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Articles on Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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A goal of the Texas plaintiffs was to stop the practice of sending abortion medication by mail. Andrii Zorii/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Anti-mifepristone court decisions rely on medical misinformation about abortion and questionable legal reasoning

If the ruling to reverse the use of mifepristone stands, it will not only severely restrict abortion access for women throughout the US – it will have far-reaching effects on health care.
Breast density is one of the factors that can influence whether people should pursue supplemental screening. andresr/E+ via Getty Images

The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions

Dense breast tissue is common and normal, but it can make cancer more difficult to detect. FDA requirements going into effect in September 2024 will dictate that patients be better informed about it.
Legal battles are being waged over mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Medication abortion could get harder to obtain – or easier: There’s a new wave of post-Dobbs lawsuits on abortion pills

A rash of pending lawsuits raises questions about the FDA’s approval of mifepristone two decades ago, whether the drug can be legally mailed and the constitutional right to interstate commerce.
The FDA advisory committee discussed vaccine safety, effectiveness of the current shots, potential seasonality of COVID-19 and more. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

FDA advisory committee votes unanimously in favor of a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine approach – 5 questions answered

Many questions remain about next steps for US vaccine policy. But the FDA advisory panel’s hearty endorsement of a single-composition COVID-19 vaccine represents a pivotal step.
Alzheimer’s disease is an incapacitating, progressive brain disorder that affects the lives of more than 6.5 million Americans. PamelaJoeMcFarlane/E+ via Getty Images

What the FDA’s accelerated approval of a new Alzheimer’s drug could mean for those with the disease – 5 questions answered about lecanemab

In clinical trials, lecanemab slowed disease progression by 27% and reduced the amount of plaque found in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease.
The rule change has little to no effect in states where abortion is banned or restricted. LaylaBird/E+ via Getty Images

What the FDA’s rule changes allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be dispensed by pharmacies mean in practice – 5 questions answered

The FDA’s allowance for pharmacies to dispense mifepristone will broaden access to the two-pill mifepristone-misoprostol regimen of medication abortion, which is 95% to 98% effective.
The pharma industry warned that if proposed new prescription price guidelines go ahead, drug launches would be delayed and ‘Canadian patients will be deprived of potentially life-saving new medicines.’ (Shutterstock)

How the pharmaceutical industry uses disinformation to undermine drug price reform

The pharma industry claims lower prescription drug prices will mean less access to new medication for Canadians. It’s an old threat that pits profits against patients’ rights to affordable drugs.
Only one antiviral medication is approved by the FDA for RSV treatment, and it is administered through a nebulizer. BonNontawat/iStock via Getty Images Plus

RSV treatments for young children are lacking, but the record 2022 cold and flu season highlights the urgency for vaccines and other preventive strategies

While RSV can become severe for any child, it poses a particularly serious threat for the youngest babies and for high-risk children.
Now that over-the-counter hearing aids are available, it’s important to know what questions to ask. peakSTOCK/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Over-the-counter hearing aids offer a wide range of options – here are things to consider before buying

They are cheaper to buy and don’t require a doctor’s prescription. But OTC hearing aids come with some limitations.
The over-the-counter birth control pill will not require medical examinations or prescriptions prior to purchase. Sergey Mironov/Moment via Getty Images

With over-the-counter birth control pills likely to be approved, pharmacists and pharmacies could play an ever-increasing role in reproductive health care

Some states already allow pharmacists to provide birth control to patients with a prescription. But FDA approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill could greatly expand access.
Technique matters when it comes to getting a sufficient amount of virus for a rapid test. Images By Tang Ming Tung/Digital Vision via Getty Images

COVID-19 rapid tests can breed confusion – here’s how to make sense of the results and what to do, according to 3 testing experts

Rapid tests can be an incredibly useful tool for early detection of COVID-19. Unfortunately, they sometimes leave people with more questions than answers.
Regulations in the US and EU are intended to ensure that cosmetics and other personal-care products are safe, but the two continents approach the issue in different ways. Marco Verch/Flickr

Just how safe are cosmetics on the European market?

From miscarriages to cancer, poor regulation of cosmetics in the US have taken a devastating toll on consumers’ lives. Are European consumers any safer?
The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 designated a new class of OTC hearing aids. Heizeng Hu/Moment via Getty Images

Over-the-counter hearing aids have been greenlighted by the FDA – your local pharmacist will soon be able to sell you the device you need

OTC hearing aids promise to increase the accessibility and affordability of the devices for millions of adults who live with untreated mild to moderate hearing loss.
A 95% reduction in the nicotine content of cigars and cigarettes would make these tobacco products largely nonaddictive. Robert Recker/The Image Bank via Getty Images

The US government’s call for deep nicotine reduction in cigarettes could save millions of lives – an expert who studies tobacco addiction explains

The proposed standard would lower the nicotine content in cigarettes and cigars by 95% – a public health proposal that could prevent millions from becoming smokers in the first place.
Consuming an ample supply of fresh fruits and vegetables is still a tried and true way of getting vitamins and minerals and achieving lasting health benefits. PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

An expert panel has recommended against taking vitamin E or beta carotene supplements for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease – here’s why

Despite the popular belief that vitamin E and beta carotene supplements help prevent heart disease and cancer, the latest research suggests they do not – but the supplements do have potential risks.
It is illegal for people under 21 to smoke e-cigarettes like Juuls, but adult use has come under scrutiny, too. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The FDA and Juul are fighting over a vape ban, but the role of e-cigarettes in the world of tobacco abuse is not clear-cut

E-cigarettes are facing calls for complete bans on their sale. A tobacco addiction researcher explores the balance between vaping’s harm to teens and potential use as a tool for quitting smoking.

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