safety? Not as well as one may think, and not nearly enough. Ultimately, it is unwise to trust the claims that manufacturers of dietary supplements make about either the effectiveness or safety of their products. Let the buyer beware. | more

Are e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes?

Don't be fooled. E-cigarettes are addictive and contain cancer-causing chemicals. | more

Ghostbusting: Exposing Drug Company-Hired Ghostwriters in Medical Journals

Doctors rely on scientific papers for accurate information on which drugs and treatments are best for their patients, but are all these papers trustworthy? Often times, industry-paid "ghostwriters" author these papers, leading to biased articles that mislead doctors into prescribing medication that may not work or could be harmful to their patients. | more

The Facts About Medication for Colds and the Flu

Cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses and there is no "cure" for either. Because antibiotics do not treat symptoms or cure either cold or flu, many people turn to over-the-counter medications in an effort to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms. But, do these products work, and are they safe? Are they safe for children as well? Can the risks outweigh the benefits? | more

Cancer Researchers with Industry Ties Report “Rosier” Results

With all of the cancer studies being performed today, how can consumers be sure of their accuracy? A study by Dr. Reshma Jagsi at the University of Michigan and her colleagues indicates that cancer studies are more likely to have positive results when the researchers have ties to the company that makes the product being studied. With nearly one-quarter of relevant research articles disclosing a conflict of interest, this causes reason for concern. | more