Archive: 2026/01

Five Essential Rules for Taking Medication Safely

Follow these five essential rules to take your medication safely and avoid dangerous errors. Learn how to verify your drugs, doses, timing, and routes-and what to do when things go wrong.

Decision Aids for Switching Medications: Understand the Risks and Benefits

Decision aids help patients and doctors make informed choices when switching medications by showing clear risks, benefits, and personal trade-offs. Learn how they work, who uses them, and how to ask for one.

Steroid Myopathy: How to Recognize Weakness and What Physical Therapy Can Do

Steroid myopathy causes silent, painless muscle weakness in people taking long-term corticosteroids. Learn how to recognize the signs, why standard tests miss it, and how targeted physical therapy can help rebuild strength without risking further damage.

Medications to Avoid with COPD: Preventing Respiratory Compromise

Certain medications can worsen COPD by suppressing breathing or thickening mucus. Learn which drugs to avoid - including opioids, benzodiazepines, non-selective beta-blockers, and anticholinergics - to prevent dangerous respiratory complications.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Intervals and Treatment Options Explained

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults. Learn when to get screened based on your risk level and what treatments can save your vision. Evidence-based intervals and modern options explained.

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs: What Patients Need to Know

Narrow therapeutic index drugs require extreme precision in dosing. Learn what they are, which common medications fall into this category, why switching generics can be dangerous, and how to stay safe with regular monitoring and consistent use.

How to Use a Medication Log to Prevent Overdose Errors

Learn how a simple daily medication log can prevent accidental overdose by tracking what you take, when, and with what. A practical guide for anyone on multiple medications.

Psychiatric Medication Combinations: Generic Alternatives and Real-World Risks

Psychiatric medication combinations can be life-changing, but switching to generic versions carries hidden risks. Learn why small changes in drug absorption can trigger relapse, hospitalization, or worsening symptoms-and what you can do to protect your treatment.

Risk Perception: How Patients Assess Generic Drug Safety

Many patients doubt the safety of generic drugs despite scientific proof they're equivalent to brand-name versions. This article explores why, who's most affected, and how communication can bridge the trust gap.

Hydration and Diuretics: How to Balance Fluid Intake to Avoid Side Effects

Learn how to safely manage fluid intake while taking diuretics to avoid dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and dangerous side effects. Practical tips for daily hydration, what to avoid, and how to monitor your body’s needs.

When Do Drug Patents Expire? Understanding the 20-Year Term and Real-World Timeline

Drug patents don't expire after exactly 20 years - most lose exclusivity in 7 to 14 years due to clinical trial delays and regulatory protections. Learn how patent extensions, exclusivity periods, and lawsuits delay generics and impact drug prices.

CPAP Machines: Types, Mask Fitting, and Adherence Strategies

CPAP machines treat sleep apnea by keeping airways open during sleep. Learn the four types of machines, how to choose the right mask, and proven strategies to stay consistent with therapy.