Content about Medicine

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned Monday.

In addition to being used to prevent migraines, valproate drugs are used for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder and include related drugs such as divalproex sodium and valproic acid. Most are available in generic form as well as under brand names like AbbVie's Depacon and Depakote and others.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is offering free skin and weight screenings during the weekend, the club retailer said Monday.

Sam's Club said all of its stores that operate pharmacies would offer the screenings, as well as screenings for the effects of stress on both, on Saturday. The screenings include body mass index, blood tests for the stress hormone cortisol, weight, height, blood pressure and vision. The stores also will give away certificates for free samples of the probiotic supplement Align.

ATLANTA — Only 1-in-5 U.S. adults are meeting both the aerobic and muscle strengthening components of the federal government's physical activity recommendations, according to an article published Thursday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday urged Hawaii Gov.

SAN DIEGO — Rates of testicular cancer among young men have risen significantly over the last two decades across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study, and researchers are wondering what accounts for it.

STERLING, Ill. — The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

The survey, commissioned by electric massager maker Wahl Clipper Corp. and conducted by Harris Interactive, found that 84% of mothers experience pain. This includes 80% who experience lower back pain, 76% with shoulder and neck pain, 70% with upper back pain and 65% with joint pain. The survey included 2,000 men and women, including 300 mothers with children younger than 18, who were asked about their pain and how they cope with it.

WASHINGTON — The National Alliance for Hispanic Health on Thursday announced a partnership with the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition to increase awareness among Spanish-speaking consumers for the importance of safe use of medicines that contain acetaminophen. Many Hispanic consumers are not aware of any health risks associated with taking too much acetaminophen and do not check to see if their medicines contain acetaminophen, a drug ingredient in more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medicines, according to Community Panel Discussions recently conducted by the Alliance.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales decreased 4% in April compared with April 2012 due to an earlier Easter and introductions of new generic drugs, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The numbers released Thursday included a 3.5% decrease in sales on the front end and a 4.2% decrease in pharmacy sales, but the pharmacy figure included a 4.54% negative effect due to new generics. Same-store prescription count decreased by 0.2%.

Total sales for the month were $1.902 billion, a 4.6% decrease over April 2012's $1.993 billion.

CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Researchers claim to have calculated for the first time the upper safe limit of vitamin D levels of 36 nanograms per milliliter, above which the associated risk for cardiovascular events or death raises significantly, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Bayer HealthCare will buy birth-control product maker Conceptus for $1.1 billion, the companies said.

Bayer said its $31-per-share purchase of the Mountain View, Calif.-based company would allow it to expand its selection of contraception products. Conceptus makes Essure, a non-surgical permanent birth-control method, and Bayer said it would allow the company to offer a complete range of short-term, long-term and permanent contraceptive methods for women.

CINCINNATI — Prasco Labs has signed a deal with WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. to market an authorized generic version of a drug for a rare tumor disorder.

The company announced Wednesday the distribution and supply agreement for phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride capsules in the 10 mg strength for pheochromocytoma, an adrenal gland tumor disorder. The drug is used to control episodes of hypertension and sweating associated with the disorder.