>> New Alzheimer’s drug: death details
>> Off-label hallucinogen clinics
>> Procrastination blues
The Med & Mic™ 01.05.23
MED NEWS blog post from Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC
Insightful, supportive coaching to help you meet your speaking goals
Details about Alzheimer’s Drug Death
A research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine shares details about the death of a patient who received the experimental drug, lecanemab. The 65-year-old woman with early Alzheimer’s disease had received an infusion of the drug four days before being taken to the emergency department with signs of stroke. She received clot-busting medication for the stroke, but later died with extensive brain bleeding and other complications. She had received lecanemab during the open-label extension phase of the trial. She was not the only patient to die during this phase. The death of another participant who had bleeding in the brain was reported to the health publication STAT News. In the clinical trials, 2.8% had a side effect of swelling in the brain. Lecanemab is meant to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. The drug could be FDA approved this week, however, there may be some discretion as to which patients may be better suited for the therapy based on other medications and risk factors. (Source: CNN, J. Christensen and A. Sealy, 1.4.23)
Off-label Ketamine Clinics
Ketamine clinics, where people can get the drug “off-label” (for purposes not approved by the FDA), are springing up across the country. Ketamine is a hallucinogen which is FDA approved as an anesthetic, however over the last few years, research has shown that the drug can also be helpful for people with treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine clinics administer the drug as an infusion or an injection for a wide variety of mental health problems. Some patients who receive the medication have dramatic results. But some doctors worry about the unregulated industry. The use of ketamine in this regard has not been well-studied or proven, and no guidelines have been established. Treatments can range from $400 to $800 and are not covered by insurance. (Source: NBC News, L. Dunn and K. Snow, 1.4.23)
Depressed Procrastinators
In a study of 3,500 Swedish students, those who put off tasks had a higher risk of poor sleep, lack of exercise, and financial troubles. The students filled out a questionnaire about lifestyle to generate a procrastination score, which was correlated with physical, mental, and psychosocial health. Every one point above average was associated with a 13% increase in the risk for depression. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Daily Mail, K. Pickles, 1.4.23)
The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy - click here to reflect and earn credits {$1}: https://earnc.me/weJqbY
Like | Share | Follow | Subscribe!
Coming soon: “Scoop, MD: the Doctor’s Guide to Media Interviews and Opportunities.”
This book by Dr. Maria Simbra will be launching on Kindle Vella in 2023 with three FREE chapters! Enhance your media presence! To get access, sign up here: https://forms.gle/rAZRTsxm5cpE3jzW6
Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis, or the advice of your own physician. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.
Comments