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Take Generics Safely

Not all medicines are created equal. Although generics are equivalent to name brand medications in most ways, you may find that your generic medication doesn’t work exactly the same way your name brand prescription does. I experienced this when I switched from a name brand antidepressant to a generic. On the generic, I find that some of the side effects are milder. I’m very happy with my switch! However, some people find that switching to a generic is less effective for their health issues. Here are some things you can do to make sure your generics are working right for … Continue reading →

Unraveling the Prescription Code

It isn’t just the bad handwriting that keeps us from understanding the scribbles on a prescription sheet. There’s a bit of shorthand or code in there, too. Are you ready to crack the code? Here are some terms and phrases you might see on your prescription — in case you’re curious. Many of them deal with timing: what time of day the medication should be taken, and how frequently the medication should be taken. An “am” or “pm” (not surprisingly) refers to medication taken in the morning or the evening. But other bits of code might be less obvious. If … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Save Money on Prescription Medication

Even with insurance that covers prescriptions, medication can be expensive. Here are some tips to help you save a little money on your prescriptions! Money saving tip number one: Go generic! Many name brand medications are now available in a generic form. Generic medications are tested for safety and ability to treat diseases the same way name brand medications are. They work the same… for a LOT less. For example: my name brand Zoloft used to cost around $90 per month (without insurance). The generic version cost less than half that when I first made the switch. If you do … Continue reading →

Help Prevent Medication Mix-Ups

There are lots of medications on the market — name brand prescriptions, generic equivalents, and over-the-counter remedies. A recent study from the United States Pharmacopeia, there are more than a thousand drugs that have names that are similar to others. Similar names creates a potential for confusion — the wrong drug (with a similar name) being substituted for the right one. Look at these sound-alikes for example: Were you prescribed Actos (for type 2 diabetes) or Actonel (for osteoporosis)? Were you prescribed Celexa (for depression) or Celebrex (for arthritis)? Were you prescribed Heparin (a blood thinner) or HESpan (to thicken … Continue reading →

Home Medical Errors on the Rise

A research study from the University of California at San Diego found that the number of deaths resulting from medication mistakes at home has risen sharply over the last twenty years. Researchers looked at nearly fifty million American death certificates from the last twenty-five years. They found some interesting trends: Nearly a quarter of a million deaths were caused by medication errors, including overdoses, drug interactions, and mixing prescription drugs with alcohol or recreational drugs. There were 1132 deaths from medication mistakes at home in 1983. Compare that to more than twelve thousand deaths from medication mistakes in 2004 and … Continue reading →