https://medicalxpress.com/medications-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Clinical pharmacology Google "what are the health benefits of ketones" and you'll get dozens of hits promising everything from epilepsy control to improved heart health to more effective muscle-building at the gym. Researchers at the University of Alberta are examining the evidence to understand how ketone biology—including ketone-based therapies—may shape the management of cardiometabolic diseases including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-science-ketones-health.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:40:01 EDT news695894602 Psychedelic drugs could soon play a larger role in mental health care. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting federal research into substances like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA and expanding their use in controlled treatment settings. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-trump-psychedelic.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:20:05 EDT news695918712 A major multi-country study has found that WHO-recommended first-line antibiotics for neonatal sepsis are likely to be effective in only one-quarter of infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The findings, presented today at ESCMID Global 2026 in Munich, highlight the growing impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-antibiotics-neonatal-sepsis-infections-middle.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:10:07 EDT news695916242 A new U.S. Senate report, released by Sen. Bernie Sanders, found that drug companies involved in price deals with President Donald Trump have continued to raise prices on hundreds of meds. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drug-prices-pricing.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:40:02 EDT news695910927 The same neurotransmitter commonly leveraged to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety also may exacerbate a vexing condition known as tinnitus, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-serotonin-spikes-worsen-tinnitus-brain.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:28 EDT news695916001 An Australia-wide study led by researchers at Adelaide University has found ketamine consumption is increasing across the country. The study analyzed wastewater samples collected between December 2020 and April 2025. Daily influent wastewater samples were collected from treatment plants across capital city and regional sites in all states and territories, covering on average 53% of the total population. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-wastewater-reveal-ketamine-australia-weekend.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:09 EDT news695906401 Cannabis is no longer viewed solely as a recreational substance; it is increasingly recognized for its therapeutic potential. In many parts of the world, laws have evolved to include the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The medical community hasn't reached a clear consensus yet, and a recent study has only increased the uncertainty further. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cannabis-anti-inflammatory-believed-complex.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:40:01 EDT news695910222 The need for medical treatments for rare diseases such as Leigh syndrome is high. However, low patient numbers make research into treatments difficult. Together with a team from the University of Luxembourg, researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD) have succeeded in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to establish a model that enables a better understanding of Leigh syndrome. In the course of this work, they succeeded in identifying new drug candidates for the treatment of the disease. The study is now published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-screening-brain-organoids-uncovers.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:20:06 EDT news695898854 A landmark study led by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and published in Molecular Psychiatry has identified a significant association between prenatal prescription of commonly utilized medications and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-millions-birth-uncover-autism-surge.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news695894900 The next time you need medical advice for a common ailment like acne, insomnia or pink eye, consider visiting your pharmacist. Pharmacists in Alberta have the widest scope of practice in Canada, and more than 100 new community pharmacy care clinics across the province are designed to complement what is offered by physicians, walk-in clinics and emergency departments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pharmacy-clinics-alberta-common-illnesses.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:30:02 EDT news695564678 Acute sinusitis leads to more antibiotic prescriptions for U.S. adults than any other condition, but there is no consensus on which antibiotic is preferred for uncomplicated cases. In a retrospective, nationwide study of more than 500,000 patients with acute sinusitis, a research team led by Mass General Brigham investigators found no major differences in measured outcomes between adults who received standard amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate (a more powerful, combination antibiotic). Patients treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate were at slightly higher risk of contracting secondary infections. Results are published in JAMA. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-standard-dose-antibiotic-choice-treatment.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:30:01 EDT news695634731 Injectable peptides are generating a lot of buzz online. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-retatrutide-weight-shredded.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:00:01 EDT news695634876 Have you been to a licensed cannabis dispensary lately? My team and I often visit them in the Greater Lansing area to invite cannabis users to participate in our studies. As soon as we walk in, we are met with a dazzling array of products: high-potency vape cartridges, gourmet gummies, premium marijuana flowers and more. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cannabis-sales-high-michigan-federal.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news695634886 Wearable technologies are starting to reshape how people manage health. Continuous glucose monitors that measure blood sugar levels in diabetes patients have already shown the power of tracking an important molecule in real time. The next leap is to track other medically important molecules. However, doing so is far more difficult because most of those molecules are present at much lower concentrations than glucose. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-deep-microneedle-sensor-tracks.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:40:01 EDT news695650742 Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat and are responsible for over 2.8 million infections and more than 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. A new study in Nature Communications reports that a drug used to lower blood pressure could also be the basis of a promising new treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-pressure-drug-effective-antibiotic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news695650442 A new approach to weight loss research is challenging one of the biggest assumptions behind popular weight loss drugs: Are GLP-1s actually needed to achieve weight loss? