Drug Side Effects
Learn what others have experienced when taking medications. Which side effects should you be alert for? Share your own experience so others can learn.
Will Ozempic or Wegovy Weight Loss Last?
The hottest drug for weight loss these days is semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy). Don't let the three brand names confuse you. They are all the same medication. The FDA approved the self-inje…
Why Pharmacists Can’t Just Slap a Label on…
“Don’t you just have to slap a label on it?” Pharmacists around the country hear the same thing, all day, every day. I know this because I am in several pharmacist groups on Facebook, each with …
How To Stop Tramadol Without Withdrawal Symptoms…
We have heard from hundreds of visitors to this website about the serious side effects of tramadol (Ultram). They include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, headache, drowsiness, dizzin…
Do You Love Your Liver Enough?
Most Americans have no idea where the liver is located or what it does. They generally ignore this organ until something goes badly wrong, such as cirrhosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Admit…
Is Your Aluminum Antiperspirant Setting You Up f…
People take their aluminum antiperspirant for granted. They apply it every morning like clockwork because of a fear of body odor. No one wants to offend co-workers, friends or family members. That's e…
Is Cinnamon Toxic to the Liver?
How do you know when an herb, spice or supplement is safe? It makes sense to do some reading on anything you are planning to take before you begin swallowing it. Many people are taking cinnamon to con…
Can NSAIDs for Pain Harm Your Kidneys?
Have you taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen? These pain relievers are very popular. In fact, you can buy ibuprofen and naproxen without a prescr…
Just Shut Up and Fill Prescriptions!
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 …
Drugs That Are More Dangerous in Hot Weather
"Hot as hell" is a phrase we have heard a lot this summer. And with good reason. Temperatures have soared in much of the country. And it's not over yet. Anyone without air conditioning has really been…
Low LDL Cholesterol Linked to Bleeding Strokes
Ask any golfer if you can have too low a golf score and he will think you're nuts. After all, the lowest score wins in golf. Ask almost any cardiologist if you can have too low LDL cholesterol levels …
Kisunla (Donanemab): Breakthrough or Boondoggle …
Two years ago we asked the question: Aduhelm for Alzheimer’s: Breatkthrough or Boondoggle? That was when the FDA announced it was approving aducanumab “…for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, a deb…
Will You Gain Weight on an Antidepressant?
Antidepressant medications are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. People who take antidepressant medications for many years often complain that they gain weight. Several year…
Is Your Medicine Setting You Up for Heat Stroke?
Recent headlines have warned about dangerous record-breaking heat waves in the United States and around the world. Many people may not realize that they are at far greater risk for heat-related illnes…
Prednisone and Diabetes: A Life-Threatening Gluc…
We have described prednisone as a “Deal with the Devil.” That’s because this drug is the classic double-edged sword. It can save lives and make life worth living for some people. For others, tho…
Oral Ketamine vs. Depression! What Took So Long?
Drug discovery can sometimes seem interminably slow. A small study published in Biological Psychiatry (Feb. 15, 2000) was one of the first placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate that low-dose ketami…
Pharmacists Don’t Seem to Be Troubled by These…
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 …
Sexual Side Effects Are Common But Rarely Mentio…
Prescribers know that they are supposed to inform patients about common side effects and potentially serious adverse reactions. When this is done correctly and the patient decides to take the medicine…
Prolia for Osteoporosis Can Cause Low Calcium an…
The CDC estimates that over 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. Another 43 million have “low bone mass.” Bones can become weak because of illness, nutritional deficiencies, low levels of estro…
Does Your Medicine Have a Boxed Warning? Why You…
When people are poised to participate in risky activities, they are supposed to follow safety protocols. For example, sky divers exercise proper precautions and procedures before each jump. No commerc…
Hydrochlorothiazide Side Effects: Skin Cancer an…
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have issued guidelines about hypertension. The experts state that "normal" blood pressure is "Less than 120/80." You have "elevate…
What Do You Really Know About Scary Ibuprofen Si…
Do you read the labels on OTC pain relievers? Be honest now. The last time you purchased Advil, Motrin IB or some house brand ibuprofen pills, did you check out the dosage instructions or the warnings…
What’s In Your Armpits: Magnesium or Alumi…
Most people rarely read labels. Do you have any idea what's in your toothpaste? What about your antiperspirant or deodorant? Be honest, now. Have you ever checked your antiperspirant label? Does it c…
Are You Suffering from Severe Statin Side Effect…
Statins have been characterized as miracle drugs against heart disease. By lowering cholesterol dramatically, these drugs are supposed to prevent heart attacks and prolong life. Some researchers belie…
Can Too Many Tums Cause Trouble?
