Pollution and antibiotics

Apparently when people are exposed to air pollution they’re prescribed more antibiotics. A Spanish study found that not only did antibiotic prescriptions rise on the day of high levels of particulate matter, but they also rose 7 to 10 days later.

Why the two peaks in usage? The hypothesis: One peak is caused by “immediate irritation of the respiratory tract” so people head to the ER, while the other is caused by an immune response that makes them more susceptible to bacterial infection.

And, as we all know, even today, ‘if you don’t know the cause, give ’em antibiotics.’

I think this is a good thing

In the six years from 2017 through 2022, prescriptions for naloxone that were dispensed to people 10 to 19 years old (!) went up by 669%.

Mushrooms can help

A new study out of Emory University, the University of Wisconsin, and UC Berkeley calculates that “More than 5 million Americans in treatment for depression could benefit from therapy with psilocybin.”

Anywhere from 56% to 62% of people who have a depression diagnosis could be eligible for psilocybin therapy, based on the researchers’ analysis of national survey data on depression prevalence and treatment.

That percentage amounts to somewhere between 5.1 million and 5.6 million people, the researchers projected.

Last month, the FDA rejected an application to use MDMA as a depression treatment, but that was because of “faulty data, problematic research conduct and major risks.

The agency is a bit more positive about psilocybin, which it already designated as a “breakthrough therapy^*” so the path to approving it for general medical use is a bit less rocky.

^* For drugs “that may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy for a serious condition.”

Walgreens pays for its mistake

Walgreens agreed to pay a fine of $106.8 million to the federal government for billing Medicare and Medicaid for prescriptions that were never picked up. This is on top of the $66.3 million the company had to refund for those meds.

The overbilling took place over an 11-year period. Walgreens blamed it on a software error.

Feds invest in a bit of domestic manufacturing

Ever since we realized that we’re a bit over-reliant on China for a lot of active pharmaceutical ingredients, there’s been a push to make them in the US of A.

The latest step toward that goal is a $14 million investment from HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response in a non-profit consortium called the API Innovation Center (APIIC).

The money is…

…for APIIC to lead the development and domestic production of three critical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used to treat asthma, diabetes and anxiety disorders.

(Specifically, it’ll be to develop and produce albuterol, desmopressin acetate, and lorazepam.)

There are a lot of organizations and initials involved in this, but the big takeaway is “The government is spending a little money to help increase manufacturing of some APIs here.” It’s a small step in a large process, but it’s a step.

Elsewhere: Florida bein’ Florida

Despite reality, and against the advice of just about every medical professional, Florida’s surgeon general (and health department) are telling older people not to get an mRNA Covid vaccine or booster.

“Health” officials are citing a couple of extremely rare side effects as a reason to recommend older folks spin the roulette wheel and hope for the best. Problem: Those issues are more likely after a Covid infection than after a vaccine.

Maybe next, the Florida Health Department will offer advice on balancing your four humors … and the best place to use leeches to treat a cough.