Lithium is effective for bipolar disorder but has a narrow safety window. NSAIDs, diuretics, and dehydration can dangerously raise lithium levels, risking toxicity. Learn how to avoid these interactions and stay safe.
Retail and hospital pharmacies handle medication substitution differently - one focuses on cost and patient choice, the other on clinical outcomes and team decisions. Understanding these differences is key to safer care.
Expensive medications can save lives despite high costs and side effects. Learn when the clinical benefits outweigh financial and health risks - and how to navigate insurance, assistance programs, and real-world trade-offs.
Most people with a 'sulfa allergy' aren't truly allergic. Learn which medications you can still take safely, which ones to avoid, and how to get your allergy label corrected to prevent dangerous antibiotic misuse.
Vancomycin flushing syndrome is a common, preventable reaction to rapid IV infusion of vancomycin. Learn how to recognize it, why it's not an allergy, and how to avoid it with proper dosing and infusion rates.
Medication autonomy gives patients real control over their treatment choices-understanding options, weighing risks, and choosing based on personal values. Learn how to claim your right to decide what goes into your body.
Why do some people react badly to medications while others don't? Learn how genetics, age, and drug interactions cause individual differences in side effects - and what you can do about it.
Medications lose potency over time due to chemical breakdown from heat, moisture, and light. Expiration dates guarantee at least 90% strength - not safety. Some drugs fail faster than others. Never risk expired antibiotics, epinephrine, or insulin.
Learn the key difference between dose-related and non-dose-related side effects in pharmacology. Understand why some reactions are predictable and others strike without warning - and how this affects your medication safety.
OTC sunscreens aren't just for the beach. Learn how SPF, broad spectrum, and reapplication really work to protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer - backed by science and real-world testing.