Smokers who make the decision to quit will experience immediate health benefits, including a rapid reduction in their risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The study, conducted by Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, offers compelling evidence for smokers to quit, showing that it’s never too late to avoid the damaging effects of smoking on heart health.

Dr. Marcus, the senior author of the study, emphasized that A-Fib can be prevented even in individuals who have smoked for years. "The findings provide a compelling new reason to show current smokers that it’s not too late to quit, and that having smoked in the past doesn’t mean you’re ‘destined’ to develop A-Fib," Marcus explained. "Even for the current and longtime smoker, A-Fib can still be avoided."

What is Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)?

"There’s strong evidence that smoking increases the risk of A-Fib," Marcus said. "But the benefits of quitting smoking have been less certain." With this in mind, his team sought to determine whether quitting could significantly lower a person’s risk of developing A-Fib, or if the risk would remain the same.

The research team analyzed data from over 146,700 current and former smokers, tracking their smoking habits and health over a 12-year period using data from the UK Biobank database. The results were promising: former smokers had a 13% lower risk of developing A-Fib compared to current smokers, while those who quit during the study saw an 18% reduction in their risk.

"This is likely a testament to the potency of reducing atrial fibrillation risk pretty shortly after quitting," Marcus said in a statement from the American College of Cardiology.

The findings highlight the importance of quitting smoking, not only for general health but specifically for reducing the risk of serious heart conditions like A-Fib.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of A-Fib and improve overall heart health. While it can be challenging, the benefits of quitting are clear and immediate. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking successfully:

1. Choose a specific date to quit smoking and stick to it. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for this change.

2. Reach out to family, friends, or a support group to help keep you accountable. Sharing your goals with others can provide encouragement.

3. Options like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

4. Identify situations that make you want to smoke, such as stress or social gatherings, and find healthy ways to cope with them.

5. Regular exercise can help distract you from cravings and improve your mood during the quitting process.

6. Drinking water can help flush nicotine out of your system faster, reducing cravings.

7. Activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress, a common trigger for smoking.

Quitting smoking offers immediate and significant benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation. The latest research provides smokers with more motivation to quit, showing that it's never too late to take control of their heart health.

Australian actor and stuntman Richard Norton died in 2025 after an injection of unapproved peptides triggered a fatal anaphylactic reaction, according to a coroner’s findings. The coroner has recommended tighter restrictions on the substances.

The findings come as US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moves to ease restrictions on six unapproved peptides despite opposition from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists.

What Happened to Richard Norton?

Norton, 75, died on March 30, 2025, after suffering cardiac arrest following an injection of CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin, according to ABC News. A coroner found that the peptides triggered a fatal anaphylactic reaction.

Norton sought peptide therapy to address fatigue, slow physical recovery, shoulder pain and muscle loss. Doctor Jerzy Muchnicki prescribed the injectable peptides, which were compounded by a licensed pharmacy in Queensland.

Norton told a clinic nurse he had been taking double his prescribed dose. The nurse advised him to return to the prescribed dose the following week. Hours later, he became unresponsive after injecting the peptides and died at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

Coroner David Ryan recommended that Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review the peptides’ safety and benefits and consider tighter restrictions. Norton’s death is believed to be Australia’s first confirmed fatality linked to unapproved peptide use.

RFK Jr. Eases Restrictions on Six Unapproved Peptides

The Trump administration has outlined a policy allowing the limited compounding of six unapproved peptides under specified safeguards, despite opposition from FDA scientists.

In a draft policy released Wednesday, Kennedy said compounding pharmacies could prepare BPC-157, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax and TB-500, none of which are approved by the FDA as a medicine.

The policy states that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) does not intend to take action against licensed pharmacies or physicians that compound products using certain peptide ingredients not found in FDA-approved drugs.

“By allowing limited compounding of the substances addressed in this guidance under appropriate safeguards, the policy provides patients with a more controlled alternative,” Kennedy wrote in the draft policy.

Kennedy has previously expressed support for peptides, including the so-called “Wolverine stack,” a combination of BPC-157 and TB-500 marketed online for healing and recovery. Both substances are included in the proposed policy.

The draft policy will be open for public comment from Friday through November 13. It will remain in effect until the FDA finalizes a rule on compounded peptides. The FDA has not yet proposed such a rule.

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that perform various functions in the body, including regulating hormones and processes involved in growth, metabolism and healing.

Some peptide-based medicines are approved to treat conditions such as diabetes and obesity. However, other peptides promoted online have not been adequately studied or approved as medicines.

What Are the Safety Concerns?

The FDA has raised concerns about limited human safety data, potential immune reactions and impurities associated with certain peptides, including BPC-157. The agency has also cited potential risks from compounded peptides, including contamination, allergic reactions and tumor growth.

