Off-label, on-demand: The problems with drug delivery start-ups
New prescription drug delivery start-ups are bypassing the FDA's regulations on off-label marketing. More
Drugs Are Keeping Seniors Healthy, And Hurting Them
We are living in the age of prescription drugs. They can turn once-fatal diseases into manageable, chronic conditions. But especially for older adults, many of whom take five or more medications each day, they can cause illness or even death. More
Medication overload and older Americans
The drive to prescribe will contribute to the premature deaths of 150,000 older Americans in the next decade. More
Taking action on medication overload!
March 30-31 was a milestone in the Lown Medication Overload project, when 30 working group members came to Boston to discuss strategies for reducing medication overload. Here's what we talked about! More
Does the benefit of off-label Gabapentinoid use outweigh the harms?
Gabapentinoids like Neurontin and Lyrica are often prescribed for off-label uses. But does the evidence support this treatment? More
The other side of high drug costs
High drug prices have been a hot topic in politics recently, but there's another reason that our country spends so much on drug costs, write Shannon Brownlee and Judith Garber in Stat News. More
PRESS RELEASE: Growing epidemic of medication overload impacting millions of older Americans
In a new report, the Lown Institute calls for a national action plan to address overprescribing. More
Overprescribed: High cost isn’t America’s only drug problem
The pharmaceutical industry has followed a brilliant two-pronged strategy to maximize its profits: raise prices and increase consumption of medications. Most of the attention has focused on just one side of the equation — prices. With politicians and advocates on both sides of the aisle vowing to lower drug prices, few people are talking about Americans being overprescribed medications, which not only adds to the cost of drugs but also harms millions of Americans each year. More
Medication Overload: America’s Other Drug Problem
In this report, the Lown Institute calls for the development of a national strategy to address medication overload and help older people avoid its devastating effects on the quality and length of their lives. This is the full report (an executive summary is also available). Suggested Citation: Garber, J., and Brownlee, S. Medication Overload: America's Other Drug Problem. Brookline, MA: The Lown Institute. 2019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46241/LI.WOUK3548 More
Medication Overload, Executive Summary
This is the executive summary of a report by the Lown Institute that calls for the development of a national strategy to address medication overload and help older people avoid its devastating effects on the quality and length of their lives. More
More clarity and evidence needed in cardiology guidelines
In two pieces published recently in JAMA, researchers identify important issues in cardiology guidelines, including the lack of clarity in summary statements and a worsening evidence base. More
Why you should be a “medical conservative”
What does it mean to be a "medical conservative"? These doctors explain why it's important to be skeptical about new medical advances until unbiased and high-quality evidence shows a clear benefit. More
Top ten ways to prevent overuse and underuse in children’s health
In the newest edition of the American Family Physician, members of the Right Care Alliance Children's Health Council present their final list of top "Do's and Don'ts" for preventing both overuse and underuse in pediatrics. More
Managing blood pressure starts with listening
For conditions like mild hypertension, that depend a lot of patient behavior outside the clinic, adherence rates are typically very low. The newest piece in the Right Care Series gives physicians tips on how they can improve patient engagement. More
Tradeoffs in cancer screening: Where do we draw the line?
In a new commentary, Dr. Vinay Prasad and colleagues use a thought experiment to explain why cancer screening programs have to consider the harms as well as the benefits. More
Preventing harm from unnecessary antihypertensives in the hospital
When a patient in the hospital has elevated blood pressure, but no other symptoms related to a hypertensive emergency, what should be the course of action? More
Can telehealth improve value in primary care?
A new primary care model to encourage telehealth visits could be a step in the right direction, but also raises questions about provider burden. More
How much is medical care “worth”? The tricky question of value
Should we be worried about projected increases in health care spending? Or is it just the price we pay for better health? More
The Top Ten pediatric overuse articles from 2017
The pediatric field has been slower to recognize the problem of overuse, in part because there is less evidence available on overused services. A new review seeks to highlight studies that are filling these gaps in the research. More
Esketamine nears FDA approval, prompting both excitement and concern
As the powerful depression drug esketamine nearly FDA approval, some researchers are concerned that the approval would be lowering the bar for clinical evidence. More