Kratom, a plant from the Rubiaceae family, is a tropical tree that grows in Southeast Asia. It has been used for centuries for its wide range of effects on the body and mind. These effects include pain relief and reducing anxiety. What makes kratom interesting is its ability to act differently depending on the amount used. At small doses, it works as a stimulant, giv...

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a lot of talk about medicines on social media. But, traditional research only scratched the surface, focusing mainly on public opinions and facing issues like reporting biases, inefficiency, and slow data collection. Imagine trying to understand a huge conversation where everyone is talking at once. That's what researchers faced...

Teenager girl experiences serious liver issues after taking a popular pain killer. She was feeling miserable. Migraines are no joke. So, she turned to something many of us do when pain strikes: she took acetaminophen. The teenager’s body was already fighting off the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common herpesvirus. It's the same one that causes infectious m...

Xylazine, a drug often mixed with opioids, is causing serious health issues in the United States. While it's mainly known for affecting α2-adrenergic receptors, its harmful effects can't be fully reversed by drugs that block these receptors. Scientists have now found that xylazine also targets α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChRs). In experiments, xylazine...

Acalabrutinib, a newer medication for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is safer than older options. However, managing its side effects can be tricky. A group of French healthcare professionals—including hematologists, pharmacists, and doctors specializing in heart and skin issues—decided to find practical ways to handle these side effects. They conducted a survey, where...