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-weight-loss-glp-drugs.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:05 EDT news695650922 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will soon review whether certain peptides should be allowed in customized medications made by compounding pharmacies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fda-access-peptides.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:40:04 EDT news695650801 A widely used anxiety medication is being pulled from shelves due to "failed dissolution specifications," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-lot-xanax-recalled-nationwide-quality.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:00:01 EDT news695564149 Arthritis includes a range of conditions that affect the joints, from inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis to more common conditions like osteoarthritis. Many people experience pain, stiffness, and a reduced quality of life. Treatment today focuses on reducing inflammation and relieving symptoms, depending on the type of arthritis. However, researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University have now identified a new possible route for future treatments. Their research is published in The Lancet Rheumatology journal. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-glp-joint-fluid-weight-loss.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:05 EDT news695569381 People who take gabapentinoids, a medication prescribed increasingly frequently worldwide, particularly for chronic pain, face a much greater risk of drug poisoning if they are also taking another medication, finds a new study by University College London (UCL) researchers. The authors of the new PLOS Medicine study have found that among people taking gabapentinoids, adding benzodiazepines was associated with a doubling in the risk of hospitalization for drug poisoning, while adding opioids was associated with a 30% increase in risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-adding-opioids-benzodiazepines-gabapentinoids-boosts.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:37:04 EDT news695572444 A team of University of Alberta researchers has developed a cardio-oncology drug that protects the heart from chemotherapy damage while enhancing the effectiveness of cancer treatments against tumor growth and spread. In a paper published as the cover story in Science Translational Medicine, the team identifies the target protein ZNF281 and a new drug they've developed called ZIM, or ZNF281 Interfering Molecule. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-kind-drug-aims-heart-effectiveness.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:02 EDT news695557479 Acetaminophen, which also goes by names like paracetamol or Tylenol, is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is often prescribed during pregnancy to help with mild to moderate pain. Recently, there has been a lot of discourse about its safety. Claims have been made suggesting that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of autism in children. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-major-pregnancy-collapses-tylenol-autism.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:04 EDT news695552971 A new study published in Stem Cell Reports demonstrates how a human stem cell-derived model of the intestine can be used to identify potential therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), highlighting glycyrrhizin as a promising candidate for reducing intestinal inflammation and cell death. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-black-licorice-compound-slashes-gut.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695548621 Drugs once hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's disease do not meaningfully help patients, a major review found Thursday, however some experts criticized the research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hyped-alzheimer-drugs-amyloid-brought.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:02:55 EDT news695534509 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told Eli Lilly to study possible heart, liver and other risks tied to its new obesity drug Foundayo, according to an approval letter released Tuesday. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-weight-loss-pill-fda-safety.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:00:03 EDT news695489101 Drugs that target amyloid beta proteins in the brain likely have no clinically meaningful positive effects, while increasing the risk of bleeding and swelling in the brain, a new review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-anti-amyloid-alzheimer-drugs-clinically.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:00:06 EDT news695456425 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a petition to revoke the approval of Roche's top-selling drug ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for treating primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)—a form of MS thought to affect around 15% of patients. The petition alleges that the drug was approved despite internal concerns about a lack of effectiveness in women and a potential increased risk of breast cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-women-primary-ms-bestselling-drug.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:02 EDT news695468221 A landmark government policy designed to slash the cost of medicines for millions of Australians is falling well short of its potential because GPs and pharmacists have been slow to adopt it, new research has found. The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, examined uptake of Australia's 60-day dispensing policy for blood pressure medicines in the two years since it launched in September 2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-australia-day-prescriptions-millions-patients.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:20:05 EDT news695485382 A large international study has found that asundexian, an investigational anti-clotting medication, reduces the risk of a stroke in people who recently experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) caused by a clot forming outside of the heart (non-cardioembolic stroke), without increasing bleeding, the most serious and feared complication of existing stroke prevention treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-anti-clotting-medication-lowers-added.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:09 EDT news695466481 Drug trials generally involve comparing a treatment with a nonactive, placebo version, an approach called "blinding" because patients must be "blind" as to which they've received for the trial to work. Canadian researchers say this is a huge issue for studies of psychedelic therapies because it's fairly obvious to patients whether they've been given a psychedelic or a placebo. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-psychedelic-mental-health-trials-reliable.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:40:07 EDT news695483130