Answers from
The Pharmacists
America Trusts^SM

Allergy

Aspirin: I’m allergic to aspirin. What over-the-counter pain medication can I use?

Penicillin: If you are allergic to penicillin, can you take clindamycin 150 mg?

Phenylephrine: My favorite over-the-counter allergy medicine now has phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine. What's the difference? Will it work as well as the old formula?

Asthma

Inhalers: I get a funny taste in my mouth after using my asthma inhaler. Is it OK to drink water right after taking it?

Medication Types: What’s the difference between the different kinds of asthma medications?

Birth Control

Conception : How long does it take to get pregnant after stopping either birth control pills or Depo-Provera® shots?

Condom Effectiveness: How effective are male condoms at preventing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy?

Effectiveness Levels: Do over-the-counter topical antibiotics (such as Walgreens Triple Antibiotic Ointment® or Neosporin®) reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills?

Missed Pills: I forgot to take my birth control pill yesterday. Should I take two tablets today?

Plan B Description: Is the Plan B emergency contraceptive the same thing as the RU-486 pill?

Plan B Dosage Schedule: If you are using the Plan B emergency contraceptive, when are you supposed to take the two pills?

Plan B Ingredients : What’s the difference between the Plan B emergency contraceptive and regular birth control pills? Don’t they have the same ingredient?

Plan B Prescription: Do I need a prescription to get the Plan B contraceptive?

Plan B Side Effects: What are the side effects of the Plan B emergency contraceptive?

Children’s Health

Cold Products: Please explain the new FDA regulations about cold products for children.

Fever Treatment: My doctor told me to alternate using ibuprofen and acetaminophen to treat my child’s fever. Why?

Head Lice: My 5th-grader’s school sent a note home about some students having head lice. Is there anything I can do to prevent my child from getting it?

Infant Diarrhea: My 6-month-old baby has had diarrhea all morning. I can’t get an appointment with my pediatrician until much later this afternoon. What can I do in the meantime?

Teething Pain: What remedies can I use to safely treat my baby's teething pain?

Cholesterol

Cholesterol Drug Types: My wife takes a fibric acid drug to lower her cholesterol; I take a statin. What’s the difference between the different kinds of cholesterol drugs?

Cold, Flu, and Virus

Bird Flu: How are people treated for bird flu? Is a vaccine available to prevent a person from catching it?

Fever: Is it true that you should follow the old saying, “Starve a fever, feed a cold”?

Flu Prevention: I'm allergic to eggs and was told I can't get a flu shot. What can I do to avoid getting the flu?

Medication: What can I take to treat a runny, stuffy nose and sinus drainage?

Non-Jittery Remedies: Are there any over-the-counter cold or allergy products that do not make you feel jittery?

Symptoms: How can I tell if I have the flu or a cold?

Contact Lenses

Solution Safety: Are contact lens solution products regulated in any way for safety or purity?

Disinfection: How often do I need to disinfect my contact lenses?

Disposable Lenses: Are disposable contact lenses better than the kind you keep for a long time?

Drug Interactions: Can taking certain medications cause me to have problems with my contact lenses?

Infection Symptoms: How do I know if my contact lenses have caused a fungal infection in my eyes?

Pregnancy: I have heard that women sometimes have problems wearing contact lenses when they are pregnant. Why is that?

Preventing Infection: I wear contact lenses and am concerned about getting a fungal infection in my eyes. Can you explain this problem and what I can do to prevent it?

Replacement: How often do I need to get a fresh pair of contact lenses?

Schedule: What is the longest amount of time I can keep my contact lenses in?

Sleeping: Is it OK to wear my contact lenses while I am sleeping?

Swimming: Can I wear my contact lenses when I go swimming?

Diabetes

Alternate Site Testing: What is alternate site testing?

Blood Glucose Testing Pain: I don’t have diabetes, but I’ve always wondered how patients handle monitoring their blood glucose. Isn’t it painful to prick your finger over and over?

Control Solution: When should I use the glucose control solution for my blood glucose meter?

Skin Problems: Can diabetes cause skin problems?

Traveling with Supplies: I have not traveled since the time I was diagnosed with diabetes. Do I need special permission to take syringes and other supplies on a plane or cruise ship?

Urine Test Kits: What is the difference between the urine test kits for people with diabetes?

