Magnesium is a generally safe supplement with a great deal of health benefits. However, with its popularity rising, it’s a fair question to ask: can you overdose? Will the combined dosage of magnesium from supplements and in food sources be enough to cause an overdose? Let’s unpack this. Magnesium Benefits…
What is Apetamin? Apetamin is a syrup or tablet marketed as a non-surgical, figure-enhancing supplement. Its main ingredient is cyproheptadine, an antihistamine that increases the appetite but is dangerous in high doses. Taking too much cyproheptadine may result in liver damage, extreme drowsiness, delirium, or seizures. Why do people take…
Although the first of many GLP-1 agonists — exenatide, brand Byetta — was approved for type 2 diabetes in 2005, poison centers did not handle many exposure cases until several of these agents were approved for weight loss, and their popularity skyrocketed. In fact, poison centers across the country have…
The wide-ranging presence of opioids is a complex issue in the United States. Treating overdoses presents problems on various levels, from gaining access to naloxone— an opioid reversal medication— to being equipped to administer it if necessary. Narcan® Nasal Spray is one of several over-the-counter naloxone nasal sprays that streamlines…
It’s simply a fact of nature that kids put things in their mouths. Young children do their best to try anything once— especially if that thing smells like candy, as most e-liquids you find in e-cigarette devices do. A child may be tempted to try a sip of an unattended…
The brown recluse spider, while venomous, is not responsible for as many bites a year as we believe. While any bite or blister should be taken seriously, the hard truth is that sometimes it's just not a spider bite. And if it is a spider, sometimes it's just not a…
Systemic Loxoscelism (Brown Recluse Spider Envenomation) The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa), also known as the violin- or fiddleback spider, is capable of envenomating humans and is endemic to the Midwest and Southeast United States. This spider is found throughout Missouri and prefers dark, warm, dry locations. It commonly inhabits…
The scariest substances are the ones we understand the least— the ones that are widely used, under-studied, and have passionate advocates and critics on either side. The FDA called for a review of many antiseptic and antibacterial chemicals for over-the-counter use, including triclosan. The review did not provide the FDA…
People wish to remove their moles, skin tags, or seborrheic keratoses for a variety of reasons. However, trips to the dermatologist's office can be expensive. Removing moles at home might sound like an easy solution for taking care of blemishes, but it does more harm than good. Over-the-counter products and…
