Category: Medications - Page 2

Decision aids help patients understand the real risks and benefits of switching medications, especially when side effects are a concern. They use clear visuals, personal values, and evidence to guide shared decisions with providers.

Studies show that switching to generic versions of narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs like warfarin, phenytoin, and cyclosporine can lead to dangerous fluctuations in blood levels. While some patients remain stable, others face seizures, organ rejection, or bleeding. Monitoring is critical after any switch.

Insurers use preferred generic lists to cut drug costs and lower premiums. These formularies steer patients toward cheaper, equally effective generics - saving billions annually. Learn how they work, where they fall short, and how to navigate them.

Orthostatic hypotension is a dangerous side effect of blood pressure meds in older adults. Learn which drugs raise fall risk, which are safest, and how to prevent dizziness without stopping treatment.

Some medications lose potency after expiration; others become dangerous. Learn which drugs-like insulin, epinephrine, and liquid antibiotics-you should never use past their expiration date, and why.

Tentative approval from the FDA lets generic drug makers prepare for market entry before patents expire, but litigation and timing mistakes can cause costly delays. Learn how the Hatch-Waxman Act shapes the race to bring affordable drugs to patients.

Track how your body reacts when switching to generic medications with a simple medication journal. Learn what to record, why it matters, and how to use it to protect your health.

Valproate and lamotrigine together increase the risk of serious skin rashes unless doses are carefully adjusted. Learn the exact dosing rules that cut risk by over 90% and what to do if a rash appears.

Learn when to take your medications with or without food to ensure proper absorption. Discover which drugs need fat, which are blocked by dairy, and how timing affects your health.

Biosimilars offer the same effectiveness as expensive biologic drugs at 15-30% lower cost. Learn how they work, why they’re safe, and how to save money without sacrificing treatment quality.