Drugs, Compliance

Antibiotics: If I feel better after taking my antibiotic for only a few days, is it OK to stop taking it and not finish the whole prescription?

Flavoring: Is there any way to improve the flavor of my toddler's liquid antibiotic? She refuses to take it!

Medication Discontinuation: I’ve been taking a medication for two weeks, and it doesn’t seem to be working. Can I stop taking it?

Costs: Why are generic medications cheaper than brand-name medications?

Drugs, Generics

Bioequivalence: I read that a generic drug must be bioequivalent to its brand-name counterpart. What does that mean?

Generic Equivalents: How do I know if my prescription is available in a generic?

Drugs, Information and Directions

C2 Drugs: Can you explain what a C2 drug is?

Clinical Trials: I am considering participating in a clinical trial for a new medication. What kind of information should I have before I agree?

Clinical Trial Types: I heard about a clinical trial for my illness, and it was called a treatment trial. Can you tell me what a treatment trial is?

Compounding: Can you explain what compounding is and why you’d need it?

Controlled Drug: What is a controlled drug?

Creams vs. Ointments: My doctor gave me a cream formulation of a medication that also comes in an ointment formula. What is the difference?

Dosage Measurements: What is the difference between a cc (cubic centimeter) and an ml (milliliter)?

Ingredients: What are active ingredients and inactive ingredients?

Lactose in Medications : I’ve just been diagnosed as being lactose intolerant and am watching my dairy intake. How does a person become lactose intolerant? Can the lactose in oral medications cause me problems?

Levothyroxine: What is levothyroxine, and are there differences between the brand-name and generic versions?

NDC: What does NDC stand for?

NSAID: What is an NSAID?

Prescription Abbreviations: I'd like to be able to understand the prescription slips I get from my doctor. Can you tell me the most common abbreviations and what they mean?

Presurgery Directions: If I am not supposed to eat or drink the night before and/or morning of my medical procedure, what should I do about taking my nighttime and morning medication?

Transferring Prescriptions: If I have a prescription on file at another pharmacy, can I refill it at Walgreens?

Swallowing Pills: I have trouble swallowing pills. I’ve heard that compounding can help. Can any medication be made into a liquid or patch formulation?

Take with Food: When the directions for taking a medication say "Take with food," what exactly does that mean— take it during a meal?

Drugs, Interactions

Antibiotics and Alcohol: Is it OK to drink alcohol when you are taking an antibiotic? I am on an antibiotic for 10 days. Next week is my 10-year wedding anniversary, and I would like to be able to celebrate with a glass of champagne.

Grapefruit Juice: I've heard that some medications can interact with grapefruit juice. Is this true?

Interaction Types: If you have a drug interaction, what exactly is it interacting with?

Drugs, Proper Disposal

Federal Guidelines: How should I dispose of old or unused medication?

Sharps : What is the proper way to safely dispose of sharps such as lancets and needles?

Drugs, Safety

Adverse Drug Event: What is an adverse drug event?

Antibiotic Refrigeration: Should liquid antibiotics always be stored in the refrigerator?

Antibiotics: Is it OK to take leftover antibiotics to treat a current infection?

Antibiotic Storage: I left my son's liquid antibiotic sitting on the kitchen counter all day instead of putting it back in the refrigerator. Is the medicine still OK?

Arthritis Medication: Is it OK to use my wife's arthritis medication to treat my arthritis?

Directions: What are the most important things I need to know about taking medication safely?

Expiration Date: Do medications and supplements really go bad at their expiration date?

Pseudoephedrine: Why do you now not only have to ask a pharmacist for any over-the-counter product that contains pseudoephedrine, you have to sign for it, too?

Reimportation : Is prescription medication purchased in Mexico as safe and effective as medication I can buy in the United States? I've heard it is less expensive.

Sulfa Antibiotics: My doctor prescribed a sulfa antibiotic and told me stay out of the sun. Why?

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Eardrops: Can you please give me directions for using eardrops?

Nasal Spray: Why do over-the-counter nasal sprays say you should not use for more than three days in a row? If I'm breathing much better while using it, what will happen?

Eye Health and Vision

Bloodshot Eyes: What can I use for bloodshot eyes?

Ointment: My doctor just prescribed an eye ointment. How do I put it in my eye?

