Libraries
Rediscovering Low-Dose Lithium for Mood Disorder…
Lithium is a chemical element that is widespread in nature. You can find it in the earth's crust, in water and even in the food you eat. Depending upon where you live, there is a good chance that ther…
Hawthorn
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is a small thorny tree with white flowers and red berries that grows in England and throughout Europe. C. laevigata is only one species; related species have slightly di…
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree Berry)
Vitex agnus-castus, also known as chaste tree, is a large shrub (up to twenty-two feet tall) native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Although it flourishes on moist riverbanks, it is easily g…
Bupropion
Overview Even before Prozac, there was Wellbutrin (bupropion). It was the first of a new generation of antidepressants and was introduced in 1985, almost two years before Prozac received FDA approval.…
Fish Oil for the Heart? Is It Good After All?
Please strap on your seat belt. Here is another huge medical flip flop! A really big controversy has to do with fish oil, also known as omega-3 fatty acids. Is fish oil for the heart helpful or is it …
Osphena (Ospemifene) for Vaginal Dryness and Pai…
Sexual intimacy does not have to disappear with aging. There are some impediments though. Vaginal dryness is one of the leading causes of painful intercourse (dyspareunia). There are a number of natur…
Is it Safe to Get Vitamin D From the Sun?
Before there were vitamin D pills, humans made this essential nutrient whenever their skin was exposed to sunlight. Nowadays, dermatologists warn us that any sun exposure is bad for our skin. They are…
How Did Doctors Go So Wrong on Calcium and Vitam…
For decades, physicians have been advising their older female patients to take extra calcium and vitamin D for bone strength. It seemed logical. Both calcium and vitamin D play a role in building bone…
How Good Is Aspirin Against Cancer in New Study?
In 1993 we published a book with Tom Ferguson, MD, called The Aspirin Handbook (Bantam Books). In it we pointed out that there was an impressive amount of research supporting the beneficial effects of…
Can You Combine Red Yeast Rice with Atorvastat…
Some people believe in what we call the "lottle" principal. If a little is good then a "lottle" must be better. This is especially true when it comes to "natural" remedies. Red yeast rice (RYR) has be…
Will Glucosamine Repair Damaged Cartilage?
In 1997 Jason Theodosakis, MD, MS, MPH, and colleagues launched the book, The Arthritis Cure: The Medical Miracle That Can Halt, Reverse, and May Even Cure Osteoarthritis. It could be stated that Dr. …
Glucosamine a Bust in New Analysis
A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (online, July 28, 2017) concluded that glucosamine lacks evidence of effectiveness. Although the researchers don't come right out and say it, …
Will Fish Oil for the Heart Contribute to Prosta…
For decades health professionals focused primarily on cholesterol (especially LDL cholesterol) as the chief culprit in heart disease. Now, other blood fats are considered important, especially triglyc…
Dabigatran
Overview When the anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa) was approved by the FDA in 2010 it was hailed as a "major milestone" in reducing the risk of strokes for patients with the irregular heart rhythm c…
Abilify Side Effects Can Be Scary!
Abilify (aripiprazole) has been one of the most successful drugs in the pharmacy. At one time, this medication had sales of over $5,000,000,000 annually. That turned it into one of the best selling dr…
Diovan Side Effects & Mild High Blood Press…
One of the most popular blood pressure pills in the pharmacy these days is Diovan (valsartan). It belongs to a class of medications called ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers). Other drugs in the clas…
Cetirizine (su-TEER-a-zeen)
Overview Cetirizine is an antihistamine used to treat allergies such as hay fever. It alleviates symptoms of runny nose, itchy, red, watery eyes, and sneezing. Zyrtec has also been found to be helpful…
Rabeprazole
Overview Aciphex is used to treat erosive or ulcerative gastrointestinal acid reflux disease (GERD). It's also used to heal duodenal uclers, and in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin,…
Quinapril
Overview Accupril is one of a group of drugs that includes Vasotec and Capoten. These medications are called ACE inhibitors because they affect an enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme) important in r…
Polyethylene Glycol 3350
Overview Polyethylene glycol 3350, also termed PEG 3350 (Dulcolax Balance, MiraLAX), is used to alleviate constipation. It is also the active ingredient in some more concentrated preparations used to…
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol
Yaz is an oral contraceptive for women. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=7508Check out Wikipedia for more user-friendly informatio…
Digoxin
Digitek is used to treat heart failure and the control of ventricular response rate in those with chronic atrial fibrillation. Check out Wikipedia for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di…
Levothyroxine Sodium
Levoxyl is used to treat hypothyroidism and pituitary TSH suppression. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=7937Check out Wikipedia fo…
Albuterol sulfate
ProAir HFA is used to treat bronchospasm resulting from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/…
Fluticasone Propionate and Salmeterol
Advair Diskus is used for the long-term maintenance treatment of asthma. It is only for people whose ashtma symptoms are not well-controlled on other asthma medications, as one of its active ingredien…
Pimecrolimus
Elidel Cream is used as a second-line therapy for the short-term treatment of atopic dermatitis. It is meant for those who are not immunocompromised and who have failed to respond to other topical tre…
Diclofenac Sodium/Misoprostol
Arthrotec is used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in those who are at a high risk of developing ulcers or other complications from NSAIDs. The potential risks should be weighed a…
Imiquimod
Aldara cream is used to treat nonhyperkeratotic, nonhypertrophic actinic keratoses on the face or scalp. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/dru…
PEG-3350, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate an…
TriLyte with flavor packs is a bowel and colon cleanser taken prior to colonoscopy. Check out Wikipedia for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilyte …
Acyclovir
Zovirax is used to treat genital herpes and non-life-threatening mucocutaneous Herpes simplex virus infections in immunocompromised individuals. Full prescribing information is available at:http:…
PrimaCare One
PrimaCare One is a prenatal vitamin that includes omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid. …
Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol
Junel Fe is an oral contraceptive for women. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=4897 …
Clonidine
Catapres-TTS is a transdermal system used to lower blood pressure. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=1890Check out Wikipedia for mo…
Warfarin Sodium
Jantoven is used to treat and prevent venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It is also prescribed to treat and prevent thromboembolic complications associated with atrial fibrillation and cardiac …
Darifenacin
Enablex is used to treat overactive bladder. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=7869Check out Wikipedia for more user-friendly infor…
Ramelteon
Rozerem is used to treat insomnia in those who have difficulty falling asleep. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=6782Check out Wiki…
Pioglitazone and Metformin
Actoplus MET is used to improve glycemic control in those with type 2 diabetes. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=9081 …
Epinephrine
EpiPen Auto-Injector is used to treat emergency allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock caused by stinging and biting insects; allergen immunotherapy; foods; drugs; diagnostic testing substan…
Nisoldipine
Sular is used to lower blood pressure. It is an extended-release form of a calcium channel blocker. Check out Wikipedia for more information:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sular…
Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol
Estrostep Fe is an oral contraceptive for women. Full prescribing information is available at:http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=4643Check out Wikipedia for more user-friendly i…