If you’re having trouble affording your insulin, you’re not alone. Research has shown that expenses for diabetes can reach well beyond $1,000 a month, leaving many who cannot afford this cost without care. In response to the ever-climbing prices of insulin, manufacturer Eli Lilly created the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center, a helpline aimed at finding personalized…

Cold and flu season is just around the corner. The common cold, often caused by rhinoviruses, is the most common human illness and comes with generally mild symptoms. The flu, caused by the influenza virus, can have more complicated symptoms. Both are contagious. So, what can you do to not get sick? That’s a question…

“Can I just stop my medication?” This question, frequently asked of primary care doctors, has a complicated answer. For starters, if you are taking a medication that is controlling an ongoing medical problem like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, you should never stop it on your own—or your problem will return. Many patients…

Smoke from more than 50 massive wildfires across the Western United States is spreading, causing smoky skies, breathing challenges, and high prescription fill rates for asthma medications—even for cities in the Midwest and on the East Coast. According to a nationally representative sample of prescriptions, fills for asthma medications this July and August were more…

You may have read about the dangers of Ambien (zolpidem) or why you should stay away from habit-forming sleeping pills like Valium (diazepam) and wondered, what can I take for sleep? Fortunately, there are many options for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Here’s how to choose the right one for you. What are my options?…

Believe it or not, drug recalls happen nearly every week. In the last month alone, we’ve had recalls due to labelling issues, medication mix-ups, and life-threatening adverse effects. While not all recalls are dangerous, here’s how to find out if your drug is recalled and what you should do to stay safe. Why are drugs…

For many health conditions, finding the right medication is often a matter of trial and error. Patients, along with their physicians, are tasked with weighing factors like a medication’s effectiveness, side effects and hassle. Not surprisingly, cost also plays a large part in the decision. What good is a medication if it means you can’t…

Endometriosis is a common cause of painful periods, pelvic pain and infertility, affecting more than 11% of women in the US ages 15 to 44. Unfortunately, non-surgical treatments for endometriosis have been limited. In fact, the introduction of Orilissa in July marked the first time a new endometriosis drug has entered the market in nearly…

Is your cough keeping you awake or driving your co-workers crazy? Read on. There are many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications for suppressing coughs, but studies show they don’t all work. Some are addictive, and others aren’t any more effective than a placebo. So, what should you take for your cough? Non-prescription and over-the-counter cough…

In the land of high blood pressure medications, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are pretty standard. That means that if you are being treated for high blood pressure, you’re likely to be on one of these medications. ACE inhibitors and ARBs represent two groups of drugs that treat hypertension, but they differ in how they work…