Do you have old, unused medications just sitting around your home waiting to fall into the wrong hands? Anyone who enters your home could gain access to those medications and you wouldn’t even miss them. Most abusers say that’s where they got the first prescription medications that started them on the road to abuse and…
What pharmacy patients should know when seeking pain medications Written by De’Bora White and Bob Dávila of The California State Board of Pharmacy “I have been on Norco for 10 years, and the pharmacist never questioned the prescription before.” “Lately, the pharmacy never has my pain medication in stock and won’t let me get my…
California continues to expand its efforts to combat the opioid addiction crisis with a boost of federal funding and a program model from an unlikely East Coast source. The latest component of the state’s medication assisted treatment plan for opioid addiction is called the Hub and Spoke System, which is based on a similar, highly…
Buying online prescription drugs for yourself can be a risky proposition. The same applies when ordering pet medications from an online pharmacy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns pet owners to be extremely careful if buying from an online retailer. Similar to some online pharmacies for people, online pharmacies for animals may be…
Immunization can save millions of lives each year. That’s the most important message the World Health Organization (WHO) wants you to know during World Immunization Week, which is observed April 24-30. World Immunization Week grew from a local and international grassroots effort. The goal of the public health campaign is to raise awareness and increase…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers to be wary of unapproved products claiming to prevent, treat or cure influenza or flu and to avoid buying prescription-only flu medicines from unlicensed online pharmacies. This year’s deadly flu season may tempt some consumers to buy unproven flu treatments, and even…
Although it’s the end of January, flu season doesn’t show any signs of letting up. The season started early, the whole country is still experiencing widespread flu activity, and it looks like it will continue for a while, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “In the past, if you look at…
Just five days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new shingles vaccine Shingrix, an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed its use. The CDC panel said Shingrix is much more effective than the previously approved vaccine in protecting protect older adults from developing shingles—a painful,…
A new law that takes effect January 1 gives emergency healthcare providers improved access to patients’ medical records—something that can be crucial during a mental health crisis or when a patient is unable to provide consent. Assembly Bill 1119, signed by Governor Brown in September, addresses the lack of clarity in existing law, which has…
The January 2018 issue of Consumer Reports hit the stands last week, and in the cover story, “How to Survive the Cold and Flu Season,” the magazine’s editors issue a stern warning to consumers for this year’s cold and flu season: Instead of overloading on over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu meds at the first sign…