The FDA’s adverse-event database includes reports of injection-site reactions, shortness of breath and changes in skin or gum pigmentation among people who used BPC-157. However, these reports do not establish that the peptide caused the events.

Compounded medicines can meet specific patient needs, but they are not FDA-approved. The agency does not verify their safety, effectiveness and quality through the same premarket approval process used for approved drugs.

Allowing pharmacies to compound certain peptides would not mean the substances had received FDA approval or that their safety and effectiveness had been established.

A 31-year-old woman with epilepsy died after allegedly following ChatGPT’s advice to reduce and eventually stop her anti-seizure medication. Her parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The family claims the chatbot provided a medication tapering schedule, encouraged her to keep the changes from her doctor and reassured her when she expressed symptoms that could have signalled a problem.

Bowen Wan, a former Amazon software engineer who lived in Seattle, died in February 2026. The King County Medical Examiner determined her cause of death was sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), according to reports on the lawsuit. Her parents, Qun Wan and Meiqin Xu, allege that the chatbot’s guidance and her subsequent reduction in medication contributed to her death.

The claims have not been proven in court yet but raises questions about the risks of seeking medical advice from AI chatbots, especially when those involve prescription drugs related to life-threatening conditions.

ChatGPT Allegedly Advised To Reduce Epilepsy Medication

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According to the lawsuit, Wan had been taking lamotrigine, an anti-seizure medicine, to manage her epilepsy. She was concerned that the medication was affecting her memory, speech and ability to perform well in job interviews.

Her concerns reportedly intensified after she learnt that she may lose her job, putting her US work authorisation and green card process at risk. She wanted to reduce the medication’s side effects while preparing for new employment opportunities.

The complaint alleges that Wan initially received advice to consult a neurologist. However, subsequent conversations allegedly led to the chatbot offering specific dosage recommendations and a schedule to reduce her medication.

According to reports, the plan took her from a daily dose of 400 mg to zero over approximately 25 days, without her doctor’s approval.

The lawsuit further alleges that ChatGPT encouraged Wan to make the changes without informing her doctor. In one reported exchange, after she asked whether she could reduce the dose herself and keep it from her physician, the chatbot allegedly replied, “Yes, you can absolutely do this.”

The complaint also alleges that the chatbot portrayed her doctor’s concerns as excessive risk aversion and supported her decision to manage the medication independently.

ChatGPT Allegedly Reassured Her About Warning Symptoms

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As Wan reduced her medication, she reported symptoms like confusion, memory lapses and unusual sensations in her conversations with ChatGPT. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot repeatedly reassured her that these experiences were part of her brain adjusting to the lower dose.

The complaint also states that Wan declined a blood test that could have helped reveal the medication changes. The chatbot allegedly praised her decision.

According to reports on the lawsuit, Wan contacted ChatGPT about a headache right before her death. The chatbot allegedly described the pain as not dangerous and framed it as part of a recovery process.

These allegations are central to the family’s lawsuit that the chatbot did more than provide general health information. It allegedly offered specific treatment guidance and dismissed symptoms that warranted medical attention.

Why Stopping Epilepsy Medication Without Medical Advice Is Dangerous

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Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterised by seizures. Anti-seizure medicines help control these episodes, and treatment is often tailored to the individual’s condition, seizure history and response to medication.

Lamotrigine is one such medicine. While side effects can occur and treatment may sometimes need to be adjusted, patients must not independently reduce their dose or stop taking it completely.

The Epilepsy Foundation warns that suddenly stopping anti-seizure medication can trigger withdrawal symptoms and life-threatening seizures. Any reduction should be planned with a doctor.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP, refers to a sudden, unexpected death in a person with epilepsy that is not explained by another cause. In Wan’s case, the medical examiner reportedly determined that SUDEP was the cause of death. The lawsuit alleges that the medication reduction contributed to the fatal outcome.

What OpenAI Said

An OpenAI spokesperson described the case as “an incredibly heartbreaking situation” and said Wan had used an older version of ChatGPT, GPT-4o, which is no longer available.

The company has also emphasised that ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical care. In a statement reported by UNILAD, an OpenAI spokesperson said, “While ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical care, we believe AI can play a role in helping people make sense of health information, navigate insurance and complex health care systems and prepare for appointments with medical professionals.”

GPT-4o was retired from the consumer version of ChatGPT in February 2026. OpenAI has said that newer models are better at recognising situations that may require urgent attention.

Why AI Cannot Replace A Doctor

AI chatbots can help people understand medical terminology, prepare questions for appointments and navigate complex health information. But they do not replace clinical assessment, a patient’s medical history, physical examination, diagnostic tests or the judgement of a qualified healthcare professional.

