Month: June 2014

Although some pills for depression can spur weight gain, a new study finds that the long-term amount gained is small. Most prior studies have lasted only a few months. The new study was based on electronic records for more than 19,000 adults with depression. They had been treated with at least 1 of 11 different antidepressants. After 12 months, they had gained an average of 1 to 2 pounds. Weight gain was smallest for those who took bupropion (Wellbutrin and generics), amitriptyline and nortriptyline. But differences between average weight gains for different drugs were small. The journal JAMA Psychiatry published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it June 5.

Two new drugs offer a possible treatment option for skin infections that increasingly are able to resist current antibiotics. The New England Journal of Medicine published study results June 4. One study looked at dalbavancin, which recently was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More than 1,300 people with bacterial skin infections were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received dalbavancin intravenously (in a vein). It was given once a week for 2 weeks. The other group received a standard antibiotic, vancomycin. This was given in a vein twice a day for 3 days. Doctors then could prescribe antibiotic pills for the next 10 to 14 days. For about 80% of each group, treatment halted fever and the spread of infection within 3 days. The second study focused on oritavancin. This drug is not yet approved.