Number of prescriptions for erectile dysfunction has DOUBLED in a decade, new study reveals 

The Viagra revolution: Number of prescriptions for erectile dysfunction has DOUBLED in a decade, new study reveals The NHS spends around £22.4million a year on erectile dysfunction medication The amount of drugs given out has increased by 110% between 2009 and 2019 Study from Birmingham and Warwick universities shows biggest increase is in the north … Read more

Green prescriptions don’t work because people are less motivated to go outside if told they have to

‘Green prescriptions’ don’t work: Spending time in nature is only good for people’s mental health if they feel it is their choice, study claims Green prescriptions see GPs tell people with mental health to go outside   Spending time outside is known to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety But the benefits of nature are stymied if a … Read more

Addiction: Dramatic rise in UK opioid use as prescriptions for CODEINE jump five-fold in 10 years

Dramatic increase in opioid use in the UK as prescriptions for CODEINE jump five-fold in 10 years raising concerns of an addiction crisis Manchester experts studied opioid use among 2 million primary care patients They found use of less common drugs like tramadol and oxycodone is also rising One-in-seven first time opioid patients take the drugs … Read more

CVS didn’t tell customers their prescriptions were filled by a COVID-19-positive staff member 

CVS district leader ‘told pharmacy staff at a Georgia store not to inform customers that their prescriptions were filled by a worker who tested positive for COVID-19’ A CVS pharmacy staff member in Georgia allegedly began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms and subsequently tested positive A district leader allegedly told employees to track medications filled by the sick … Read more

Most older adults with dementia have filled prescriptions that aren’t designed for the brain disease

Almost three-quarters of older American adults with dementia filled prescriptions for medications that aren’t designed for the brain disease, a new study finds. Researchers found that many had filled at least one prescription for antidepressants, opioid painkillers, epilepsy drugs, anxiety medications or antipsychotics. What’s more, patients who were women, white and in their 60 or … Read more

Chemists call for powers to change customers’ prescriptions if items are out of stock

Chemists call for powers to change customers’ prescriptions if items are out of stock – in a bid to cut delays Pharmacists must provide exact prescriptions to customers under current law  But they say the current prescriptions process is ‘a waste of everybody’s time’ New proposal could let chemists change quantities and strength of prescription By … Read more

Prescriptions for anxiety drugs up 34% amid the stress of the coronavirus pandemic 

Prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs have spiked by more than a THIRD as Americans struggle to cope with the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, report finds Researchers looked at prescriptions for mental health medications for 31.5 million Americans filled from January 19 to March 15  Prescriptions for antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and anti-insomnia drugs increased by 21% … Read more

Walgreens app ‘error’ lets customers view other peoples’ prescriptions, names and shipping addresses

Walgreens ‘error’ lets customers view other peoples’ prescriptions, names and shipping addresses in the app Walgreens says a bug in its official mobile app may have exposed sensitive data  The error leaked information in the app, allowing other users to view it The data included names, prescription details, store numbers and addresses The issues occurred … Read more

NHS prescriptions price will rise AGAIN by 15p to £9.15 from April

NHS prescriptions price will rise AGAIN by 15p to £9.15 from April in hike which campaigners say ‘penalises those with long term conditions’ Patients in England will, from April 1, have to pay extra 15p to collect medicines  The price was also raised last April, when it rose from £8.80 to the current £9  The … Read more

Britain risks US-style opioid crisis as FIVE million adults get prescriptions

Britain risks US-style opioid crisis as FIVE million adults get prescriptions for highly addictive drugs every year, reveals government health body Five million adults a year receive prescriptions for the addictive painkillers  Public Health England conducted the inquiry which found ‘alarming’ results   Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the findings as ‘shocking’  Opioids are dangerously addictive … Read more