Archive for 'Drugs' Category

Novel Immunogenic Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise in Murine Model

In their study, published Jan. 4 in the online edition of Molecular Therapy…this novel strategy might be the first to offer cocaine addicts a fairly simple way to break and reverse their habit, and it might also be useful in treating other addictions, such as to nicotine [or] opiates. the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Ronald [...]

New Cyanide Antidote

University of Minnesota Center for Drug Design and Minneapolis VA Medical Center researchers have discovered a new fast-acting antidote to cyanide poisoning.   Current cyanide antidotes work slowly and are ineffective when administered after a certain point, said Steven Patterson, Ph.D., principal investigator and associate director of the University of the Minnesota Center for Drug [...]

Med Student's Drug Guide – Part 2

SDN’s Alison Hayward, M.D. and Sarah M. Lawrence present a concise guide to narcotics: Heroin marketed by Bayer from 1898-1910 as a cough syrup and as a cure for morphine addiction, until the public discovered that heroin is merely an acetylated form of morphine which is not only converted to morphine as it is metabolized [...]

Med Student's Drug Guide – Part 1

SDN’s Alison Hayward, M.D. and Sarah M. Lawrence present a concise guide to narcotics: Alcohol Alcohol is a CNS depressant that appears to act mainly as an agonist on GABA receptors and a blocker at NMDA receptors. It is more correctly referred to as ethanol or “EtOH” because there are other types of alcohols, including [...]

Coffee Pros & Cons

For moderate coffee drinkers (3-4 cups/day providing 300-400 mg/day of caffeine), there is little evidence of health risks and some evidence of health benefits. The “Pros” 1. Antioxidants 2. Regular coffee consumption reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease. 3. Coffee consumption is potentially protective against the development of type 2 diabetes. 4. Coffee drinking may [...]

Drive Home Safely – Coffee vs Sleep

Driving home after exhaustive exams can be dangerous. French researchers compare caffeine and naps. Coffee wins. Among 20- to 25-year-old drivers, the risk of line-crossing fell by 66 percent after a nap, and 74 percent after drinking caffeinated coffee. Don’t forget the 3rd & safest option: postpone your journey until after a good night’s sleep. [...]

Chronic Pain Sufferer or Faker?

From Chronic Pain or Drug Addiction by BENJAMIN BREWER, M.D. [The Doctor's Office, WSJ.com] Doctors are often accused of not adequately treating pain and being insensitive to patients’ needs. But they also have found themselves prosecuted or disciplined by licensing boards for prescribing too much pain medication. Trying to find a balance can be tricky. [...]