Archive: 2025/12

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Generic Medications

Learn how to confidently ask your doctor about generic medications. Discover why generics are just as effective as brand-name drugs, how much they save, and how to start the conversation without fear or confusion.

Rifampin and Hormonal Contraceptives: What You Need to Know About Breakthrough Ovulation Risk

Rifampin can significantly reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control by speeding up hormone metabolism, leading to breakthrough ovulation and pregnancy risk. Learn what you need to do to stay protected.

How to Store Prescription Labels and Leaflets for Future Reference

Learn how to safely store prescription labels and medication leaflets to prevent errors, avoid dangerous interactions, and ensure accurate care during medical visits. A simple system can save your life.

Antipsychotics and Metabolic Risks: What You Need to Monitor

Antipsychotics can significantly increase the risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Learn which medications carry the highest metabolic risks, what tests you need, and how to protect your health while staying on treatment.

Bipolar Depression vs. Unipolar Depression: Key Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment

Bipolar depression and unipolar depression look similar but require completely different treatments. Learn the key diagnostic clues, why misdiagnosis is dangerous, and how treatment differs between the two conditions.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Decongestants: What You Need to Know About Urinary Retention Risk

Men with an enlarged prostate must avoid common decongestants like pseudoephedrine, which can trigger acute urinary retention. Learn the risks, safer alternatives, and what to do if you can't urinate.

Generics vs Brand-Name Drugs: What Your Insurance Actually Covers

Learn how insurance formularies treat generic and brand-name drugs differently - including copays, substitution rules, exceptions, and what to do if a generic doesn't work for you.

Verbal Prescriptions: Best Practices for Clarity and Safety in Healthcare

Verbal prescriptions are still common in healthcare - but they carry serious risks. Learn the proven steps to make them safe: read-back protocols, phonetic spelling, avoiding dangerous abbreviations, and immediate documentation to prevent deadly errors.

How to Set Up Medication Budgeting and Auto-Refill Alerts

Learn how to track your medication costs and set up auto-refill alerts to avoid surprise bills and running out of prescriptions. Simple steps to save money and stay healthy.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: How to Manage Bleeding Risks After Heart Procedures

Learn how to manage bleeding risks from dual antiplatelet therapy after a heart stent or heart attack. Discover safer alternatives, when to shorten treatment, and how to live well without fear of bleeding.

When Pharmacists Should Recommend Authorized Generics: A Practical Guide

Pharmacists should recommend authorized generics for patients with allergies to inactive ingredients, those on narrow therapeutic index drugs, or those using complex release formulations. They're identical to brand-name drugs but often cost significantly less.

Reversibility of Blood Thinners: How Reversal Agents Work in Emergencies

Blood thinners save lives-but when they cause bleeding, reversal agents can be the difference between life and death. Learn how idarucizumab, andexanet alfa, and 4F-PCC work in emergencies, their real-world costs, and what’s coming next.