The hottest Medication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Friday Q&A: Ozempic & alcohol; social media & teens; talking to adult children about weight; & erythritol (artificial sweetener) risks

Are You Okay? • 439 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Some patients on Ozempic report reduced cravings for alcohol and other impulsive behaviors.
  2. Early data suggests that Ozempic may help reduce impulsivity and cravings linked to various habits, but medication alone is unlikely to be a complete solution for complex addictions.
  3. Research indicates that social media can have negative impacts on teen mental health, prompting concerns and further investigation.

Will the WHO Declare Dangerous Diet Drugs Globally Essential? Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes lists of essential medications, considering factors like disease prevalence, public health relevance, efficacy, and safety
  2. A request has been submitted to add glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to the core list of essential medications for the treatment of obesity, sparking debate
  3. The request faces skepticism due to the process of selection, lack of specialized knowledge in the requesting group, and potential conflicts of interest

Insomnia Advice

Thing of Things • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. If you have occasional insomnia, believing that lying down with your eyes closed can be almost as beneficial as sleeping might help.
  2. For chronic insomnia, consider trying antidepressants or other sleeping medications under your doctor's guidance. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is also effective.
  3. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia involves following a strict routine, including tracking sleep patterns, setting a consistent wake-up time, and avoiding napping during the day.

The onward march of semaglutide and friends

Brain Pizza • 662 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medication
  1. New diabetes drugs, like GLP-1 agonists, may help reduce cravings for alcohol and opioids. This suggests they could be useful for treating substance use disorders.
  2. These medications were originally designed for weight loss and diabetes management, but they are showing potential in other areas of health.
  3. The findings from recent studies hint at a broader impact of these drugs, which could change how we approach treatment for various health conditions, not just diabetes.
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Update on COVID & the New COVID Booster

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. The latest COVID sub-variant, EG.5, is becoming dominant but doesn't seem more contagious or severe than prior variants.
  2. New COVID boosters are expected soon, recommended for high-risk individuals like those over 65 or with underlying health issues.
  3. It is best to space out receiving COVID, flu, and RSV shots to minimize potential side effects.

Friday Q&A: on antidepressants; inattention; social anxiety; & “am I taking too many meds?”

Are You Okay? • 359 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Consider the option of seeking medication for managing depression symptoms if other interventions are not fully effective.
  2. Medication can be a valuable tool in a holistic approach to mental health, when used appropriately and under medical supervision.
  3. When facing intrusive thoughts and anxiety, techniques like recentering oneself and avoiding spirals can be helpful to regain focus.

Do EpiPens Fail Higher-Weight Patients

Weight and Healthcare • 359 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. There is controversy around Epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) and higher-weight patients, with studies showing needle length inadequacy in penetrating muscle tissue in some individuals.
  2. Research indicates that proper needle length and low-pressure injection are crucial for effective EAI use in higher-weight individuals, with concerns about dose adequacy, especially in women with higher BMIs.
  3. To address EAI effectiveness in higher-weight patients, measuring skin-to-muscle depth for personalized needle selection, pushing firmly during injection, and advocating for more inclusive research are recommended.

Friday Q&A: BMI as bible; osteoporosis; posture & aging; & atrial fibrillation

Are You Okay? • 319 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. BMI is not always an accurate reflection of health, and other factors like fitness level, nutrition, and overall habits should be considered.
  2. For bone health, activities like yoga can be beneficial in improving bone mineral density, potentially even more so than traditional interventions like medication.
  3. Doctors and patients should focus on a holistic approach to health that considers genetic, hormonal, behavioral, nutritional, and psychological factors, rather than just relying on numbers like BMI.

Friday Q&A: COVID, flu & RSV

Are You Okay? • 279 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Do not worry about taking over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen for common vaccine side effects; they do not significantly affect vaccine effectiveness.
  2. It is possible for individuals to contract Covid, flu, and RSV at the same time; the severity of the illness can vary depending on the individual's health condition.
  3. Consult with your doctor if you are taking immunosuppressants while considering getting a vaccine; adjustments may be needed to ensure vaccine efficacy.

Weight Loss Drugs Part 3 - Wegovy and Tirzepatide

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Weight loss drugs often lead to short-term weight loss followed by weight regain, with participants regaining a significant amount of weight and cardiometabolic gains after going off the drug.
  2. Wegovy and Tirzepatide, new weight loss drugs, show a pattern of rapid weight loss at the beginning, then levelling off, and potential weight regain later. Side effects of these drugs are serious.
  3. Pharmaceutical companies aim for profits by keeping patients on expensive weight loss drugs long-term, despite minimal evidence of long-term weight loss benefits and significant harm from side effects.

