FDA Requires Boxed Warning, Medication Guides for Opioids, Benzodiazepines

The prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines in combination has increased 41 percent between 2002 and 2014. The FDA will now be mandating “boxed warnings” on 389 separate products in an effort to decrease this dangerous combination.

“A Hopeful Sign”: Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Promise

A monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid plaques seen in Alzheimer’s shows promise in slowing the typical decline observed with this disease. Hopefully, phase III studies will prove this drug to be beneficial.

Researchers Find Association Between Zika and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The Zika virus has largely been considered a fairly benign viral illness for men and non-pregnant females. However, a recent case series published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome is 2.0–9.8 times higher than baseline in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries, and this appears to correlate with Zika infections.

Massachusetts Sees Consultant Availability Decrease Between 2005 and 2014

A recent study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found a decrease in the availability of many specialty consultants in emergency departments across Massachusetts between 2005 and 2014 despite steadily increasing patient visits. General surgery, neurology, ob-gyn, orthopedics, pediatrics, plastic surgery, and psychiatry were the specialties that saw a decrease.

Illinois Sees Increase in ED Visits After Rollout of Affordable Care Act

A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine shows emergency department visits have increased since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act despite no increased rate of hospitalization. It is unclear if these visits were unnecessary and better suited for the primary care setting.