Safety

drug is manufactured

How can we reduce medication errors? The FDA says ‘blister packs.’


According to the FDA, over 1.3 million people are injured annually due to medication mistakes, which include dispensing errors in U.S. hospitals and pharmacies. Roger Bate, an economist and public health expert at the American...

heartburns

Heartburn and what to do about it?


Have you ever had that pain and burning sensation in your chest as you’re just getting ready to sleep after a hard day’s work? Well, I have. And in case you haven’t - lucky for...

To finish or to not finish: New guidelines on medication compliance


Until a few years ago, when giving a prescription for antibiotics, healthcare providers advised us to finish the entire course of medication. Even if you felt better, you were supposed to carry on until the...

Brands are grand, but generics have merit!


It’s not an uncommon situation: your doctor gives you a prescription and you fill it. You remember your doctor told you the name of the drug you’d be getting, but when you get your medication,...

“To your health!”: Making decisions about alcohol and prescription drugs


It’s the holidays! All around the world, people are preparing tocelebrate a number of important holidays, including New Year’s Eve. Alcohol is often a standard part of these celebrations, as…

The curious case of drug contraindications


So your doctor has identified your health problem and it’s one a prescription can help fix. Off you go to fill it and start taking as prescribed. After all, the… Read more...

Medication management for seniors: Making sure the cure isn’t worse than the disease


According to recent data collected by Health Canada, seniors represent 17% of the population but are more than 40% of prescription users. Read more...

Living with a chronic illness can be challenging!


Perhaps you’ve been newly diagnosed with a chronic illness. Perhaps you’ve been living with one for some time and you’re now experiencing changes with your illness and its symptoms. In any case, living with a...

Where there’s a pill, there’s a way: How to store and manage your prescriptions


If you take a prescription medication—whether regularly, or only on occasion when you need it for a specific issue—chances are you were given some information on how to take your medication safely. But you might...