Drug Information
Generic Drug Quality Quagmire: Do You Know Who M…
Most of us pick up a prescription, swallow the pills and never give much thought to generic drug quality. We assume that if a medicine made it onto an American pharmacy shelf, someone has made absolu…
NasalCrom Is a Forgotten Allergy Treatment That …
People who suffer from allergies rarely get the respect they deserve. Complain about arthritis, chest pain or diabetes and you will get lots of sympathy. Describe your drippy nose or ask about effecti…
Aspirin vs. Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) or Eliquis (Ap…
People who undergo hip or knee replacements are at high risk for developing blood clots during the first several weeks after surgery. How serious is this complication? A research paper published in Cu…
What’s In Your Armpits: Magnesium or Alumi…
Most people rarely read labels. Do you have any idea what's in your toothpaste, shampoo or sunscreen? What about your antiperspirant or deodorant? Be honest, now. Have you ever checked your antiperspi…
Show 1487: Hair Loss and Nail Problems: A Dermat…
Do you worry that your hair is thinning? You may wonder what treatments could make a real difference. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend money on something that has no chance of helping. Many peo…
Coping with Anxiety: Could One Dose of LSD Chang…
What if severe anxiety could someday be treated with a single, medically supervised dose of LSD rather than a pill taken every day? New Phase 3 research suggests that possibility may be getting closer…
There Are No Side Effects
Dennis Miller, R.Ph. is a retired chain store pharmacist. His book, The Shocking Truth About Pharmacy: A Pharmacist Reveals All the Disturbing Secrets, can be downloaded in its entirety at Amazon for …
Can You Make Your Lashes Grow Longer and Eyebrow…
Some very interesting drug developments have happened by accident. Think Viagra, Rogaine and Botox as prime examples. These are now household brands, but they were each developed from something else. …
Zyrtec Withdrawal Is a Nightmare
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is an antihistamine often used to treat allergies, nasal congestion or hives. It is considered a second-generation non-sedating antihistamine. In other words, it doesn't make you d…
Is There a Danger from Xylitol?
There is a strong consensus that Americans get too much sugar in our diets. As a result, manufacturers have turned to sugar substitutes for some popular foods and beverages and also some medications. …
Tylenol & Alcohol: Devastating Acetaminophe…
We keep getting questions from readers who want to know about taking Tylenol & alcohol together. You might think that this question would be easily resolved. The various Tylenol labels are a bit c…
Why Drug Benefits and Harms Cannot Be Untangled
Dennis Miller, R.Ph. is a retired chain store pharmacist. His book, The Shocking Truth About Pharmacy: A Pharmacist Reveals All the Disturbing Secrets, can be downloaded in its entirety at Amazon for …
Pepto-Bismol Drug Interactions: Which Pepto Are …
When people experience upset stomach, indigestion or diarrhea, they may immediately think of the distinctive pink liquid called Pepto-Bismol. After all, Pepto-Bismol traces its roots back over 100 ye…
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) Side Effects & Withdr…
iThe Food and Drug Administration originally approved duloxetine (Cymbalta) as an antidepressant decades ago. The agency subsequently gave this drug the green light to treat diabetic nerve pain, fibro…
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Relieved With Biofr…
There are some medical conditions that are surprisingly common but quite mysterious. You have probably heard of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Doctors now call it myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The …
If Acetaminophen Is Killing People, Why Should Y…
Acetaminophen is considered one of the safest pain relievers in the pharmacy. In fact most people probably think it is one of the safest drugs in the pharmacy. That's partially because Tylenol is a ho…
Swollen Ankles from Amlodipine and Swollen Tongu…
"Swelling" as a drug side effect doesn't seem like that big a deal. Yet drug-induced swelling can be unpleasant at best and life threatening at worst. Amlodipine (Norvasc) is the most frequently presc…
Is Diphenhydramine as a Sleep Aid Bad for Your H…
Getting a good night's sleep is one of the pillars of good health, but for many people it is a real struggle. They toss and turn, worrying that they won't be able to fall asleep at all. It is no wonde…
The Coercive World of Retail Pharmacy
Dennis Miller, R.Ph. is a retired chain store pharmacist. His book, The Shocking Truth About Pharmacy: A Pharmacist Reveals All the Disturbing Secrets, can be downloaded in its entirety at Amazon for …
The Miracle of Metformin Against Diabetes, Cance…
One of the cheapest and most effective medicines for controlling blood sugar has been around for decades. In truth, though, herbalists were using goat's rue (French lilac) for hundreds of years before…
St. John’s Wort Can Lift Mood But May Dama…
About twenty years ago, people who were reluctant to take prescription antidepressants were excited to learn that the herbal medicine St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) could help alleviate mild t…
Mistakes in the Pharmacy Could be Deadly
Pharmacists used to be one the of most respected group of professionals in America. That was back when there were lots of independent drug stores and the pharmacist knew your name and actually talked …
Should You Let Food Be Your Medicine?
