Dry eyes are a common complaint for older patients, especially older women due hormonal changes that affect lubrication. They’re no fun either: Dry eyes can cause a gritty or burning sensation, excessive tears, light sensitivity and even blurry vision. Some people use over-the-counter artificial tears to cope while others turn to Restasis, an expensive prescription…
How Is Consumer Drug Advertising Regulated in the United States?
Lyrica. Humira. Xeljanz. Sound familiar? They should; drug makers spent more than $1 billion on commercials for these three drugs alone in 2017. Given their retail prices—hundreds to thousands of dollars for a prescription—it makes sense, too. But with all the money poured into drug commercials, you’d assume someone was making sure they were informative…
FDA Re-Approves Only Over-The-Counter Inhaler for Mild Symptoms of Asthma
After being banned in 2011 for containing ingredients that damaged the ozone layer, the once popular and affordable over-the-counter inhaler, Primatene Mist, has been updated and will be re-released into pharmacies in 2019. The original version of Primatene Mist was taken off the market as it contained chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a greenhouse gas that damages the…
How GoodRx Helped Johana Get Her Life Back on Track After Being Diagnosed With Depression
Outgoing and friendly, Johana was her company’s Hispanic Marketing Director, representing them on radio interviews and at as many networking events as she could fit into her schedule. She received a Latino Diamante Award and was frequently told that her laugh was contagious. But when signs of depression started appearing in December 2016, Johana became…
My Child Ate Too Many Gummy Vitamins! – Here’s What You Should Do
Picky-eating toddlers probably don’t get all the vitamins they need from foods. Even the best eaters can lack key nutrients. That’s why 12% of children take some type of dietary supplement. But there’s always the risk that little ones will mistake colorful, fruity-flavored gummy vitamins as candy. The next thing you know, they’ve eaten a…
What’s the Difference Between Adderall and Adderall XR?
Adderall is one of the most well-known treatments for ADHD, but there are two versions—Adderall and Adderall XR—and they are not interchangeable. Both of these medications have the same active ingredients but are absorbed in the body differently and have different strengths and dosages. Here’s everything you need to know to pick the version that…
Is This a Scam? 6 Warning Signs of a Shoddy Health Insurance Plan
The Trump administration recently made some changes to health insurance policies—including the loosening of rules for short-term health plans and association health plans—that will increase your choices of health plans in 2019. While more options may seem like good news, be aware that healthcare-related robocall scams are up 10 fold since these policies were announced….
Antiviral Medications for the Flu – Here Are Your 4 Options
The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. While there is no real treatment, four antiviral options exist that will shorten the duration of your flu and perhaps make it less serious. We’ll break down the options here. First, the basics Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs…
Current Treatments for Mild to Severe Eczema
Eczema is a common skin problem that is managed but never really cured. This means you’ll want to know what to do for skin dryness, redness, oozing, crusting and itching. The goals of treatment of eczema are to reduce the symptoms of itching and redness. So, what works and is there anything new? First steps…
Sherry Says She has “Good” Insurance – Except It’s a High-Deductible Health Plan
“We have pretty good insurance, but the prescription portion isn’t that good until we meet our deductible.” Sherry and her husband, Scott, are just two of the 43.7% of Americans who have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), finding themselves stuck with high prescription drug costs until they hit their deductible. Because they both have multiple…