By now, you’ve probably heard that this year’s flu season is getting pretty bad (or “moderately severe”, as the CDC puts it), with widespread flu activity all across the U.S. We believe prevention is the best medicine, but certain strains, like this year’s H3N2 virus, are more resistant to the flu shot. So if you…
FDA Updates Safety Communication for Opioid Cough Medicines
On January 11th, the FDA issued a drug safety communication for certain prescription cough and cold medications that contain codeine or hydrocodone. Many prescription medications are to blame for our current opioid epidemic, especially in our adolescents and teens. Therefore, limiting the prescribing of unnecessary medications to children under 18 years of age is particularly important….
Tamiflu Prescriptions Reveal Shocking Flu Trend
A recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed what we already knew: this year’s flu is bad. Since October, widespread influenza activity has been reported in 49 states, resulting in 20 pediatric deaths and more than 6,000 influenza-related hospitalizations thus far. These rates surpass last year’s total numbers –…
Why is Humalog Expensive? And How Can You Save?
Humalog (insulin lispro) is a fast-acting insulin used to treat diabetes type one and two. Doctors report low levels of adherence to insulins like Humalog because of its cost. Cash prices for Humalog average around $549 for five kwikpens, and there is no generic alternative for any insulin brand. Humalog generated billions of dollars in global…
Why Taking Your Medications for These Common “Silent” Diseases is Important
If you’ve ever been afraid to show up at your doctor’s office because you’ve been “bad” then this post is for YOU! You may think your doctor is “pushing medications on you” especially if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms of the condition they are treating you for. However, their reasoning is not without sound medical…
Testosterone Replacement: Options for Treatment Have Gotten Better
The first thing to understand about testosterone replacement is that oral testosterone (pills taken by mouth) doesn’t really work because it is broken down so quickly by the liver. The solution to this problem involves patches, gels, shots, and even nasal sprays. Here are your options, with some new players in the game. Testosterone…
New Recommendations for All Type 2 Diabetics
Just recently, the American Diabetes Association updated their guidelines to include the recommendation that certain Type 2 Diabetics add to their regimen one of two medications shown to lower the risk of death from stroke and heart disease. Here is the update: If you are a type 2 diabetic with established heart disease, aka…
Ten Things You May Not Know About Tamiflu
December and January are the high season for flu, and therefore, Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Here are some things to know about the pill that may save you from a couple nightmare days. 1. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has activity against influenza A and B unlike amantadine and rimantadine (Flumadine), which only have activity against influenza A. 2. Tamiflu…
This Is Why Drug Prices Are Totally Broken
Epipens. Sovaldi. Tysabri. Acthar. Harvoni. Every month, it seems, there’s fresh outrage–from president Trump, the Congress, in the media, and among the public–over the soaring cost of prescription drugs. With good reason: The cash price for the average brand-name prescription drug has increased 48% since 2013. These increases put desperately needed treatments out of reach…
Generic Advair Coming in 2018: How You Can Save Now
Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) is one of the most commonly prescribed inhalers for asthma and COPD—more popular than any similar combination inhaler. It’s also very expensive if you don’t have insurance, Medicare, or a discount: over $300 per inhaler for some dosages, and up to $600 for others. There is good news on the horizon though—in June…