The FDA approved Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm for all people with mild dementia -- but most of this population is at an increased risk of side effects from the drug. More
State budgets are already being squeezed by rising health care costs, leaving less for public health and social spending. How will the cost of new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm impact Medicaid costs and state budgets? More
The FDA's approval of a new Alzheimer's treatment has significant implications for future drug trials, health system costs, patient safety, and conflicts of interest. More
General anesthesia is necessary for some medical procedures, but can put children and older adults at risk of harm. In this guest blog, a medical student shares what they're learning about avoiding anesthesia overuse. More
In a new study, researchers found that 34% of older adults were prescribed a potentially inappropriate medication. People taking five or more medications were much more likely to have received an inappropriate medication. More
We spoke with Dr. Tom Perry, clinical associate professor at UBC to ask him about practical ways to avoid medication overload and the assumptions about medications we need to rethink in our society. More
Overprescribing of opioids can lead to dependence and serious harm, but abrupt tapers or discontinuation can also be disruptive for patients already taking opioids. How can primary care clinicians prescribe pain medications responsibly? More
A new qualitative study offers insights into why so many people at low risk of heart disease are taking statins. More
While everyone is focused on the current pandemic, how can we take actions now to reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance? More
Clinicians may avoid deprescribing a blood pressure medication because they fear that patients' blood pressure will rise dangerously. For those clinicians, the new OPTIMISE trial results may put their mind at ease. More
How is the FDA measuring success when it comes to approval for new cancer drugs? More
A recent New York Times investigation revealed that retail pharmacies are pressuring pharmacists to fill prescriptions at an unsafe pace, leading to overprescribing and medication errors. More
Despite the prevalence of multiple medication use, a significant proportion of both older adults and caregivers were unaware that older adults should avoid certain medications. More
A recent study finds that overtreatment of older adults for Type 2 diabetes is common, harmful, and preventable. More
Health care providers still have a long way to go when it comes to reducing preventable harm, especially harm from medications. More
Overuse of antibiotics and some over-the-counter medications can have serious consequences, especially for older patients. More
Although medication overload is particularly prevalent in older adults, younger people are not immune to harm from overprescribing, particularly when it comes to drugs for psychiatric conditions. Here is one person's story of harm from the psychiatric drug prescribing cascade. More
Gabapentinoids like Neurontin and Lyrica are often prescribed for off-label uses. But does the evidence support this treatment? More
We should not just be asking, "Why are we prescribing so many opioids" but also, "Why are we doing so many wisdom teeth extractions?” More
Could something called "Magic Swizzle" be harmful? We talked with Dr. Ricardo Nieves about his winning vignette on the topic. More