Novo Nordisk Marketing Diet Drug to Adolescents

Weight and Healthcare • 459 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Medication
  1. Novo Nordisk is marketing a weight loss drug to adolescents, with potential harmful side effects like gallbladder problems and low blood pressure.
  2. The weight loss from the drug may be partly due to flu-like symptoms caused by the medication, and long-term weight loss maintenance is challenging.
  3. Continued use of the drug for adolescents is concerning due to health risks, potential side effects, and the high cost of the medication.

Why The WHO Shouldn't Grant Diet Drug Request To Be Added To Essential Medicine List - Part 3

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. The research on the effectiveness, harms, and benefits of diet drugs requesting to be added to the WHO essential medicine list has several key issues: short study durations not capturing long-term effects, small and non-representative study populations, minimal weight loss effects, and failure to adequately assess adverse events.
  2. Cost-effectiveness analyses supporting the diet drugs are based on assumptions that being higher weight correlates with lower health-related quality of life and a belief that the treatment will induce weight loss and health benefits, which are not adequately proven by the research cited.
  3. The research includes conflicts of interest, such as studies funded by the drug manufacturers, and lack of long-term data to support claims of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. These factors raise concerns about the suitability of these drugs for the WHO essential medicine list.

Remeron

The Frontier Psychiatrists • 117 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Remeron, also known as Mirtazapine, has unique side effects like making you sleepy and increasing appetite due to its histamine effects.
  2. While Remeron may not differ significantly in its antidepressant effects from other drugs, it could work slightly faster and be more favorable in treating depression compared to SSRIs.
  3. A meta-analysis suggests that overall, Remeron might have a slight edge over SSRIs in treating depression, making it potentially a better option for some individuals.

Bupropion

The Frontier Psychiatrists • 117 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Bupropion is a versatile antidepressant with different brand names for various uses like depression, smoking cessation, and weight loss.
  2. Bupropion works differently than most antidepressants by affecting dopamine and norepinephrine, leading to no sexual side effects.
  3. Through meta-analysis, studies have shown that Bupropion is more effective than a placebo in treating depression.

Bempedoic Acid

The Skeptical Cardiologist • 216 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Bempedoic acid is a new option for lowering lipids in those who can't tolerate statins.
  2. It targets cholesterol synthesis in the liver by inhibiting ATP-citrate lyase.
  3. Patients intolerant to statins might experience side effects with bempedoic acid, but it could still be an option to try.

Friday Q&A: On Choosing a Doctor; Ozempic downsides; Long COVID; & Caregiver Burnout

Are You Okay? • 179 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. One way to know if your doctor is good is if they engage in active listening, use medical evidence for recommendations, and refer to other clinicians when needed.
  2. When considering trying a new medication like Ozempic, it's important to be aware of potential downsides and risks, including the possibility of weight gain after stopping the medication.
  3. Caregiver burnout is a real challenge that should not be overlooked, so it's crucial to seek support and take care of your own well-being while caring for others.

How Ozempic Will Change Cities

The New Urban Order • 119 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans over 20 years old are either overweight or obese, and as medications like semaglutide become more accessible, it may lead to significant changes in eating habits and society.
  2. While semaglutide can help reduce the obesity epidemic, it won't address the root causes such as predatory marketing of unhealthy foods, poverty, or lack of access to safe places for physical activity.
  3. The impact of medications like semaglutide on reducing obesity and changing eating habits could have far-reaching effects on various aspects of cities, from restaurants and transportation to parks and employment.

Lude Awakening: The Rise & Fall of Quaaludes

Tripsitter • 119 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Quaaludes, a drug popular in the 70s disco era, had euphoric and hallucinatory effects when resisted the urge to sleep.
  2. The rise of Quaaludes as a party drug was fueled by its intense euphoria and disinhibition effects, leading to widespread recreational abuse.
  3. The fall of Quaaludes was marked by increased addiction, overdoses, and stricter regulations due to its side effects and potential for abuse, eventually leading to its ban in the US in 1984.

A One-Minute ADHD Test (23/30)

psychotechnology • 12 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. There’s a six-question ADHD screener you can do in about a minute, and scoring 4 out of 6 is a strong reason to seek a full clinical assessment because the test has very high specificity but misses about a third of true cases.
  2. With adult ADHD prevalence around 5%, a 4/6 score translates to roughly an 87.5% chance you actually have ADHD, so a positive result is meaningful rather than likely a false alarm.
  3. ADHD is often highly treatable; stimulant medications help 70–90% of people and can greatly improve quality of life, and there are non‑stimulant options if stimulants aren’t suitable, so getting assessed can be life‑changing.

