The Gila monster gave the weight-loss revolution its bite
It’s currently estimated that over one-half of the adult US population is either overweight or obese. Being overweight means having a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 30. Obese means a BMI higher than 30. This statistic shouldn’t be taken to indicate neglect by the healthcare, research, or pharmaceutical industry. In reality, enormous attention […]
Can Metformin be used for more than just diabetes?
Metformin has a long history as a substance with some medical value. It dates back even before its official recognition in 1918 for its ability to reduce blood sugar levels. Before any medical knowledge about diabetes, herbalists utilized a plant called Galega officinalis (also known as goat’s rue or French Lilac) to treat people who […]
Changes in insurance coverage for Ozempic
There’s been a rapid revolution in how U.S. insurers cover (or don’t cover) the cost of the newer type 2 diabetes medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. In this short article, we offer a general overview of the highly volatile situation concerning insurance coverage for these medicines. We aren’t trying to predict what could be […]
Focus on SGLT2 inhibitors like Farxiga
In August 2023, we published an in-depth article that focused on a significant improvement in the treatment of both heart and kidney diseases coming from the widespread introduction of new diabetes medications that are based on GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists (such as Ozempic, Semaglutide, and Mounjaro.) One of our readers posted a question as […]
Infection with COVID-19 can endanger the heart
It was already known that people with pre-existing heart conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) were more likely to suffer more severe symptoms if they became infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A recent analysis of electronic medical records for more than 45,000 people found that the converse may also be true. Infection with COVID-19 […]
Expert opinion: Considering Ozempic for weight loss isn’t reckless
In my role as the senior pharmacist here at IsraelPharm, I ensure that we always provide information and respond to questions with evidence-based answers, backed by personal experience and knowledge. Unfortunately, when the internet (namely social media) is our main source of input, we are often confronted with opinions and feedback that contradict medical facts. […]
Heart Failure and Heat: A Recipe for Disaster
As summer wanes and temperatures moderate, our focus naturally moves from the unprecedented extreme temperatures that have created dangerous weather in so many parts of the country. As healthy as it is to move forward, it is important to remember some lessons learned – especially regarding how high temperatures can affect heart health and even […]
It’s too darn hot
“Extreme weather with high winds” no longer automatically means snowy blizzards battering homes and schools and causing massive power blackouts. It can just as easily conjure up images of melting asphalt on the roads and power blackouts caused by surges in demand for electricity for cooling that the power companies can’t meet. This new weather […]
New (and improved) diabetes meds for heart and kidney disease
Often, in the world of medicine, progress is made in unexpected ways. Researchers sometimes find solutions to problems not by carefully planned experiments but by happy accidents. A prime example of this is in recent advancements in treating heart and kidney disease with new families of medications initially intended to treat people with type 2 […]
If it brings such great benefits, why do people stop taking Ozempic?
A natural question has arisen. “If they have such great benefits and are so popular, why do people stop taking Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy?” Ozempic and Mounjaro are considered “wonder drugs” out of all the treatments for type 2 diabetes, which have brought significant benefits to millions of people worldwide who develop type 2 diabetes and caused […]
