Search Results for: prescription-drugs

Suzanne B. Robotti

Suzanne Robotti launched MedShadow Foundation in 2013 with the goal of helping people understand the risks and benefits of medicines. The mission has expanded to…

Dec 4, 2025

What’s Really Inside Your OTC Drugs? We Don’t Actually Know, And Here’s Why

When you look up a prescription drug like atorvastatin — a cholesterol-lowering medication sold under the brand name Lipitor — in the FDA’s Orange Book, you’ll…

Nov 19, 2025

What to Know About Supplements

2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows supplements are part of daily life for more than half of U.S. adults. But…

Nov 14, 2025

Clinical Trials and Side Effects

Discover how the FDA clinical trial process works and what its limitations mean for your safety and the effectiveness of drugs in everyday use. Each…

Oct 27, 2025

Pharmacist (PharmD)

Pharmacists are experts on medication who dispense prescription drugs, ensure safety and appropriate dosage, and check for harmful interactions. Training requirements: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)…

Oct 13, 2025

Biggest TV Drug Ad Spend

These are the prescription drugs with the highest estimated U.S. TV advertising budgets, making them the ones you’re most likely to see during commercial breaks.…

Oct 6, 2025

Drug Recalls in America: How They Work, Where They Fail, and How You Can Protect Yourself

On June 27, 2024, Mary Louise Cormier, age 91, was admitted to the MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital Emergency Department in Brunswick, Maine, after showing signs of lethargy…

Aug 27, 2025

What Is Step Therapy? And Why It Might Delay Your Medication

Navigating the healthcare system to get the care you or a loved one needs can be challenging. Just when you think you’ve cleared the hardest…

Jul 21, 2025

Why Pharmacies Are Disappearing, And What We Lose When They Do

From 18th-century apothecaries to modern drive-thru drug stores, pharmacies have evolved in form, but their central purpose has stayed constant: They serve as community centers…

Jun 24, 2025

FDA Drug Recalls and Warnings: Recalls for ADHD Meds and Acne Treatments, Plus More

Welcome to the FDA Recalls and Warnings Update, a series dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest medication recalls, manufacturing violations, and quality concerns…

Apr 14, 2025

FDA Drug Recalls and Warnings: Websites Selling Illegal GLP-1s, Plus More

Welcome to the FDA Recalls and Warnings Update, a series dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest medication recalls, manufacturing violations, and quality concerns…

Feb 14, 2025

Inside the FDA Drug Development Process: The Limits of Clinical Trials in Preventing Side Effects

Each year, a select group of novel new drugs enter the U.S. market. In 2023, 55 new drugs were approved—adding to the more than 20,000 prescription drugs already in…

Dec 13, 2024

FDA Side Effect Update: NSAIDs and Life-Threatening Reactions

Welcome to the FDA Side Effects Update. This series is designed to keep you informed about the latest safety advisories and newly documented side effects…

Dec 11, 2024

Opinion: FDA Proposes Removing Sudafed PE and Cold Meds

In October 2023, I wrote about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and its unanimous vote that the primary ingredient in Sudafed PE…

Nov 21, 2024

Opinion: A Newbie In the Promised Land of Health and Wellness

Before the weekend of November 1st, 2024, I had never been to a health and wellness conference—which may surprise you, especially because I’ve been studying…

Nov 15, 2024

Open Letter to the FDA: You’re Protecting the Wrong People

The FDA revealed on June 18, 2024, that an unnamed number of drugs on the market right now were approved based on potentially fraudulent testing and data.1 This means there’s…

Jul 23, 2024

Food-Drug Interactions You Need to Know About

You probably know that you shouldn’t mix certain medications because of the risk of dangerous drug-drug interactions.  But you may not be aware of food-drug interactions,…

Jun 27, 2024

Sick of Drug Ads for Meds? The Rules Are About to Change

If you watch any type of live television, or even streaming services with drug ads, chances are you’ve seen them. Entire ensembles, in coordinated colorful…

Apr 22, 2024

So, You Are 65. Now What? Medications All Seniors Should Know NOT to Take

As you age, things change. You likely notice the little things over time, such as feeling like you pulled a muscle just by sneezing, or…

Feb 16, 2024

4 Easy Homemade Salves and Balms for Eczema and Dry Skin Relief

Eczema and dry skin are tandem skin problems that cause discomfort and affect other areas of life, like your self-esteem and sleep. Dry skin relief…

Feb 5, 2024