(Family Features) Esteemed actor and father Taye Diggs dominates the stage and screen, bringing energy and life to each of his roles. In his real life, however, Diggs struggled to show up as his best self due to a years-long struggle with falling or staying asleep (insomnia).

Diggs’ troubled relationship with sleep started following the birth of his son. Joining more than 25 million Americans who struggle with insomnia, according to research published in the “Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care,” he found the lack of adequate sleep left him tired during the day and took a toll on him on-stage as an actor and off-stage as a parent.

“Not getting enough sleep made it difficult to do the things I normally love doing – performing, spending time with my son, eating a good meal – because I was so tired,” Diggs said. “All I could think was, ‘I can’t wait to get home and take a nap.’”

Diggs’ Journey to Find His Solution
Diggs knew something needed to change after countless attempts at treating his insomnia with over-the-counter medications, prescription options and home remedies like caffeine pills, energy drinks and naps. In 2022, he decided to revisit his trouble sleeping with his doctor.

Based on his needs and preferences, his doctor recommended QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) CIV, a prescription medicine for adults who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia), proven in clinical studies to help patients get more sleep when taken once nightly.

Taking the medication helps Diggs get more sleep every night (individual results may vary). Getting more sleep at night helps him feel less tired during the day and he can focus on himself and his son instead of wondering how much sleep he’ll get that night.

Diggs’ doctor discussed QUVIVIQ’s safety profile with him and told him it may cause headaches or sleepiness during the day and to avoid driving or doing other activities until he feels fully awake. He also explained that clinical trials showed taking the medication every night did not lead to withdrawal symptoms upon stopping and mentioned it is a federally controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to dependence.

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Diggs learned a lot about managing his insomnia and wants to help others who may be struggling.

Diggs’ Advice:

1. Talk about insomnia. Insomnia is a real medical condition and deserves to be treated as such. This is why Diggs encourages people to talk with their doctors about possible treatment options.
    
2. Stick to the treatment plan. When Diggs is consistent with taking QUVIVIQ every night as directed, he gets more sleep. He recommends others work closely with their doctors to build treatment plans they feel good about.
    
3. Seek support. Paying for treatments can be a concern for many. Those interested should visit QUVIVIQ.com to download or screen shot a QSavings Card to receive discounts on the first month as well as refills for eligible commercially insured patients. Terms and conditions apply.

If you’re like Diggs and struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep, start a conversation with your doctor and see if QUVIVIQ is right for you. Individual results may vary. Review the additional important safety information for QUVIVIQ.

To learn more or share your personal story, visit QUVIVIQ.com.

What is QUVIVIQ?
QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) 25 mg, 50 mg tablets is a prescription medicine for adults who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia).

Important Safety Information
Do not take QUVIVIQ if youfall asleep often at unexpected times (narcolepsy).

QUVIVIQ may cause serious side effects, including:

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• Decreased awareness and alertness. The morning after you take QUVIVIQ, your ability to drive safely and think clearly may be decreased. You may also have sleepiness during the day.
  • Do not take more QUVIVIQ than prescribed.
  • Do not take QUVIVIQ unless you are able to stay in bed for at least 7 hours before you must be active again.
  • Take QUVIVIQ at night within 30 minutes before going to bed.

QUVIVIQ is a federally controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to dependence.
Before taking QUVIVIQ, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions; drug or alcohol abuse or
• addiction; a sudden onset of muscle weakness (cataplexy); daytime sleepiness
• have lung or breathing problems, including sleep apnea
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

• Taking QUVIVIQ with certain medicines can cause serious side effects. QUVIVIQ may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way QUVIVIQ works.
• Do not take QUVIVIQ with other medicines that can make you sleepy unless instructed by your healthcare provider.

What should I avoid while taking QUVIVIQ?

• Do not drink alcohol while taking QUVIVIQ. It can increase the effects of alcohol, which can be dangerous.
• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, do anything dangerous, or do other activities that require clear thinking if you do not feel fully awake, or you have taken QUVIVIQ and have less than a full night of sleep (at least 7 hours), or if you have taken more QUVIVIQ than prescribed.

QUVIVIQ may cause other serious side effects, including:

• Worsening depression and suicidal thoughts. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any worsening depression or thoughts of suicide or dying.
• Temporary inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis) for up to several minutes, or hallucinations while you are going to sleep or waking up.
• Complex sleep behaviors such as sleep-walking, sleep-driving, preparing and eating food, making phone calls, having sex or doing other activities while not fully awake that you may not remember the next morning. Stop taking QUVIVIQ and call your healthcare provider right away if you experience a complex sleep behavior.

The most common side effects of QUVIVIQ are headache and sleepiness.