Friday Q&A: On Ozempic; Alcohol; Hormones & Breast Cancer; & How to Ask for Help

Are You Okay? • 119 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Ozempic is a useful tool for managing weight, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Other treatment modalities should be considered alongside medication.
  2. The discussion around health effects of alcohol can be nuanced - not all recommendations apply universally to everyone.
  3. It's important to approach weight loss and health in a holistic way, considering various factors like societal, genetic, hormonal, behavioral, nutritional, and psychological influences.

Weight-Neutral, Non-Restrictive Blood Pressure Management

Weight and Healthcare • 279 implied HN points • 29 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. High blood pressure can affect people of all sizes for various reasons, and it's crucial to provide blame-free and shame-free care.
  2. Weight-neutral approaches to blood pressure management can include medication, specific dietary choices like high-potassium foods, and supplements.
  3. In addition to traditional treatment options, lifestyle factors like sleep, meditation, and movement can also play a role in managing blood pressure.

The Black Box "Problem"

Prompt Engineering • 39 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Medication
  1. Our understanding of how AI works is limited due to the black box problem.
  2. Engineers build based on understanding, while scientists dissect to understand.
  3. It's more important for AI to work as intended and be continuously tested than to fully understand how it works.

R U OK with R U OK day?

A Perfectly Cromulent Software Engineer • 39 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. R U OK? Day is an initiative in Australia that promotes suicide prevention by encouraging people to ask others if they are okay.
  2. While the sentiment behind R U OK? Day is important, it highlights the need for deeper systemic support beyond individual efforts.
  3. Addressing mental well-being requires more than just asking a simple question, it calls for tangible actions like improving access to therapy, medication, housing, and employment.

Could LLM psychiatrists be better than meat ones?

Aliveness Studies • 3 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Some psychiatrists may not provide thorough care during sessions, which can leave patients feeling unheard. It's important for mental health professionals to take time to understand their patients' feelings better.
  2. Using a large language model (LLM) and established guidelines, like the Maudsley, can give patients access to more up-to-date and evidence-based information regarding their treatment. This can help patients make informed decisions about their medications.
  3. While LLMs shouldn't fully replace psychiatrists, they could be a helpful tool for patients to get more insights and support alongside traditional care. Combining technology with medical expertise might improve overall mental health treatment.

Why Can't Americans Take A Vacation?

The Weekly Dish • 177 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. American workers put in long hours, with some even working up to 90 hours per week, impacting their ability to take vacations
  2. The pursuit of material possessions and societal pressure to work hard contribute to Americans' lack of leisure time compared to Europeans
  3. Globalization and technology have intensified the work culture, making Americans always accessible and potentially leading to burnout

Experimental Meds to Spice Things Up in the Bedroom

Torture Chamber Small Talk • 199 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Men might soon have their own birth control pill, which is a big deal and could change the contraceptive game.
  2. Women are feeling bitter about the male birth control pill being non-hormonal and side-effect-free, while they have dealt with hormonal contraception for years.
  3. The introduction of a male birth control pill raises questions about societal views on control over contraceptive matters and may shift responsibilities in relationships.

Myth #5: Depression & Anxiety Medications are for Wimps

Are You Okay? • 39 implied HN points • 27 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Depression and anxiety medications are important tools for treating mood disorders and can significantly improve quality of life and, in some cases, be life-saving.
  2. Anxiety and depression symptoms can significantly impact quality of life and physical health, and seeking support, including medication when needed, is crucial.
  3. Treatment for anxiety and depression varies for each individual and may include lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication as part of a holistic approach to mental health.

The Ugly Side Effects of Being Extremely Attractive

Torture Chamber Small Talk • 79 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Weight loss drugs like Ozempic can have serious side effects but are increasingly popular for cosmetic weight loss.
  2. Beauty standards and societal pressures play a significant role in the obsession with appearance and weight loss.
  3. Health should be the priority over beauty, and extreme measures like weight loss drugs should only be considered for health reasons, not just aesthetic purposes.

about pharmaceuticals and their commercials

the rohn report • 59 implied HN points • 08 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Pharmaceutical commercials often follow a predictable formula, portraying idealistic, happy scenarios while downplaying potential side effects and risks.
  2. The pharmaceutical industry in the US is heavily marketed, indicating a significant focus on advertising and promotional activities.
  3. Companies may employ various tactics, like offering gifts to clinic staff, to influence the prescribing and use of their products, raising questions about ethics and integrity.

Doctors Are Not Being Honest About The Pill

Reactionary Feminist • 29 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication
  1. Doctors may not be fully informing women about the risks and effects of birth control pills.
  2. The Pill can have serious mental and physical side effects, such as depression, altered mate selection, and chronic inflammation.
  3. There is a lack of long-term research on the impacts of birth control pills, especially on young women's brain development.