Medications
Friendship is a wildly underrated medication - Anna Deavere Smith
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The Wonder Drug Myth
In the past 50 years, modern pharmacology has created dozens of treatments that improve and save lives. Cardiovascular drugs like beta- blockers have drastically reduced deaths from heart attacks and heart disease. For every million people who take a statin drug for high cholesterol, there are 50,000 fewer angioplasties, surgeries, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, studies have shown. And in the past 15 years, drugs have transformed AIDS from a death sentence into a managed disease. These are just some of the triumphs of pharmacology, and each case is a bona fide miracle, a life transformed.
Resources
DailyMed
This Web site provides health information providers and the public with a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling as found in medication package inserts.
Pill Identifier
Use the pill finder to identify medications by visual appearance or name. All Rx and OTC drugs in the US are required by the FDA to have an imprint. If your pill has no imprint it could be a vitamin, diet/herbal/energy pill, illicit or foreign drug.
KnowYourDose.org
The Know Your Dose campaign educates consumers on how to safely and appropriately use medicines that contain acetaminophen to avoid an unintentional overdose. By reaching consumers when medicine safety is top of mind through points of care, such as a pharmacy or healthcare provider’s office, points of purchase at retail pharmacies, and online on health sites, the campaign seeks to raise awareness and promotes four simple steps for safe acetaminophen use...
How to get the medication you need when it’s out of stock
The pharmaceutical supply chain is broken, but if you’re facing a drug shortage, you have more power than you think.
Shock of the old: 10 scandalous vintage medicines – from asthma cigarettes to cocaine wine
Cure any ailment! Never known to fail! Early medicine adverts made grand claims but they look alarming today.
Are you taking the wrong medications? You might be surprised
As your body ages, the medicines that have always worked well for you—from antihistamines to antidepressants—may start to do more harm than good.
Patients Hate ‘Forever’ Drugs. Is Wegovy Different?
The new obesity drugs might be an exception to a chronic, deadly problem: the failure to stick with medication.
Taking Multiple Medications? You May Need to Scale Back.
Many people in the United States are taking five or more prescription drugs. That can lead to serious complications.
Why does the US keep running out of medicine?
America’s frequent drug shortages put patients’ health — and their lives — at risk.
A User's Guide to Drug Apps
From validating your parking to validating your love life, it’s easy to say there’s an app for everything. But could scoring drugs (or a drug buddy) be as convenient as ordering take out? The blossoming weed industry argues that it should be. Here is a guide (and a Los Angeles-based user's commentary) to the apps that might make your life as a recreational drug user easier, more interesting, and definitely more tech savvy.
Are You Taking Too Many Medications? How to Trim Your Prescription List
Polypharmacy—when one patient takes multiple drugs—is responsible for a vast but underpublicized American tragedy. Medication overload will contribute to the premature deaths of 150,000 seniors over the next decade, one study found, while causing the hospitalization of 750 seniors per day. It’s a sad but true reality of the medical business: Doctors often prescribe new drugs without knowing how they will interact with a patient’s existing medicine regime.
Are Your Medications Safe?
The FDA buries evidence of fraud in medical trials. My students and I dug it up.
Beta Blockers Were a Miracle Cure for My Stage Fright
Then they took over my life.
Black Market Meds
The high cost of prescription drugs has pushed millions of Americans to the black market — and into hands of criminal syndicates looking to cash in.
Drugs - Who's Minding The Store?
The most common adverse drug reactions are the effects from the drug itself - a virtual double-edged sword!
How Should Critical Medications Be Rationed During Shortages?
At the time of this writing, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed 136 medications in shortage, ranging from inhaled albuterol solution to injectable vecuronium.1 Even before the pandemic, it was not uncommon to see over a 100 drugs in shortage at any given time, but in recent years the state of drug shortages has become even more severe.
Many Commonly Used Drugs Are Useless
Some medications are life saving. I am so thankful for the trusty med that tames my atrial fibrillation. Many meds are helpful — demonstrating superiority to placebo in ways that are clearly clinically significant and life enhancing. But many (perhaps most) drugs are probably no more than very expensive placebos.
Many Psychiatrists Self-Prescribe, Study Says
A new study from a professor at the University of Michigan looks at how frequently psychiatrists prescribe medication for themselves. The study finds that many are writing their own prescriptions to avoid the stigma associated with being a doctor with a mental health problem.