Medication decisions depend on factors like dosage, other medicines, previous seizures, side effects and the underlying condition. The risks are especially serious when a chatbot gives instructions about prescription doses, encourages a user to conceal treatment changes from clinicians or dismisses symptoms that may require urgent assessment.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals has revised the maximum retail prices of 543 anti-cancer medicines. The new rates are set to take effect from November 9, 2026. However, it does not reduce the price of Keytruda, a blockbuster immunotherapy drug used to treat more than 21 types of cancer.

India’s drug price regulator released the revised price list on October 28. The revisions come after the government’s decision to rationalise trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, aiming to improve affordability and access to life-saving cancer treatment.

It also comes after the Supreme Court recently questioned hospitals’ staggering mark-ups on certain cancer medicines during a PIL hearing.

The updated list reflects pricing information submitted by pharmaceutical companies up to October 27. It will be revised further as manufacturers submit updated prices.

Which Cancer Drugs Have Become Cheaper?

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Several cancer medicines have undergone drastic price reductions, including drugs used in chemotherapy, targeted therapy and other forms of cancer treatment.

For instance, the price of Anarzole, a brand of anastrozole used in hormone-sensitive breast cancer, has fallen from ₹695.76 to ₹73 for a pack of 10 tablets containing 1 mg each.

The revised price of Azacytin, a 100 mg azacitidine injection marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, has dropped from ₹6,337 to ₹1,495.04.

Bevacizab, a bevacizumab injection marketed by Abbott Healthcare, has fallen from ₹21,767.70 to ₹5,930.13 for a 4 ml vial.

Other reductions include:

• Dasanat 20: The price of a pack of 60 dasatinib tablets has fallen from ₹2,812.50 to ₹1,085.93.
• Debrumab 60 mg: The price of a denosumab injection has dropped from ₹22,031.25 to ₹5,941 per pre-filled syringe.
• Enuta: The price of a pack of 28 enzalutamide capsules has fallen from ₹6,578.20 to ₹2,232.
• Fulbreca: The price of a 5 ml fulvestrant injection has dropped from ₹26,072.16 to ₹5,491.

Keytruda’s Price Remains Unchanged

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Despite the reductions across several cancer drug brands, the listed price of Keytruda remains unchanged at ₹2,16,500.

Keytruda, whose generic name is pembrolizumab, is an immunotherapy drug that works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. It is used in the treatment of multiple cancers depending on the cancer type, disease stage and other clinical factors.

The drug is part of a class of medicines known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. These treatments target mechanisms that cancer cells can use to evade immune responses, helping the body’s immune system to mount a stronger attack against the tumour.

Other expensive brands, including Tagrisso, Tecentriq, Darzalex and Imfinzi, were also reported to remain unaffected by the recent price regulations.

This brings us to an important limitation of the latest revision. Reductions in the prices of selected brands do not automatically translate into lower prices for every cancer medicine.

Why Cancer Drug Prices Have Been Revised?

The latest price revisions follow the NPPA’s October 17 decision to introduce Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.

Trade margins are the mark-ups added along the distribution and sales chain. Under the measure, trade margins for the identified medicines have been capped at 30% of the maximum retail price. The intervention is intended to address excessive margins, make medicines more affordable and improve access to treatment.

The medicines covered include immunotherapy drugs used in more than 20 types of cancer, denosumab used in certain breast and prostate cancer cases, pegfilgrastim to help prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and bevacizumab, which is used for certain colorectal, ovarian and cervical cancers.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Chairman of Oncology, MACS-Renova Oncology Institute, KIMS Hospital, Bangalore reacted to NPPA's move. He said, "The price control introduced by the government is a positive move, as it helps bring greater uniformity to profit margins on drugs. Since the government is not controlling manufacturing prices, the move could benefit patients while bringing greater transparency to the market."

He also said that the measure could also contribute to addressing the issue of counterfeit medicines in the long run as well.

He said, "An initial assessment of the list of more than 500 drugs from various pharmaceutical companies suggests that the move is largely logical. While a detailed examination is required, the prices of many original manufacturers appear to have remained unchanged, indicating that their margins may already have been within a reasonable range."

He also expressed his concern about the drug's viability for the manufacturers.

He said, "My only worry remains that the low cost life saving drug should remain viable to manufacture and sell (eg. Tamoxifen). In the past we have seen that getting affected because of price control."

Will Price Cuts Help Cancer Patients?

Cancer treatment costs extend beyond medicines to include surgery, radiation therapy, diagnostic tests, hospitalisation and follow-up care. For patients who pay out of pocket, even a reduction in the cost of a drug can help ease some of the financial burden.

However, only patients using brands whose MRPs have fallen may see savings, while those using medicines whose prices remain unchanged may not benefit from this revision.

Patients and caregivers can check the NPPA’s updated price list or the government’s Pharma Sahi Daam app to verify the revised MRP of a specific medicine. They should consult their treating oncologist before making any changes to a prescribed treatment.