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UW Clinical Trials Institute | The Side Effects of Inequality: How Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials Affects Drug Effectiveness and Safety

By Daphne Berryhill, Med Shadow Foundation
Medication is a core component of patient care. Most adults regularly take some prescription drugs, and most also agree, according to a 2024 public opinion poll by KFF, that new drug therapies make people’s lives better.
Access to safe and effective medications should be available to all, but equitable access often falls short. Marginalized groups, who often face higher rates of chronic disease, frequently encounter barriers to obtaining medications, su...
Meet Me at the Medcart •

Everything you think you know about iron deficiency is (probably) wrong

Body, meet iron: known on the periodic table as Fe, short for the Latin ferrum, which means “firmness.” Iron is a mineral that makes up most of the earth’s core and sustains life in nearly every plant and animal, including us.Iron is a precious metal for life. It’s not only critical for bringing oxygen to tissues throughout the body, iron is needed for a host of other processes, including energy production, immune regulation, and DNA synthesis.Most of the 3 to 4 grams in our bodies is tucked int...
Daphne Discloses •

A midlife refusal to be remade for anyone else’s comfort

This is for every woman who’s been told she’s “too something” at the exact moment her life was expanding. I’m purposefully not putting any pictures of myself or any other women in this piece. Women already have too many in their own heads, often at the expense of the very special one they truly are right now, no makeover needed.At 51, I feel a lot like I did at 17: like I’m too much, and everyone wants me to go back to who I was before. At 17, you become “too much.” Too sexy, too bitchy, too kno...
Meet Me at the Medcart •

What is the 80-125% Rule?

Hi Medcart friends,This week’s topic comes from MedShadow’s senior reporter, Emma Yasinski. Every time Emma posts a video about generic drugs, people jump into the comments saying their doctor, pharmacist, or “someone they trust” told them generics are allowed to have 80–125% of the active ingredient compared with the brand.That’s incorrect and its a common misunderstanding. Generics must contain the same amount of the active ingredient as the brand-name version. But, and it’s a big but, excipie...
News from Those Nerdy Girls •

From Civil Rights Hubs to Pharmacy Deserts:

Those Nerdy Girls is your trusted source for all things health. Whether there’s too much information, not enough information, or lots of misinformation, we have you covered. If you’re already a paid subscriber, we greatly appreciate your support. If not, please help us keep the lights on by becoming a paid subscriber today.Upgrade to Paid SubscriptionFrom Civil Rights Hubs to Pharmacy Deserts: What Pharmacy Closures Mean—And How You Can Take ActionPharmacies provide essential care, from medicati...
Meet Me at the Medcart •

Why does everyone yell at the pharmacist?

Getting yelled at is no fun. But for pharmacists working in retail, it can start to feel like part of the job.“I got yelled at by a customer who told me I should be taking up being short-staffed with the higher-ups and not take it out on loyal customers,” posted a member of a Facebook group for pharmacist moms.Because obviously your pharmacist chooses to be short-staffed just to annoy you, right? Of course not, but pharmacists can’t say that out loud. So we soak it up, swallow those thoughts, an...
Daphne Discloses •

Embrace the Messiness: Letting Life Be

Have you ever taken a class you had no interest in but absolutely loved the teacher? That was Zoology for me. Dr. Steinbach was passionate and compassionate and someone who made me want to be interested, though I never could totally get there. But that’s okay. Just wanting to be meant something.Dr. Steinbach was well known for his love of field trips. He had Ms. Frizz energy, you know, from Magic School Bus. One trip was to Chicago’s Field Museum on a a snowy February day in 1993. While he descr...
MedShadow Foundation •

What Is Step Therapy? And Why It Might Delay Your Medication - MedShadow Foundation

Navigating the healthcare system to get the care you or a loved one needs can be challenging. Just when you think you’ve cleared the hardest parts — finding the right provider, getting an accurate diagnosis, and choosing a treatment plan — your insurance company can throw in a surprise roadblock by denying coverage for a prescribed medication. One possible reason? A policy called step therapy.

