medications myth vs. fact
DESCRIPTION
Medications Myth vs. Fact. January 16, 2010 Monica Robinson Green, PharmD, BCPS. Fact. Myth # 1. Generic drugs are required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route of administration - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
January 16, 2010Monica Robinson Green, PharmD,
BCPS
“Brand drugs are more effective than generic drugs”
Generic drugs are required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route of administration
Generic drugs do not require the same inactive ingredients as the brand product
A Generic drug performs the same in the body as its respective brand (reference) product
Generic drugs cost less (but are not inferior) because the manufacturers do not engage in costly advertising, marketing, or research and development
Brand drug manufacturers make approximately 50% of the generic drugs themselves
“Non-prescription /Over -the-counter (OTC) medications are safer than prescription medications”
All Medications, even those sold without a prescription, have the potential to cause harm
Taking more than the recommended dose may cause adverse effects such as stomach bleeding, as well as liver or kidney problems
Effects of certain prescription medications can be increased or decreased by non-prescription medications
Patients should tell their physician and pharmacist about ALL medications
“Herbals are safe because they are natural”
Herbal supplements can be dangerous because they are not regulated as drugs by the FDA
No studies are required to show the safety and effectiveness of Herbal supplements
Studies have shown that active ingredients within the same type of supplement can vary by up to 150%
Some herbal supplements interact negatively with prescription and non-prescription medications
“Splitting pills is always a safe way to save money”
Some pills are made with a protective covering to prevent nausea/upset stomach but if broken may cause that particular adverse effect
Splitting pills (that are not scored) can disrupt essential properties of the medication
Ask your pharmacist if a pill is safe to split
Scored tablet
“Children can take adult medications in smaller doses”
In some cases children may require smaller or larger doses of medications than adults
Antihistamines usually cause drowsiness in adults but may cause hyperactivity in children
Children with fever causing illness should not take Aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome which is potentially life-threatening
Always ask the doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the correct dose of a medication for children
“The bathroom medication cabinet is a good place to store medications”
Medications should never be stored in the bathroom because of the negative effects of excessive heat and humidity
Children can easily access medications in a bathroom cabinet leading to accidental poisoning
Medications should be stored in a secure, dark location with little humidity
“Medications can be taken safely with any liquid”
Certain liquids may enhance or diminish the effect of a medication
Grapefruit juice completely inactivates some medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Always check with the pharmacists to determine what liquids are safe to take with your medicines
“Expired medications are safe to use”
Expired medication may not only be ineffective, but also harmful to one’s health
Chemicals within expired medication are often altered by various exposures (heat, humidity)
Expired medications do not only include pills, but also creams, ointments and inhalers (prescription and non-prescription)
“Unused/left-over antibiotics can be used to treat any infection”
Antibiotics (used in bacterial infections) should not be used for viral infections such as the common cold or flu
Partial and incomplete treatment of infections with antibiotics may lead to difficulty in treating common infections in the future
Take entire prescribed regimen even if you feel better before finishing them
Throw away unused antibiotics and do not keep for future use
“It is safe to use a family member’s medications”
Do not share your medication; Medications are prescribed to specific individuals for their conditions
Some medication doses are based on weight , age of the patient, and potential drug interactions with other medications being taken
Using another person’s medications may lead to under- or over-dosing, interactions with other drugs and/or avoidable side effects
Doctors rarely know what medication your particular insurance plan may cover at a lower cost
Insurance plans may not cover the same drugs in 2010 that they covered in 2009
Cash prices vary from one retail pharmacy to another $4/$5 generic prescription drugs are available at many
retail pharmacies
A 90-day supply may save you money
Refrain from using multiple pharmacies (Polypharmacy)
How should I take this medication?
What side effects should I expect from this medication?
Will this medication interfere with any of my current medications?
When will I see/notice the effect/benefit of this medication?
Food and Drug AdministrationAmerican Society of Health-System
PharmacistsNational Center for Complimentary
and Alternative Medicine
Note: Right click and select “open hyperlink” to access the above web references.