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What your patients are reading: Week of September 4, 2023
ADHD drug shortage stresses families during back-to-school season
As the school year begins, Adderall users of all ages struggle amid an ongoing medication shortage in the U.S. that began over a year ago. Eleven manufacturers are listed as makers of Adderall or its generic versions on the FDA’s shortages website. While some say the medicine is available, others don’t expect an end to the shortage until December. The FDA also said last week that it had approved several generic versions of Vyvanse, an alternative to Adderall (Tirrell, 2023).
Large medical tool discovered inside patient more than a year after giving birth
A woman in her 20s suffered crippling pain after an Alexis wound retractor was left inside her abdomen for 18 months after giving birth via c-section. The item was undetected because it was non-radiopaque and couldn't be seen by X-ray. The report says that a large wound retractor was used during the C-section but that the surgeon determined it was too small and asked for an extra large version instead, the larger of the two was left inside the patient. According to the report, the retractors weren't included in a routine count of medical equipment, as is standard (Smith, 2023).
Activist makes false claim that COVID vaccines killed 676,000 Americans
A blog post written by anti-vaccine activist Steve Kirsch shared on Facebook claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have killed approximately 676,000 Americans. The post, which claimed to refer to data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to fight false news and misinformation. CDC responded saying “statements that imply that reports of deaths to VAERS following vaccination equate to deaths caused by vaccination are scientifically inaccurate, misleading and irresponsible" (Kertscher, 2023).
Massachusetts teen dies after eating spicy, hot pepper tortilla chip
A 14-year-old boy from Worcester, Massachusetts, died shortly after eating a particularly spicy Pacqui tortilla chip—one derived from two of the world's hottest peppers. Although Harris Wolobah's cause of death is still being investigated, his family suspects it may be related to participating in tortilla chip manufacturer Pacqui's "One Chip Challenge," which invites individuals to publish videos of themselves on social media consuming these spicy chips. Paqui warns consumers that the chips are for adults only and should be kept away from children or anyone who has allergies or sensitivities to spicy food (Vargas, 2023).
Is a "menopause retreat" the latest trend in wellness travel?
An increasing number of spas and resorts are offering programs that target the changes from perimenopause and menopause with offerings that range from mindfulness techniques to herbal remedies and nutritional guidance to exercise. Although the most significant benefit may be the chance to bond with other women going through a similar experience. Experts warn women to be cautious of medical claims made by spas, however. And they recommend consulting with a clinician when seeking longterm solutions, like hormone replacement therapy (Osten Gerzberg, 2023).
Sources:
Tirrell, M. and Sealy, A. (2023, September 4). CNN. ADHD drug shortage stresses families during back-to-school season. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/04/health/adhd-drug-shortage-back-to-school/index.html
Smith, P. (2023, September 5). NBC News. 'Dinner plate-sized' medical tool found inside woman 18 months after she gave birth. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/medical-tool-found-inside-woman-abdomen-caesarean-new-zealand-rcna103330
Kertscher, T. (2023, September 1). KFF Health News & Politifact Healthcheck. Activist misuses federal data to make false claim that Covid vaccines killed 676,000. https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/activist-misuses-federal-data-to-make-false-claim-that-covid-vaccines-killed-676000/
Vargas, RA. (2023, September 5). The Guardian. Massachusetts teen dies after eating spicy tortilla chip. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/massachusetts-teen-dies-spicy-tortilla-chip-pacqui
Osten Gerzberg, C. (2023, September 4). The New York Times. Is a "menopause retreat" the latest trend in wellness travel? https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/travel/wellness-menopause-retreat.html