Become More Familiar with the Medicine You Take... Learn the Generic Name
Medicines all have one generic name and perhaps one or more brand names. The brand name is chosen by the drug company. The generic name is assigned by an official body, the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. You probably know, for example, that Advil and Motrin are brand names for the generic medicine ibuprofen. Knowing that Advil, Motrin, and ibuprofen are all the same medicine alerts you to an important risk—that taking these medicines together could add up to an overdose.
Learn MoreAn Inquisitive Patient Is a Safe Patient...Be Persistent
If you are hospitalized, nurses will typically give you the medicine your doctor has prescribed. But if the medicine the nurse brings to you doesn’t seem right, it might be that an error has happened. You may be hesitant to speak up about the potential problem. You may believe your doctor and nurse know more about medicine than you do. But in some cases, your instincts may be right, as in the example that follows.
Learn MoreInhalers with Steroids Can Cause Temporary Vocal Cord Damage
Certain medicines can cause damage to the vocal cords. The vocal cords are two bands of elastic muscle tissue that sit side-by-side in the voice box at the back of the throat. When you are silent, the vocal cords remain open so you can inhale air into your lungs. When you speak or make other sounds, the vocal cords close and vibrate as you exhale air from your lungs.
Learn MoreFleet Enema Label Is Misleading–It’s Not Just “Saline”
Fleet enemas are commonly used in both healthcare facilities and in the home to relieve constipation. These seemingly safe treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC). As shown in Figure 1, the product label says, “Fleet Enema Saline.” This would lead you to believe that the enema was basically made of saline (salt or sodium chloride and water). However, this product actually contains phosphate which can cause bad side effects, especially in elderly people or those with kidney disease.
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