Pinkeye: Are there any over-the-counter products that get rid of pinkeye?

Healthcare Coverage

Generic Drugs: If I have a prescription card, how does getting a generic help save me money?

Maintenance Medication : Why do you have to contact my doctor for refills of maintenance medications? I was told I will be on this medication for the rest of my life.

PBM: What is a PBM?

Health Conditions, Heartburn and GERD

Prevention: Is there anything I can do to prevent heartburn besides taking a medication?

Health Conditions, Incontinence

Medication: I am too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about this: I'm a 62-year-old woman, and I think I am incontinent. Is there any medicine for this, or is it just part of getting old?

Health Conditions, Osteoporosis

Fosamax: I was prescribed Fosamax® for my osteoporosis and was told to not lie down or even bend over right after I take it. Why is that?

Treatment: I have osteoporosis and take a prescription medication for it, plus calcium, every day. What else can I do to make my bones stronger?

High Blood Pressure

ACE Inhibitors: My doctor told me she may want to give me an ACE inhibitor for my heart. What does this medicine do?

Eye Drops: I have high blood pressure and use a beta blocker medication. My doctor cautioned me to use extra care in administering certain eye drops. Why?

Medicare

Part D Eligibility: Who is eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage?

Part D Formulary: When I read about Medicare Part D, I keep seeing the word "formulary." What does it mean?

Men’s Health

PSA Test: What does a PSA blood test check?

Mental Health

Antidepressants: What are the differences between all the different kinds of antidepressants?

Antidepressant Withdrawal: I've been taking an antidepressant for a couple of years and now am ready to stop. I hear there are some uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. What can I do to avoid them?

MAOI: What is an MAOI? I see lots of over-the-counter medicine labels that say you should not take the medication if you also take an MAOI.

Pregnancy and Nursing

Medication Use by Father: My husband and I are ready to start a family. However, my husband takes medication to treat bronchitis and asthma. Should we wait until the drugs are out of his system? Will the drugs have any effect on a developing fetus?

Folic Acid: I am planning to try to become pregnant this year, and my doctor told me to start taking folic acid. Why?

Home Pregnancy Tests: How soon after I think I may have become pregnant can I use a home pregnancy test?

Taking Medication : Is it safe to take medications during pregnancy?

Senior Health

Drug Effects: I've read that when you get older, medicine may work differently in your body. Is that true?

Skin and Skin Care

Acne Products: What acne products are recommended for teenagers? My 14-year-old daughter is breaking out on her face and back, and my 16-year-old son on his face.

Sunburn Treatment: What can I use to treat a really bad sunburn?

Tattoo Removal: Years ago, I got a tattoo, and now I really regret it. What kind of product can I use to get rid of it?

Smoking Cessation

Nicotine Lozenges: Is nicotine available in a lozenge?

Nicotine Patch and Smoking: Can I taper off smoking while I am using the nicotine patch?

Nicotine Patch Dosage: I want to try using a nicotine patch to help me quit smoking. Anything I need to know before I start?

Nicotine Patch Rash: I've been using a nicotine patch to quit smoking, but am getting a skin rash under the patch. What can I do to stop the rash?

Prescriptions Medications: I've tried using both nicotine patches and bupropion to kick my smoking habit, but neither worked. I've heard about using clonidine or nortriptyline. Can you tell me anything about these medications?

Weight Gain: Everyone I know has gained a ton of weight when they quit smoking, and I am really worried about gaining weight when I quit. Which smoking cessation products are best for someone like me?

Withdrawal: I'm planning to quit smoking, and I know that people have a lot of trouble quitting because of withdrawal symptoms. What should I expect? Is there anything to help me get through the symptoms?

Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements

Blood Thinner Interactions: I read that some herbal medications can interact with blood thinners. Is this true?

Evening Primrose: Are there side effects or drug interactions for evening primrose?

Vitamin K and Blood Thinners: I've just been prescribed the blood thinner warfarin. Will any vitamins interfere with this medication?

Women’s Health

Vaginal Discharge and Antibiotics: Can the antibiotic I'm on cause a vaginal discharge?

Yeast Infections : What is the best over-the-counter medication to treat a yeast infection?

Women’s Health, Menopause

Vaginal Dryness: Are there any nonprescription products that work for vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women? I am afraid to take hormone replacement therapy.