Five ways to avoid becoming a victim of prescription drugs errors
A study has revealed that mistakes in the writing or dispensing of medicine can cost up to 22,000 people their lives every year. Here’s how to avoid being one of them
Adventures in brain-hacking: how an electrical stimulator boosted my IQ
From the smart drug modafinil to oxygen chambers, interest in cognitive enhancement is growing. But can it actually make you cleverer? I tried to find out
Ibuprofen taken in early pregnancy could affect daughter’s fertility – study
Painkiller taken by mother in first three months of pregnancy could reduce child’s number of eggs, say researchers
Health fears over boys as young as 13 using steroids for ‘good looks’
Children’s commissioners call for schools to tackle views of body image distorted by social media
‘I think I’ll be on a dose for ever’: steroid users on the quest for perfection
The archetype of an IPED user is changing. We speak to the new breed seeking the body beautiful
Ibuprofen may increase risk of fertility issues in men, study suggests
High doses of the common painkiller over a long period of time may put men at greater risk of fertility problems and other health issues, research indicates
Rapid use of blood drug could save thousands of lives, study finds
Analysis shows chance of death from blood loss is 70% less likely if cheap, widely used tranexamic acid is administered promptly
The truth about the US ‘opioid crisis’ – prescriptions aren’t the problem
The overdose crisis is driven by illicit use of drugs – not those given on prescription for patients in need, says neuroscientist and author Marc Lewis
To those who take antibiotics – the resistance crisis is not your fault
A new government campaign suggests patients are to blame for growing antimicrobial resistance. Let’s look at the real reasons, says health and science journalist Hannah Flynn
What’s stopping pharmacies doing more to reduce pressure on GPs?
Chemists can already provide vital services, such as the morning-after pill – but a new study shows they are being chronically underused
‘The stigma is more in my own mind’: men on using Viagra
Viagra use among men has tripled, with doctors saying there is less stigma around it. We asked readers whether they agreed
Green dreams: the growing case for medical marijuana
Should medical cannabis be legalised? It makes sense to the woman with MS who pays £500 a month on it, and the neurologist whose patients resort to street drugs
Is it safe to take magic mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms have been found to have minimal harmful effects and could potentially benefit those with depression. But they remain illegal, and there is a big risk if you eat the wrong type
‘I knew they were sugar pills but I felt fantastic’ – the rise of open-label placebos
IBS patient Linda Buonanno knew the pills she was given contained no active drugs, yet they had an immediate effect on her condition. So can placebos play a useful medical role?
More middle-aged men taking steroids to look younger
Experts warn about growing number of men in their 40s and 50s taking drugs to fight signs of ageing and boost sex drive