Medication Nation: We Pop Way Too Many Painkillers For Our Own Good
What's the biggest dose of Tylenol you've ever taken? If you've had more than eight pills in a day, you've probably taken too much -- and gambled with your liver in the process.
My Generic Medications Failed Me. I’m Not Alone
Our health-care system relies on generics working just as brand-name drugs do. But what happens when they don’t?
Prescription Overkill: Are Americans Taking Too Many Pills?
Americans take pills for everything including increased energy, weight loss, pain and medical conditions. Roughly 59-percent of Americans, or 3 in 5, are taking a prescription of some kind. It is also estimated that roughly 15-percent of the population takes more than five prescriptions daily.
Psych Medications
The information for most of these drugs are from Canadian monographs. There are often significant differences in indications, dosage forms and warnings for the drugs in other countries.
Scientists Identify Drugs' Side Effects by Analyzing Search Data Collected From Millions of Users
A team of researchers has for the first time found a side effect of a common drug combination by looking at search queries.
The diseases that are driving up American drug spending
Treatment for common inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and Crohn’s disease, are dominated by expensive biologic drugs. Most are patent-protected for some time to come, or are years away from facing competition from biosimilars (i.e., drugs with minor chemical differences that have the same effect).
The Drugging of Generation Rx
Prescription drugs bring relief from illness and pain but they come with a price...drug dependence and even death. Can we turn it around?
The Healing Power of Venom
Scientists are turning toxins from scorpions, snakes and spiders into treatments for diseases including diabetes and cancer.
The Quant King, the Drug Hunter, and the Quest to Unlock New Cures
A billionaire and his very powerful computer are helping a pharma pioneer find the drugs of tomorrow.
This Drug Is Safe and Effective. Wait. Compared With What?
Comparative effectiveness research may be the best way to answer questions that patients and physicians face every day.
Timing matters for medications – your circadian rhythm influences how well treatments work and how much they might harm you
Taking medications at the wrong time can even cause harm. My colleagues and I wondered whether midazolam, the most common sedative used in surgical procedures worldwide, might interfere with the internal clock that protects the heart at night. Currently, there are no guidelines regarding when midazolam should be administered.
Watch: Eat, drink, but be wary — 4 foods that interact with medications
Grapefruit, kale — foods like these have health benefits. But if paired with certain medications, the good stuff we eat can spike our blood pressure, dull our motor skills, cause an overdose, or worse.
What Americans Don’t Know About Their Medications
Martin herself took Levaquin multiple times for sinus infections more than a decade ago, and afterward, she said, she developed insomnia, panic attacks, brain fog, digestive problems, tendon issues, weakness, and pain in her arms. Walking and getting dressed became excruciating.
Why are drug names so long and complicated? A pharmacist explains the logic behind the nomenclature
Some wonder why they were prescribed the medication in the first place, or need help differentiating between drugs with names that seem like complete gibberish. But there is a rhyme and a reason to drug names. All prescribed medications follow a standard nomenclature that describes what the drug is made of and how it functions.
Why are so many useless cold medicines littering pharmacy shelves?
Phenylephrine and other medications that contain it, like Sudafed PE, don’t work.
The Wonder Drug Myth
Even the pharmaceutical industry's best products are imperfect, working in only half—or fewer—patients. It's time for better targeting.
BeMedWise
The BeMedWise Program at NeedyMed’s mission is working to promote the wise use of medicines through trusted communication for better health.
CredibleMeds
Since its initial launch in 1999, CredibleMeds® has developed educational and research programs providing resources for medical professionals, researchers and consumers. Most notably, CredibleMeds® has built and applied a novel, systems-based approach to reduce harm from medications and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) – with a special focus on drugs that prolong the QT interval on the patient’s electrocardiogram and thereby increase the risk of torsades de pointes (TdP), a heart arrhythmia that can cause sudden cardiac death.
Medicine On Time
Improving Medication Adherence is critical for your patients and your bottom line. Medicine On Time understands the challenges your pharmacy faces, and offers the solutions and expert support you need to start, grow, and master your medication adherence program and expand your clinical services.
SafeMedication
SafeMedication.com features complete, easy-to-read information on more than 800 drugs. It is based on ASHP's premier, unbiased drug information resources.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), based in suburban Philadelphia, is the nation''s only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. ISMP represents over 30 years of experience in helping healthcare practitioners keep patients safe, and continues to lead efforts to improve the medication use process.
