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All Prescription Drugs Special Reports

How a New Healthcare Initiative Could Lead to Better Treatment

You might be surprised to learn that when you seek medical advice for a given condition, your doctor's recommendations sometimes aren't based on a thorough scientific investigation of which is the best treatment. In fact, a lot of care is decided upon through observation, tradition, or informed opinion because the kind of research that compares treatments hasn't been conducted for the most part -- yet. More...

Drug Abuse and the Elderly

Prescription drug abuse is not just something that happens in the young. People over age 65 also are at risk for drug abuse -- and perhaps even more so. That's because Americans age 65 and older make up 13% of the population but consume about one third of all prescription drugs. Older individuals also take more potentially addictive medications than any other age group. More...

The Wait for Generic Biologic Drugs

If you take insulin, Avastin, Remicade, or another biologic drug, you may have wondered why a less expensive generic version isn't available for you. Our new report explains the hurdles drug companies face in creating a true bioequivalent to a brand-name biologic drug. The health of many people with diabetes depends on taking insulin, a hormone produced naturally by the pancreas. For years, insulin for diabetes was extracted from the pancreases of pigs and cows. Then,… More...

How Antibiotics and Other Drugs Work

Ever wonder how the medications you take act in your body? This brief guide explains how several classes of popular drugs work. Thousands of medications are in use today. Here are some of the most common mechanisms by which these drugs achieve their effects: Antibiotic Drugs -- The development of safe and effective drugs to cure infections was arguably the most significant advance in drug development of the 20th century. Perhaps the most famous example is… More...

What Is Pharmacogenics and Can It Help You?

'One size fits all' medications may soon be a thing of the past. The science of pharmacogenics holds the promise that one day medications might be tailor-made to a patient's unique genetic profile. Have you ever wondered why a medication your doctor has prescribed -- for example, a diuretic -- turns out to have little effect on you, while a friend taking the same medication experiences a dramatic benefit? Or perhaps you've had an adverse… More...

The Life Cycle of a Pill

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Will This Medication Work? Look to Your Genes

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
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User-Friendly Information Inserts

To most people, the printed 'package inserts' that accompany prescription medications might as well be in ancient Greek. The wording is dense and complex, reading more like a legal document than a guide to prescribing medications safely and appropriately. In this report, Johns Hopkins explains how to read and benefit from the 'highlights' section. … More...

When Herbs and Prescription Drugs Don’t Mix

Johns Hopkins reviews six popular herbal supplements – ginkgo, garlic, St. John's wort, and others -- that may cause adverse interactions with prescription medication. Many herbal dietary supplements are considered safe when used as directed, with no serious side effects reported -- yet. But problems with herbal products have been identified. It's important to tell your doctor what supplements you use, to avoid interactions with any prescription drugs you may need to take. … More...

New Choices in Sleeping Pills

Possibly less addictive, definitely more expensive, the new sleep aids offer hope to those of us who suffer with insomnia – but only after nonpharmacologic approaches have failed. Insomnia is a common affliction: About a third of Americans report trouble sleeping. More and more, people are resorting to prescription sleep aids to combat insomnia. Prescriptions for sleep aids nearly doubled between 2001 and 2005, from 29 million to 49 million. … More...

How Medications Work

Ever wonder how the medications you take act in your body? This brief guide explains how several classes of popular drugs work. Thousands of medications are in use today. Here are some of the most common mechanisms by which these drugs achieve their effects: Antibiotic Drugs -- The development of safe and effective drugs to cure infections was arguably the most significant advance in drug development of the 20th century. Perhaps the most famous example is… More...

How To Stay Safe on Coumadin (warfarin)

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Michael Streiff, M.D., Medical Director of the Anticoagulation Management Service and Outpatient Clinic at Johns Hopkins, talks about the benefits of self testing for warfarin patients. Millions of people take Coumadin (warfarin) to help prevent stroke and to treat deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. But warfarin is notorious for not playing well with others -- its effectiveness can be altered by anything from vitamin-K-rich foods to other common medications. A 2006 study published in the… More...

Prescription Drugs Glossary

The Prescription Drugs Glossary from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts is derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper: Prescription Drugs. More...

Ordering Your Drugs Online

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
“How to buy less expensive medications is one of the top questions I get from my patients,” says Johns Hopkins lung specialist Peter B. Terry, M.D. One way to purchase medications at a reduced cost is to buy them online or by phone from Canadian pharmacies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opposes foreign drug purchases, warning that these sales pose serious safety problems. More...

Did I Take That Pill...Or Not?

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Medical nonadherence -- failing to take medications according to directions -- is a major healthcare problem. Over the past decade, the pharmaceutical industry has come up with an incredible array of medications for a vast number of illnesses. But because of overwhelming nonadherence, the true value of these medications is not being fully realized. More...

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