Amazon vending machines — the pharmacy of the future?; even ‘diet’ drinks could scar your liver; could GLP-1s treat addiction? – Morning Medical Update

Amazon vending machines — the pharmacy of the future?

Amazon is expanding its footprint in healthcare by introducing Amazon Pharmacy Kiosks — automated vending machines that dispense common prescription medications directly at One Medical clinics. Launching in December across greater Los Angeles, the kiosks will offer drugs including antibiotics, inhalers and blood pressure medications within minutes of a visit, aiming to reduce unfilled prescriptions and improve medication adherence. Patients will be able to confirm costs and consult with pharmacists via the Amazon app prior to pick up. Controlled substances and refrigerated medications will not be available. The rollout represents another step in Amazon’s push to integrate pharmacy, primary care and telehealth into a single streamlined ecosystem.

Even ‘diet’ drinks could scar your liver

A new study presented at United European Gastroenterology Week suggests that both sugary and diet beverages significantly raise the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also known as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Researchers from Soochow University found that drinking even one can of diet soda daily increased liver disease risk by 60%, while sugary drinks raised risk by 50%. The decade-long study tracked nearly 124,000 participants in the UK Biobank and found that substituting water for either beverage lowered risk by more than 13%. Experts say the findings challenge the perception that “diet” drinks are benign, pointing instead to possible metabolic and gut microbiome effects that may accelerate liver damage over time. HCP Live has more.

Could GLP-1s treat addiction?

Medications developed for diabetes and obesity may soon have a new use: treating substance use disorders. A paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society highlights growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists — such as semaglutide and exenatide — may reduce craving and consumption of alcohol, opioids and nicotine. Early human trials suggest benefits for people with alcohol use disorder, while animal studies indicate reduced drug-seeking behavior across multiple substances. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health caution that larger studies are needed but say the findings could represent a breakthrough for addiction medicine, where current treatment options remain limited and underutilized.