There's a new weight loss pill on the horizon called Contrave. I just read that this pill got a step further in the clinical trial stage, which means it's that much closer to market.

This one will be prescription; you won't be able to pick it up on sale at Target.

And it's for women with serious weight to lose.

Contrave is a combination of two different drugs already available. One is an antidepressant called Wellbutrin, which is already proven to help people lose weight but more short-term. The other is an anti-addiction drug called naltrexone, used to treat alcoholism and other conditions.

Together, the drugs work on brain signals to stop you from eating so much with better long-term effects.

Photo from A&E's Intervention

As most reports are speculating, prescription drug abuse could be what killed Michael Jackson. It also took the lives of Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe...and the list goes on.

And there are countless non-famous people who abuse prescription drugs, which often leads to death and/or severe rifts in families.

It's so hard to talk about addiction when it's your mother, sister, father, brother, or child. And it's also often hard to see the signs that prescription drugs are being abused...until it's too late.

I'm all for going the natural route when possible, but when that fails and mama needs to sleep, drugs may be necessary. Caring for a new baby who needs you constantly, driving your kids to school and practice -- need I say more?

Unfortunately, as well as drugs may put mom out, it's not a good idea if you're alone. Mom needs to be on constant alert at night, ready to spring up and care for a child when the call comes.

Benadryl is my snooze inducer of choice. I'm out in 15 minutes, and I wake up after 8 hours feeling great.

But in the meantime? You could set me on fire and I wouldn't know it. So, I can only take the drug when my husband is home to keep a watch over things.

A few ladies in Answers were talking about getting some great deals on OTC drugs like aspirin and cold medicine. There's a catch. Most "sale" drugs expire soon, which is why you can buy them so cheaply.

And who can reasonably go through a 500-count bottle of aspirin in one month (noone, I hope!)?

"Outlet stores sell stuff that is going to expire," says Niki_sd. "To get an expiration date printed on a bottle, the drug company has to show that the drug is stable for that amount of time. After that, the drug starts to decompose and is less effective. Some items can turn and be dangerous, but most of them are just not effective.

In case you missed it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned dieters to stop taking the weight-loss supplement, Hydroxycut. The pill has been linked to serious liver damage and at least one death.

Medical marijuana is legal in 13 states. But it is against the law in Illinois. 

Illinois resident Laura Llanes bought marijuana for her cancer-stricken aunt, and she was fired from her job as an emergency dispatcher near Chicago.

Courtesy of E-Cigarettes

It looks exactly like the real thing.

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, glow red with fire, have a brown filter, and smokers can take a puff to fill their bodies with pure liquid nicotine.

The CEO of e-cigarette maker, Smoking Everywhere, says the ciggies are comparable to the nicotine patch--only better. E-cigarettes give smokers the oral fixation that they love without the harmful effects of tobacco.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) isn't so sure. They're trying to importation of e-cigs until scientific studies show they're safe and effective.

But e-cigs are already out on the U.S. market.

National Kidney Foundation

A 28-year-old Michigan man named Matthew Jones started this generous trend recently when he dontated his kidney to a stranger in Arizona. The Alliance for Paired Donation, founded by a transplant surgeon at the University of Toledo Medical Center has been promoting the idea.

Over many months, 10 people have received a donor kidney in this way. And today is a good day to thank them. Today is World Kidney Day.

Science Mom Sunmoonstars with her pumpkins.

Obama is signing an executive order today to overturn the Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research.

Many believe that stem cell research is needed--especially people with diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's. As you may have seen, Michael J. Fox has been on television more in recent weeks talking about his support for stem cell research.

Meanwhile, some conservatives object to the destruction of human embryos because they oppose ending a human life. For more information on the stem cell debate, check out my recent story, What Are Stem Cells?

One CafeMom has been outspoken in her support for stem cell research. Sunmoonstars, AKA Tonya Johnson, runs the two public groups, The Science Spot and All About Stem Cells. Here's more from Tonya about science, stem cells and her groups.

Rodial Tummy Tuck

Today, I keep hearing about the Rodial Tummy Tuck. I hear it's some sort of magic cream that is supposed to flatten my stomach.

Dieting and exercising are not required, so I'm thinking I'll order some egg rolls while I slather this stuff on. 

But then I see the price. At $130 for a small 4.2 oz bottle, I'm going to have to forget about egg rolls and do some crunches.