Step therapy is a requirement that makes people try a lower-cost or insurance-preferred medication b...
MedShadow Foundation •

Why Pharmacies Are Disappearing, And What We Lose When They Do - MedShadow Foundation

From 18th-century apothecaries to modern drive-thru drug stores, pharmacies have evolved in form, but their central purpose has stayed constant: They serve as community centers to help people navigate medications with confidence, safety, and support.


Every day, pharmacists play a critical role in preventing medication errors and helping people use their prescriptions and receive vaccines safely. While it’s clear that pharmacies are vital to public health and integral to healthcare in general,...
Those Nerdy Girls •

May Is Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Why Bone Health Matters for Everyone

TL;DR: Osteoporosis is a common condition caused by low bone mass and a higher risk of fractures. Bone loss can happen for many reasons, and anyone can develop osteoporosis. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to keep their bones healthy!
May is a month of renewal as plants and trees flourish with new growth and generations gather for graduations and gorgeous sun-filled days.
May is also Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Just like the natural world, our bones are in a c...
Daphne Discloses •

The Breakfast Club Effect: Coming of Age in Gen X Stereotypes

“Simple Minds’ iconic track Don’t You (Forget About Me) was written for The Breakfast Club, but on its own became an early Gen X anthem. I added it to the first mix tape I made in 1985. I’d just gotten a boombox for Christmas. Well actually, I got a clunky clock radio with a tape deck, but begged my mom to exchange it for a boombox. It was the year I stopped being a kid. The time I realized that life will never be simple—neeever. The song came on the car radio while driving to work just after I...
MedShadow Foundation •

Inside the FDA Drug Development Process: The Limits of Clinical Trials in Preventing Side Effects - MedShadow Foundation

Each year, a select group of novel new drugs enter the U.S. market. In 2023, 55 new drugs were approved—adding to the more than 20,000 prescription drugs already in circulation.


The process of evaluating and approving new drugs dates back to the 1960s, when the FDA began requiring evidence of a drug’s safety and efficacy based on data collected in multi-phase controlled clinical trials.


As the decades have passed, the FDA has refined and reformed its process, with important efforts being m...
GoodRx •

What Are Benzodiazepines? 10 FAQs About How Benzos Work - GoodRx

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos” for short, are a group of medications that treat several health conditions. They’re considered anxiolytics because they treat anxiety, and since they have sedative effects, they can be useful for sleep issues. They also treat panic disorder, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal.Every year, tens of millions of people in the U.S. fill a benzodiazepine prescription. Though these medications can be effective, they come with several risks. Below, we’ll answer 10 frequently as...
GoodRx •

Is Wellbutrin Effective for Weight Loss? - GoodRx

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the U.S. And it has a lower risk of certain side effects compared with other antidepressants. For example, it’sless likely to make you tired,cause sexual dysfunction, or make you gain weight.But can taking Wellbutrin for depression cause you to lose weight? And is it recommended for this reason? Below, we discuss all things Wellbutrin and weight loss.Wellbutrin is available as immediate-release (IR), sustained-relea...
GoodRx •

Can You Overdose on Ketamine? Risks, Symptoms, Treatment - GoodRx

Injectable ketamine (Ketalar) has been used as an anesthesia medication for more than 60 years. More recently, ketamine has gained attention for its use in treatment-resistant depression. This is an off-label use of injectable ketamine. But in 2019, the FDA approved a ketamine-based intranasal spray — Spravato (esketamine) — for hard-to-treat depression, including treatment-resistant depression.Ketamine can be an effective anesthetic and depression medication. But it’s a dangerous substance when...
Daphne Discloses •

Dr. Bled Tanoe Says Fix the Pharmacy, Forget the Pizza

“Yes, I love pizza, but it is no longer cutting it,” pharmacist Dr. Bled Tanoe wrote three years ago in an open letter to retail pharmacy upper management. “You can’t expect people to survive this amount of work with no help. We are drowning.” What started as a 2021 Facebook post using the hashtag #PizzaIsNotWorking has grown into a nationwide movement. Relentless and steady, Bled’s been organizing walkouts, inspiring her followers, and challenging those in power—from retail pharmacy giants to p...
GoodRx •