While millions of people around the world struggle with overnutrition and obesity, older people living on their own are at risk for undernutrition. That, in turn, is associated with frailty and even c…
Can People Ever Stop Taking Statins Without Suff…
Many healthcare professionals and patients think of statin-type cholesterol-lowering medications as powerful shields against heart disease. Most, however, do not understand the actual risk reduction. …
The Test of Time: Why “Breakthrough” Drugs S…
Dennis Miller, R.Ph. is a retired chain store pharmacist. His book, The Shocking Truth About Pharmacy: A Pharmacist Reveals All the Disturbing Secrets, can be downloaded in its entirety at Amazon for …
How Dangerous Is It to Stop Taking Aspirin?
Aspirin gets very little respect. Perhaps that's because it is well over 100 years old, or because it is inexpensive and available over the counter. Whatever the reason, it's our observation that peop…
How Can You Lower Blood Pressure Naturally?
Everyone loves pills. Doctors love to prescribe medicine. Patients love to swallow drugs. We are a pill-taking society. But all medications come with pros and cons. That is true of anti-hypertensive d…
Farxiga Side Effects: Should You Pay Attention t…
Drug commercials are easy to tune out. After all the cheerful music, smiling actors and beautiful scenery, an announcer suddenly races through a frightening list of adverse reactions. Most viewers pro…
Do You Love Your Kidneys Enough? Find Out!
Chances are good that you know your blood pressure. After all, home BP monitors are inexpensive and widely available. You probably have a rough idea of your cholesterol levels, too, since your doctor …
Lisinopril Side Effects Can Be Life Threatening:…
Keeping blood pressure under control is extremely important, since hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major risk factor for both stroke and heart disease. In many cases, the best medication may b…
What Happens When Children Get Too Much Food Dye…
Too many Americans, including our youngest ones, are getting too much sugar in their diet. In addition, some parents are unwittingly feeding their children high doses of food dye. What are the consequ…
Are You Playing the Generic Drug Lottery with Yo…
More than 90 percent of prescriptions filled in the United States are generic. That means millions of Americans may be participating in the Generic Drug Lottery without realizing it. Each time a pha…
Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil: Hope or Hype for Hair L…
Hair loss can be emotionally devastating for both men and women. Witnessing hair thin, or gradually disappear, can affect identity and confidence. For some, hair loss can trigger frustration or anxiet…
Prescription Heat Damage: Is Your Medicine Cooki…
We recently ordered some baking supplies that included chocolate chips. Needless to say, what we actually received was a chocolate mess. The chips had melted in the heat. We should have known better t…
How Safe Is Vaginal Estrogen Cream to Prevent Ur…
Many women experience recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) that disrupt their lives. Urinary frequency and urgency have them running to the bathroom, but when they get there, urinating is very pa…
Is NyQuil or Benadryl A Good Way To Stay Asleep?
We often wonder whether people read the label of their over-the-counter medicines. If they did, would most know what they were taking? Nyquil Cold & Flu formula is advertised to “relieve your s…
Nighttime Restless Legs Wreck Lives, Sleep, and …
Have you ever heard of Willis-Ekbom disease? Most people haven’t—even though millions live with it every day. Better known as restless legs syndrome (RLS), this condition is frequently dismissed o…
Will Praluent, Repatha or Lipfendra Work If You …
When someone has a heart attack, there is a very good chance he will be put on a statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicine. This is called secondary prevention because the goal is to avoid a second he…
Unexpected GLP-1 Side Effects: Do They Cause Vis…
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are transforming medicine. They help people with type-2 diabetes control blood sugar and often lead to dramatic weight loss. Researchers are als…
Pharma’s Quiet Admission: We Often Do Not Know…
Dennis Miller, R.Ph. is a retired chain store pharmacist. His book, The Shocking Truth About Pharmacy: A Pharmacist Reveals All the Disturbing Secrets, can be downloaded in its entirety at Amazon for …