High Percentage of Postsurgical Opioid Painkillers Go Unused
Overprescription of postsurgical opioids potentially puts a lot of narcotics in circulation, a new review suggests. What percentage of the painkillers go unused and how often do patients keep them around, instead of properly disposing of them?

Discontinuing Statins Can Be Dangerous for Some
Stroke Patients
Lowering statin doses for patients who have had an ischemic stroke appears safe but discontinuing the medication can create serious risks, according to a new study. Find out how much greater risk Taiwanese patients had of a recurrent stroke, hospitalization or death after they went off the cholesterol-lowering therapy.

Exenatide Demonstrates Positive Effects for
Parkinson’s Patients
Although more research is needed, the potential for exenatide to improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms is creating excitement. Here are the results of a small study indicating that the diabetes drug had measurable effects on off-medication motor scores in some Parkinson’s patients.

Too Few Postmenopausal Women Receive
Osteoporosis Pharmacotherapy
Clinical guidelines call for osteoporosis therapy in women with osteoporosis or a history of fractures, but a new post hoc analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative finds that a high percentage of those most at risk didn’t receive treatment. Here are more details.