The Medical Advisor

Semaglutide, known by the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and others, is the latest weight-loss craze to hit Hollywood and beyond. The prescription drug, which is administered via a weekly injection, is intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, but it’s widely used off-label for weight loss. They all belong to the same medication class — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists ( GLP-1 receptor agonists ).  GLP-1 agonists work by triggering insulin release, blocking sugar production in your liver, and making you feel full. But with all of these brands out there, how do you decide which is right for you? Let’s get to know some of the differences between these major GLP-1 agonist drugs. A 2021 study funded by Novo Nordisk, the drug’s maker, found using semaglutide once a week led to a 14.9% reduction in body weight among adults with obesity. There’s been such a rush on the drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists both Ozempic and Wegovy as “current...

Since childhood, I've known numerous smokers who had slow, agonizing deaths from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). These deaths were often quite traumatic for their family and friends, particularly as patients became increasingly disabled from their loss of respiratory function. Once I entered medicine, I saw the other half of this tragic story. I lost count of how many COPD patients were subjected to the same medical protocols — which they often couldn't refuse because people will do anything to be able to breathe. They'd eventually get hospitalized for COPD exacerbations or pneumonia (common COPD complications), and before long, they'd enter a cycle of ever more frequent repeat hospitalizations until they died. Note:  Steroids are frequently used to manage COPD and slow lung destruction. However, steroids suppress the immune system, which coupled with the reduced respiratory turnover seen in COPD, makes patients much more vulnerable to pneumoni...

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a solvent discovered in the 19th century and explored medically since the 1960s, has garnered attention for its potential in ophthalmology despite FDA restrictions halting much U.S. research. Initially praised for treating diverse conditions, it faced suppression, yet persists in alternative medicine, veterinary applications, and self-experiments for issues like cataracts, macular degeneration, floaters, glaucoma, dry eyes, infections, and retinal diseases. Combined with castor oil, it offers synergistic benefits for hydration and inflammation reduction, supported by anecdotal reports. (1, 2, 7) While not mainstream, its resurgence through online communities highlights non-invasive alternatives to surgery or injections. Update: DMSO and the Eyes: A Complete Guide to Every Eye Condition It May Help Organized by Category — From Dry Eyes to Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Retinal Disease Mechanisms of Action DMSO...