It may be hard to imagine that over-the-counter products like antacids or even vitamin or mineral supplements might cause trouble. It makes sense, though, to read and follow the directions on the labe…
Tylenol & Alcohol: Acetaminophen Side Effec…
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…
Do Tattoos Increase the Risk for Cancer?
Tattoos have become a popular fashion statement. It is estimated that about 20% of Swedes and 30% of American adults now have tattoos. This body art makes an esthetic statement and often conveys expli…
If You Need Surgery While on Ozempic or Wegovy B…
Semaglutide is one of the hottest drugs in the pharmacy. You may recognize the brand names Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. Anesthesiologists in Canada and the US are raising the alarm…
Are Your Medicines Depriving You of Folate?
Vitamin B9, or folate, is crucial for the normal development of human embryos. That is why pregnant women and those who may become pregnant are urged to take at least 400 mcg daily of folic acid, the …
Statins Diminish Sex Drive and Lower Testosteron…
As visitors to this website know, statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines remain among the most popular drugs in the pharmacy. Many cardiologists maintain that such medications are extremely safe, …
Where Can I Find a List of Anticholinergic Drugs…
Anything that interferes with the crucial neurotransmitter acetylcholine can be bad for the brain. A great many medications have what has been called "anticholinergic" activity. Research has verified …
Tramadol Side Effects and Withdrawal are Dauntin…
Doctors love tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet) because it is perceived as far safer than narcotics like hydrocodone (Lortab, Norco, Vicodin, etc.) or oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet, etc). Many doctors are a…
Exerciser Needs Home Remedy to Overcome Knee Pai…
It is estimated that 30 million Americans take an NSAID-type pain reliever each day to ease their sprains, strains, arthritis and bursitis. Familiar brands include Advil, Aleve, Anaprox, Cataflam, Mob…
Which Diuretic is Best for Hypertension? HCTZ or…
When a patient is diagnosed with high blood pressure that is not controlled by diet, exercise or other lifestyle interventions, doctors start writing prescriptions. One of their first-line drugs is al…
Is Fish Oil Linked to Heart Rhythm Changes?
Could a supplement that people take for heart health actually lead to worrisome heart rhythm changes? Most people take fish oil with the expectation that it will lower their likelihood of a heart atta…
New Concerns About Gabapentin and Pregabalin (Ly…
Several years ago, a review of the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) revealed some disconcerting data about commonly prescribed drugs for nerve pain (ISMP QuarterWatch Reports (March 27, …
Show 1385: The Dangers of Overdosing on OTC Meds
This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions and stories about the dangers of overdosing on OTC meds. Dr. Lisa Sanders, an acknowledged expert on medical diagnosis, starts us off with a sto…
Do Your Drug’s Benefits Outweigh Its Risks?
We are always surprised that medications seem to be held to a much lower standard than any other product or service. Why do healthcare professionals and patients willingly accept such poor performance…
Is Lp(a) Contributing to Unexplained Heart Attac…
Are physicians overlooking a key risk factor for heart disease? Is Lp(a) contributing to unexplained heart attacks? For decades, doctors have focused primarily on LDL cholesterol as a determinant of c…
Can Medications Change Hair Color or Curl Your H…
We are always intrigued to read about medications that change hair. Usually people complain that beta blocker heart medicines like propranolol or metoprolol lead to thinning hair or hair loss. Others …
Show 1315: Are We Medicating Normal Emotions? (A…
This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, we examine the consequences of prescriptions for anxiety or grief. All of us, at some point in our lives, will experience some of these emotions. If …