Statins get FDA warning label

Statins, popular drugs used to lower cholesterol, will be sporting a new FDA warning label. The drugs have been associated with increased blood sugar levels, which could lead to or exacerbate type 2 diabetes. They are also associated with confusion and memory loss in some patients.These drugs include Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor.

Statins have had some controversy since their approval due to questionable use in women and men with no history of heart disease. Though studies have shown repeatedly that the drugs lower cholesterol in men with previous heart disease and reduce the chance of a second heart attack, they have not been definitively linked to the same success in women or men with no established heart disease, despite news reports to the contrary. One meta-analysis in January 2012 combined women's data from various studies (they generally don't enroll enough women to test for an effect in a single study) found a benefit, but this still isn't proof, as pointed out by the authors of that study!

Meningitis vaccine guidelines

Two types of meningococcal vaccines are currently used to prevent the infection that causes meningitis: meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Particular high-risk groups should be immunized according to CDC guidelines.

Read an overview of meningococcal vaccination and booster guidelines