Children’s Antibiotics: How to Use Them Safely and Effectively - GoodRx

Children’s antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed group of medications for kids. When used correctly, they can be extremely effective at treating bacterial infections. But they’re not helpful against illnesses caused by other types of germs, including viruses. In fact, taking antibiotics unnecessarily can be harmful.If your child’s pediatrician or other healthcare professional prescribes them an antibiotic, you may have questions about why it’s needed, how long it will take to work, and th...
GoodRx •

All About Suboxone’s Sexual Side Effects (for Men and Women) - GoodRx - GoodRx

If you or someone you know is affected by opioid use disorder (OUD), you’re not alone. It’s estimated that over 6 million people in the U.S. are living with opioid use disorder (OUD). Medications are the gold standard for treating OUD. This approach is called medications for OUD, or MOUD for short. MOUD can help prevent relapse to opioids, lower the risk of overdose, and improve your quality of life. Of the FDA-approved OUD medications, Suboxone (buprenorphine / naloxone) is a first-choice optio...
Forbes Health •

ADHD And Anxiety: Connections And How To Cope

ADHD with anxiety is one of the most common combinations of “complex ADHD”—a term that means having ADHD alongside another neurodevelopmental or mental health condition.
Over 40% of kids and about 50% of adults with ADHD may also have anxiety, says Stacy Doumas, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and causes attention pr...
GoodRx •

Placebos for Chronic Pain Management: Do They Work? - GoodRx

Experiencing pain is vital. It alerts us when something is wrong in our body and encourages us to seek care. But for many people, pain continues for months or years after an injury or other pain-inducing event. This is called chronic pain. It’s estimated that chronic pain affects more people than diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined.If you’ve been living with chronic pain, you may have tried many treatments for pain relief. But what about a placebo? That’s right: a pill with no medicatio...
Daphne Discloses •

One and the same with your mom—why is separation so hard?

“Just be glad you have a pot to piss in and a window to throw it out,” I grew up hearing Mom say. And I get that.It’s absurdly silly to think I now live in a home with four flushable pots and countless windows opened only for the fresh air. I know how new that possibility is and how rare it is today.My mom’s stories have always reminded me of that. And I’ve watched her live her life with a down-on-her-knees appreciation for everything, sounding like a ‘90s Herbal Essence shampoo commercial every...
GoodRx •

Your GoodRx Guide for Omega-3 Dosages: How Much Is Too Much Daily? - GoodRx

You can find omega-3 fatty acids in many foods — oily fish, nuts, seeds, and more. You can also find them in over-the-counter (OTC) supplements. In fact, 1 in 5 adults over the age of 60 take an omega-3 supplement in the U.S.If you’re thinking about taking an omega-3 supplement, you may be wondering what the best omega-3 dose is. The answer to this question is complicated, and it’s one that even experts can’t agree on. We’ll cover what we know here.Omega-3 is a type of polyunsaturated fat. Omega...
GoodRx •

Is Labetalol Safe to Take During Pregnancy? - GoodRx

Hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy is fairly common, affecting 8% of pregnant women ages 20 to 44 in the U.S. But there are medications that can help. Labetalol, for example, is a first-choice medication for hypertension during pregnancy. Below, we review the benefits and potential side effects, as well as what to consider before taking labetalol while breastfeeding. Labetalol is part of a group of medications called beta blockers. It’s FDA approved to treat hypertension in adul...
Forbes Health •

Antidepressants: Types, Efficacy And Side Effects

Psychotherapy is a first-choice treatment for mild depression, says Dr. Doumas, but in some cases, antidepressant medication is prescribed alongside talk therapy. When depression is at a moderate to severe level, experts say that a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is almost always needed.
There are five types of oral antidepressant medications FDA approved for depression. SSRIs are usually the best antidepressant to start with if you’re newly diagnosed with depression,...
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