‘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
I have vulvodynia – but countless gynaecologists dismissed my agony
Statistics say that one in six women will contract this painful condition. So why did it take years and endless misdiagnoses before I was properly treated?
Breaking the pain barrier: safe ways to manage chronic agony
Long-term pain is estimated to affect up to 28 million people in the UK, but with the safety of commonly used painkillers under scrutiny, what other measures are effective?
Pregnancy test’s alleged link to birth defects to be reviewed by UK regulator
Watchdog to examine new files found by campaigners while Primodos maker Bayer denies it caused abnormalities
Breaking bad: how to prevent and treat osteoporosis
Patients with weak and fragile bones are often given drugs called bisphosphonates, but new research has raised questions about their use. So what is the best treatment – and how can you keep bones strong?