Medications Myth vs. Fact

1. Medications Myth vs. Fact January 16, 2010 Monica Robinson Green, PharmD, BCPS

2. Fact Myth # 1 • Generic drugs are required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route of administration • Generic drugs do not require the same inactive ingredients as the brand product • A Generic drug performs the same in the body as its respective brand (reference) product • Generic drugs cost less (but are not inferior) because the manufacturers do not engage in costly advertising, marketing, or research and development • Brand drug manufacturers make approximately 50% of the generic drugs themselves “Brand drugs are more effective than generic drugs”

3. Fact Myth # 2 “Non-prescription /Over -the-counter (OTC) medications are safer than prescription medications” • All Medications, even those sold without a prescription, have the potential to cause harm • Taking more than the recommended dose may cause adverse effects such as stomach bleeding, as well as liver or kidney problems • Effects of certain prescription medications can be increased or decreased by non-prescription medications • Patients should tell their physician and pharmacist about ALL medications

4. Fact Myth # 3 “Herbals are safe because they are natural” • Herbal supplements can be dangerous because they are not regulated as drugs by the FDA • No studies are required to show the safety and effectiveness of Herbal supplements • Studies have shown that active ingredients within the same type of supplement can vary by up to 150% • Some herbal supplements interact negatively with prescription and non-prescription medications

5. Fact Myth # 4 • Some pills are made with a protective covering to prevent nausea/upset stomach but if broken may cause that particular adverse effect • Splitting pills (that are not scored) can disrupt essential properties of the medication • Ask your pharmacist if a pill is safe to split “Splitting pills is always a safe way to save money” Scored tablet

6. Fact Myth # 5 • In some cases children may require smaller or larger doses of medications than adults • Antihistamines usually cause drowsiness in adults but may cause hyperactivity in children • Children with fever causing illness should not take Aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome which is potentially life-threatening • Always ask the doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the correct dose of a medication for children “Children can take adult medications in smaller doses”

7. Fact Myth # 6 “The bathroom medication cabinet is a good place to store medications” • Medications should never be stored in the bathroom because of the negative effects of excessive heat and humidity • Children can easily access medications in a bathroom cabinet leading to accidental poisoning • Medications should be stored in a secure, dark location with little humidity

8. Fact Myth # 7 “Medications can be taken safely with any liquid” • Certain liquids may enhance or diminish the effect of a medication • Grapefruit juice completely inactivates some medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol • Always check with the pharmacists to determine what liquids are safe to take with your medicines

9. Fact Myth # 8 “Expired medications are safe to use” • Expired medication may not only be ineffective, but also harmful to one’s health • Chemicals within expired medication are often altered by various exposures (heat, humidity) • Expired medications do not only include pills, but also creams, ointments and inhalers (prescription and non-prescription)

10. Fact Myth # 9 “Unused/left-over antibiotics can be used to treat any infection” • Antibiotics (used in bacterial infections) should not be used for viral infections such as the common cold or flu • Partial and incomplete treatment of infections with antibiotics may lead to difficulty in treating common infections in the future • Take entire prescribed regimen even if you feel better before finishing them • Throw away unused antibiotics and do not keep for future use

11. Fact Myth #10 “It is safe to use a family member’s medications” • Do not share your medication; Medications are prescribed to specific individuals for their conditions • Some medication doses are based on weight , age of the patient, and potential drug interactions with other medications being taken • Using another person’s medications may lead to under- or over-dosing, interactions with other drugs and/or avoidable side effects

12. What your Pharmacist wants you to know… • Doctors rarely know what medication your particular insurance plan may cover at a lower cost • Insurance plans may not cover the same drugs in 2010 that they covered in 2009 • Cash prices vary from one retail pharmacy to another • $4/$5 generic prescription drugs are available at many retail pharmacies • A 90-day supply may save you money • Refrain from using multiple pharmacies (Polypharmacy)

13. Questions you should ask your physician/pharmacist • How should I take this medication? • What side effects should I expect from this medication? • Will this medication interfere with any of my current medications? • When will I see/notice the effect/benefit of this medication?

14. Web References • Food and Drug Administration • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists • National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine • Note: Right click and select “open hyperlink” to access the above web references.