Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Benefits Of Weight Loss Meds Don’t Last After Discontinuation

In a post-hoc analysis of a trial that measured weight gain and cardiometabolic factors among participants who used tirzepatide for 36 weeks, researchers found that among participants with obesity who stopped tirzepatide, a large majority had regained much of their weight—and that majority also lost more of the cardiometabolic benefits compared to those who maintained their weight reduction. In other words, those who did not keep the weight off after stopping tirzepatide also lost the …

Pertussis Deaths Rise, New PCR Test Receives Approval

Pertussis Deaths Rise, New PCR Test Receives Approval Three infants in Kentucky have died of pertussis this year, including 1 death last week, according to public health officials. None of the infants or their mothers had been vaccinated. As of November 19, 2025, there have been 566 cases of pertussis in the state with additional cases anticipated by the end of the year. Texas has reported the most activity this year with at least 3,500 …

How Flu Season Is Emerging In Urgent Care

Not surprisingly, seasonal influenza activity is increasing nationwide, primarily among children and young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent FluView dashboard reports a 5% rate of positivity for the week ending November 22, 2025, up from 2.9% the week before. Overall, activity is low, however, of the influenza A cases subtyped, H3N2 accounted for 82.3% of them. There is some concern over a variant of H3N2 called subclade K, which is …

Zantac Is Back—With New Storage Suggestions

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized a new formulation of ranitidine (formerly sold as Zantac) more than 5 years after the agency called for all versions of the drug to be withdrawn because of concerns that it could degrade into a carcinogenic compound. According to the agency, it has now approved VKT Pharma’s 150-mg and 300-mg ranitidine tablets after extensive safety testing and manufacturing improvements. There are also updated, more stringent storage instructions. …

Walk-In Clinic Led By Pharmacists, Thanks to New Practice Rules in Iowa

Authorization rules released in Iowa over the summer now provide for an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in the state, allowing them to diagnose low-risk health conditions, order labs, and prescribe medication. As a result, the Wells Hometown Drug retail pharmacy in Bloomfield, Iowa, recently opened its new walk-in clinic, led by a pharmacist who is able to see patients 6 years and older without physician oversight. The pharmacist-led model was enabled by Iowa’s …

Peanut Patch Slowly Builds Kids’ Tolerance

Just as more evidence is emerging that supports exposure to peanuts for young children as a way to avoid future peanut allergies, a study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found that an epicutaneous patch continued to build peanut tolerance over 3 years, according to a press release. The immunotherapy patch delivers small amounts of peanut protein through the skin, slowly building tolerance and reducing …

GLP-1 Users May Have Higher Risk For Chronic Cough

Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may be associated with chronic cough, as published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. A large study of more than 2 million people with type 2 diabetes across 70 healthcare organizations suggests that adults prescribed a GLP-1RA had a 12% higher risk for developing a new cough persisting for more than 8 weeks, compared with people prescribed other medications, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) …

Antibiotic Resistance For Gonorrhea Seen As Global Health Threat

New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a rise in drug-resistant gonorrhea worldwide. According to a news release from the agency’s Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime—2 first-line antibiotics for gonorrhea—has increased. From 2022 to 2024, ceftriaxone resistance rose from 0.8% to 5%, while cefixime resistance rose from 1.7% to 11%. Resistance to azithromycin, which is often used alongside ceftriaxone or cefixime, also increased from 0.5% to 4%, …

Healthcare Leads In Job Growth

The healthcare industry was among the few sectors to post job gains in the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting. Healthcare added 43,000 jobs in September, keeping pace with its ongoing growth for the year. Ambulatory categories accounted for the highest gain, adding more than 23,000 positions in the market. Future forecast: Against the backdrop of the aging of America, health service demand is likely to remain high, and as a result, related job …

Forthcoming Asthma Guidelines Look To Address Systemic Corticosteroid Use

Anticipated updates for asthma treatment guidelines are shifting away from oral or systemic corticosteroids because of increasing evidence of long-term harm. Negative effects can come from even short, intermittent use, according to coverage in MedPage Today of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting. Studies show that as few as 3 or 4 steroid bursts over a lifetime may lead to side effects such as bone loss, metabolic disorders, and adrenal suppression. The …

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