These are not all of the possible side effects of QUVIVIQ. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

US-DA-00740 04/23
SOURCE: Idorsia

https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/health/

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(Family Features) While people may think about heart disease and kidney disease as two different health problems, there are many links between them.

Kidney disease affects roughly 1 in 7 (15%) American adults, according to the American Kidney Fund.

Having chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that you’re more likely to get heart disease. The reverse is also true: Heart disease can cause CKD. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among people on dialysis, which is a life-saving treatment for people in kidney failure.

To learn more about the link between kidney disease and your heart, consider these facts from the American Kidney Fund:

Your heart and kidneys rely on each other to function well. When you have kidney disease, your heart must pump harder to get blood to your kidneys, which can cause stress on your heart. This extra stress can eventually lead to heart disease. Additionally, if your kidneys are damaged, they can’t filter blood as well as they should, leaving extra fluid and waste in your blood, which can damage other organs – including your heart.

When you have heart disease, your heart cannot pump blood through your body as well as it should. Heart disease includes heart or blood vessel problems such as coronary artery disease, blood clots, heart attacks or problems with your heart’s muscles, valves or heartbeat. Your heart makes up for this by holding onto more salt and water, putting pressure on your veins. This extra pressure on your veins can ultimately damage your kidneys, leading to kidney disease.

Kidneys help regulate blood pressure and create red blood cells. In addition to filtering blood, healthy kidneys also produce a hormone that helps regulate your blood pressure. The kidneys also produce erythropoietin, which signals the body to make more red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body. When the kidneys can’t make erythropoietin, it can lead to anemia and heart problems.

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Potassium plays a major role in kidney and heart health. Potassium controls muscle contractions, including those in the heart. Unbalanced potassium levels can lead to risk of heart disease or heart failure – the most fatal heart issues associated with kidney disease.

Patients with kidney disease, including those not yet on dialysis, can have issues with potassium. The loss of kidney function can result in the inability to filter potassium. When this happens, it causes extra potassium in the body, a condition known as hyperkalemia, or high potassium. Hyperkalemia often does not cause symptoms until heart health has already worsened and can lead to a heart attack if not diagnosed and treated.

Many patients discover they have high potassium due to a minor heart issue, but the chronic condition must be treated continuously through medicines called potassium binders. The medicine works by sticking to the potassium in your body, which is then removed through feces. This prevents some of it from being taken into your blood and building up.

Prevention of both heart and kidney disease starts with preventing and managing the conditions that cause them. Keeping diabetes, high blood pressure and anemia under control can help prevent them from getting to the point of causing kidney or heart disease. When found early, you can manage the conditions through lifestyle changes, such as:

• Following a kidney-friendly and heart-healthy eating plan
• Being active daily
• Avoiding use of tobacco products
• Lowering stress levels

For more information on the kidney-heart connection, especially potassium in the body, talk to your doctor and visit KidneyFund.org/BeyondBananas, an education campaign from the American Kidney Fund and AstraZeneca.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
American Kidney Fund

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing authorization to the Cue COVID-19 Molecular Test, which is a nucleic acid amplification test designed to detect genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus present in nasal swabs from adults with signs and symptoms of upper respiratory infection. This is the first-ever at-home test authorized by the FDA using a traditional premarket review pathway for any respiratory illness, and it is also the first at-home COVID-19 test granted marketing authorization outside of emergency use authorities.

The Cue COVID-19 Molecular Test is a molecular nucleic acid amplification test, consisting of a single-use Cue COVID-19 test cartridge, a single-use Cue sample wand, and the Cue cartridge reader. It uses the Cue Health app to display results when the test is complete, and the reusable, battery-operated Cue Cartridge Reader runs the Cue Test Cartridge and communicates results directly to the app in about 20 minutes. In a study reviewed by the FDA, the test correctly identified 98.7% of negative and 92.9% of positive samples in individuals with signs and symptoms of upper respiratory infection.

There is a risk of false positive and false negative results, and individuals who test positive should avoid spreading the virus and should seek follow-up care with their physician or healthcare provider as additional testing may be necessary. Negative results should be confirmed by a lab-based molecular test if necessary for patient management.

The FDA has established criteria called special controls that define the requirements related to labeling and performance testing, and they have created a new regulatory classification, which means that subsequent devices of the same type with the same intended use may go through the FDA’s 510(k) pathway. The FDA has granted the marketing authorization to Cue Health Inc.

For more information, please read the press release: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-first-covid-19-home-test-using-traditional-premarket-review-process

More news on the topic: https://www.labpulse.com/business-insights/policy-and-regulation/regulatory-approval/article/15540028/cue-health-granted-first-traditional-fda-authorization-for-athome-test-to-detect-respiratory-illness

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Source FDA

https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/fda-cdc-news/