How safe are antibiotics? When should you take them? What should women know before taking antibiotics? Find answers to these frequently asked questions, and many more.
Review Date: Friday, March 30, 2012
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
Find out how you can apply for patient assistance programs (PAPs) that offer free or low cost drugs to individuals who are unable to pay for their medication.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rx Assist
This document answers pharmacist related questions about medications. Topics cover medicines storage, expiration date on prescription medication, prescription medicine dosage, and more.
Review Date: Monday, February 07, 2011
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Prescription drug advertisements can provide useful information for consumers to work with their health care providers to make wise decisions about treatment. Learn about correct and incorrect versions of different types of drug ads.
Review Date: Friday, March 15, 2013
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA BeSafeRx is a national campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of buying prescription medicines from fake online pharmacies.This site offers tips on identifying these pharmacies, as well as resources for finding safe and reliable online pharmacies.
Review Date: Friday, September 28, 2012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
If you have questions or concerns about your experience at a pharmacy or with a pharmacist, contact your state board of pharmacy for assistance. Contact information for each board is available in the Boards of Pharmacy section of this Web site.
Review Date: Thursday, January 26, 2017
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
While medications can help keep you healthy, they also can cause serious problems when used incorrectly. A large percentage of adults are taking too many medications, not taking their medications properly, or both. Discover how your local pharmacists can help you take your medications safely.
Review Date: Friday, January 27, 2012
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
Print this checklist to guide you in taking an active role in working with your doctor or nurse when you are ill.
Review Date: Friday, April 03, 2015
National Patient Safety Foundation
Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ is a public education project of Consumers Union. It will help you talk to your doctor about prescription drugs, and find the most effective and safe drugs that also give you the best value for your health care dollar.
Review Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014
Consumers Union
DailyMed provides high quality information about marketed drugs. Search for and download easy-to-read FDA package inserts to learn more about your medications.
Review Date: Wednesday, April 01, 2015
NIH National Library of Medicine - NLM
Drug discount cards are plans that offer discounts on medicine. These programs may be created by a state government, membership associations, non-profit organizations or for-profit businesses.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rx Assist
If you take several different medicines, see more than one doctor, or have certain health conditions, you and your doctors need to be aware of all the medicines you take.
Review Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
If your medicine has expired, it may not provide the treatment you need. This FDA video explains how expiration dates help determine if medicine is safe to use and will work as intended.
Review Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2011
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
A generic drug is a copy of a brand name drug. Generic drugs use the same substances and work the same way in the body as brand name drugs. The FDA requires that both generic and brand name drugs be safe and effective.
Review Date: Friday, July 11, 2014
FDA Office of Women’s Health
The FDA issued a safety alert to warn patients, caregivers and health care professionals about the dangers of accidental exposure to and improper storage and disposal of the fentanyl patch. Find out how to protect children from accidental exposure.
Review Date: Friday, April 20, 2012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Ibuprofen is in a class of pain medications called NSAIDs. It works by stopping the body's production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation. Learn about prescription and over-the-counter uses, precautions, and possible side effects of ibuprofen.
Review Date: Monday, February 07, 2011
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Use this list to determine which medicines require special safeguards to reduce the risk of errors. To reduce the possibility of taking the wrong medicine, check brand vs. generic names and find out the purpose for which the medication is being prescribed.
Review Date: Friday, January 27, 2012
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
It's not possible to make a one-size-fits-all rule about when to begin taking medication. This is a decision for your doctor to make, considering your age, body mass index, activity level, other risk factors and blood pressure readings taken over time.
Review Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2011
American Heart Association
“My Medicine List™” can help you keep track of everything you take to keep you healthy, including pills, vitamins, and herbs. Having a list of all your medicines in one place also helps your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, or other healthcare workers take better care of you.
Review Date: Monday, February 07, 2011
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Use this handy form to keep track of all your medicines - their names, descriptions, dosages, directions, prescribers, start and stop dates, and more.
Review Date: Friday, February 24, 2012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The New Medical Therapies™ database contains detailed results for drugs in completed or ongoing clinical trials to help patients, caregivers and clinical research professionals stay informed of the latest medical breakthroughs. Results are categorized by therapeutic area beginning with the most recent updates.
Review Date: Thursday, April 02, 2015
CenterWatch
Patterned after the Nutrition Facts food label, the new Drug Facts label uses simple language and an easy-to-read format to help people compare and select OTC medicines and follow dosage instructions.
Review Date: Tuesday, November 06, 2012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are medicines that you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Find out how pain relievers work, what types of symptoms they can relieve, and more.
Review Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011
American Academy of Family Physicians
This document provides an alphabetical list of pharmaceutical companies that offer prescription assistance programs.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rx Assist
Learn about prescription drug abuse and dangerous health consequences when used incorrectly or by someone other than for whom they were intended.
Review Date: Monday, June 01, 2015
NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA
Personal hygiene and household cleanliness practices are important methods to reduce the risk of spreading infectious disease. Find fact sheets on many related topics including: creating a healthy household, antibacterials in household products, and how to fight colds.
Review Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
Prescription drug abuse by teens and young adults is a serious problem in the United States. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is making sure that parents, young adults and teens know the very real risks of misusing medicine.
Review Date: Thursday, March 07, 2013
The Partnership at Drugfree.org
Many people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed themselves to extortion by individuals posing as FDA agents. Learn how consumers face an increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from websites operating outside the law.
Review Date: Thursday, March 03, 2016
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Curious about generic drugs? This document explains the difference between a generic drug and a brand-name drug.
Review Date: Thursday, December 20, 2012
Consumers Union
Find programs listed by state that assist older adults, disabled, and low income individuals to pay for prescription medicines.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rx Assist
Your pharmacist can help you learn how to use your prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines safely. Make sure you inform your pharmacist about all the prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, herbals, and other supplements you use.
Review Date: Friday, February 24, 2012
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
