MEDICAL NEWS Grapefruit can interact with your drugs. And your doctor may not be aware of it. An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal points out that drug interactions with grapefruit were noted more than 20 years ago. Recently, more and more commonly prescribed newer drugs are found to interact with grapefruit (the fruit […]
The Grapefruit Effect Read More »
WELL-BEING Any box or bottle of over-the-counter (OTC) medicine lists its active ingredients prominently on the label. But are consumers using that information to make wise choices about taking two or more OTC drugs at the same time? Probably not, suggests a study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. A consumer who takes
Read The Labels, Again Read More »
MEDICAL NEWS From 1999 to 2010, deaths from prescription pain relief drugs increased more than 400 percent in women and 265 percent in men. These facts are from a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Prescription painkiller deaths have skyrocketed in women (6,600 in 2010), four times as many as
Rx Painkiller Deaths On The Rise Read More »
SELF-CARE CORNER For a medicine to work for you-you’ve got to take the right dose. Many over-the-counter liquid medicines-such as pain relievers, cold medicines, cough syrups, and digestion aids-come with spoons, cups, oral droppers, or syringes designed to help you measure the right dose. To avoid giving too much or too little of a medicine,
Over-The-Counter Overdosing? Read More »
WELL-BEING Did I take my medicine? If you find yourself asking that question often, try these tips to help you keep track. *Keep them in an accessible spot.As long as they’re out of reach of children or pets, the best place for your medicine is a place you’ll see it. *Write it down.Purchase a small
Keeping Track Of Medicines Read More »
MEDICAL NEWS If you have high blood pressure, you need to be cautious when taking over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for coughs, colds, and flu. Most people didn’t know they were at risk if they took certain decongestants, according to a survey by St. Joseph Health Products. Here’s the caution:The most common OTC ingredient to avoid: decongestants.
High Blood Pressure And Cold Medicines: A Potentially Bad Combination Read More »
MEDICAL NEWS Certain over-the-counter medicines, known as OTC or nonprescription drugs, may affect your ability to drive. Read the Drug Facts label and use the medicine exactly as directed, advises the FDA. Look for such statements as “you may get drowsy,” “marked drowsiness will occur,” “be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery,”
Drugs That May Affect Your Driving Read More »
MEDICAL NEWS Question: What is our nation’s most abused drug? Need a hint? It is legal and may be sitting in your medicine cabinet. Fatal drug overdoses are an epidemic. Opioid prescription painkiller overdoses account for the majority of these deaths. The National Safety Council revealed these startling facts many people do not know, but
Can You Pass This Drug Test? Read More »
SELF-CARE CORNER It’s 10 pm, you’ve got a horrible headache, and the only pain reliever you’ve found expired a year ago. Can you use it just this once? No, you shouldn’t, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once medicines have expired, there’s no guarantee that they’re safe – or that they’ll work. Using
Bad Medicine:The Problem With Expired Medications Read More »
SELF-CARE CORNER Antibiotics that are overused or misused can lead to “superbugs.” These are bacteria that can’t be killed by antibiotics. Some of these bacteria can be deadly if they get in your body. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says this is one of the top health threats in our world today. What
Antibiotic Misuse -You Could Be Doing It Read More »