MedActionPlan
MedActionPlan.com provides a family of powerful, web-based applications that allow healthcare providers to create personalized treatment plans for the patient.
MedicationSense.com
Your independent, respected source for information about medications and natural therapies.
RxAssist
Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place
RxHope
RxHope is exactly what its name implies...a helping hand to people in need in obtaining critical medications that they would normally have trouble affording. We act as your advocate in making the patient assistance program journey easier and faster by supplying vital information and help.
RxList
RxList is an online medical resource dedicated to offering detailed and current pharmaceutical information on brand and generic drugs.
RxMed
The comprehensive resource for physicians, drug and illness information.
WorstPills.org
Our doctors and pharmacists analyze the FDA's own data so you get the second opinion YOU need.
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
Improving antimicrobial policy and clinical practice worldwide.
Antibiotics
Antibiotic guide.
Ask a Patient
There is more to know than what the ads say. Learn from the experience of real people who have taken drug treatments. Share your side effects or success stories. Take control of your health by being informed and asking questions. AskaPatient.com provides tools for the empowered patient.
British National Formulary
he BNF and BNF for Children provide UK healthcare professionals with authoritative and practical information on the selection and clinical use of medicines in a clear, concise and accessible manner.
Bugs and Drugs on the Web
This site has been developed in response to current concern about antimicrobial resistance and provides information for the public to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials.
ConsumerLab.com
Vitamins, herbs, and other supplements are not regularly tested by any government organization. Only ConsumerLab.com continually evaluates nutritional supplements in a laboratory environment. It also investigates problems with drugs.
eHealthme
People use eHealthMe to find out what patients like me (same gender, age, conditions) reported their drugs on FDA and social media.
EMRA Antibiotic Guide
The EMRA ABx Guide is a necessity for any health care professional who rotates in the emergency department. Find antibiotics based on organ system, diagnosis, or organism. Virtually every type of infectious disease is covered for outpatient management and for patients needing admission. Includes everything you've come to love about EMRA's printed guide, but with the ability to search. Epocrates Rx
European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), located in London. It began operating in 1995. The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU.
FDA
Information about products we regulate.
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
FAERS is a database that contains information on adverse event and medication error reports submitted to FDA. The database is designed to support the FDA's post-marketing safety surveillance program for drug and therapeutic biologic products. The informatic structure of the FAERS database adheres to the international safety reporting guidance issued by the International Conference on Harmonisation. Adverse events and medication errors are coded to terms in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities terminology.
FDA Approved Drugs
With more than 4,000 new investigational treatments in more than 800 disease conditions worldwide, this database is ideal for clinical trials industry professionals.
In The Pipeline
Derek Lowe's commentary on drug discovery and the pharma industry. An editorially independent blog from the publishers of Science Translational Medicine.
Iodine
Wondering what to expect from your medication? We‘re here to help. Iodine combines pharmacist expertise, FDA data, and real life experience from more than 100,000 people like you to create a new kind of medical resource. Let us know what you think
MPR
To provide medical professionals with the most up-to-date prescribing information in a concise, user-friendly format. The PRI database has been assembled and edited by an experienced staff of pharmacists utilizing information available from manufacturers, official compendia and medical/pharmaceutical references.
Orange Book
To provide timely consumer information on generic drugs, the Electronic Orange Book is updated daily as new generic approvals occur.
PDR
From the publishers of the Physicians’ Desk Reference — the leading drug resource for over 65 years.
Pocket Pharmacist
Drug information, interaction checker, and medication organizer.
Recall Guide
Recall Guide is the most effective, easiest to use medication tracking platform on the market. Best of all, it's free! Keep track of your medications, and learn about important recalls and prescription information that may directly affect you. Our goal is to supply important and helpful information about your prescriptions. We do this by leveraging an active community of users and by sharing important updates about the safety of specific drugs.
The People's Pharmacy
In 1976, when The People's Pharmacy® was originally published, it was one of the first books providing drug and health information to consumers. It went on to become a number one bestseller.
US Recall News
US Recall News is not associated with any government agency. We provide what information we can relating to recalled products in the United States, but our list of recalls may not be all-inclusive. While we endeavor to stay up-to-date with all of the latest recalls, your best bet is always to contact the appropriate organization in charge of the recalls...
Why is it so hard to get my ADHD medication in the US?
I moved to New York this year and am embroiled in a Kafkaesque ordeal trying to get my meds filled.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
