The Informed Squid: Your Health Navigator - Page 4
How to Check Formularies and Preferred Drug Lists Before Prescribing
Learn how to check formularies and preferred drug lists before prescribing to avoid delays, reduce costs, and improve patient adherence. Understand tiers, prior auth, and real-time tools for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans.
Categories: Medications
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Dietary Supplements and Natural Products: How to Fully Disclose Use to Your Care Team
Most people don't tell their doctors about supplements - but that silence can be dangerous. Learn why full disclosure matters, which supplements cause real risks, and how to talk to your care team safely.
Categories: Health
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Causality Assessment for Adverse Drug Reactions: How the Naranjo Scale Works in Real-World Practice
The Naranjo Scale is a proven, 10-question tool used worldwide to determine if a drug caused an adverse reaction. Learn how it works, its strengths, limitations, and how it's still shaping drug safety today.
Categories: Medications
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Shingles: Antiviral Treatment and Pain Management
Shingles causes intense pain and a blistering rash. Early antiviral treatment within 72 hours reduces pain, speeds healing, and lowers the risk of long-term nerve damage. Valacyclovir is the most effective and easiest to take. The Shingrix vaccine prevents most cases.
Categories: Conditions
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Personal Health Records: How to Manage Medications Across Pharmacies
Personal health records help you track all your medications across pharmacies, prevent dangerous interactions, and stay safe during care transitions. Learn how to use them effectively.
Categories: Online Pharmacies
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Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Manage It
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition caused by insulin resistance and declining insulin production. Learn the real symptoms, root causes, and proven strategies to manage or even reverse it through lifestyle, medication, and monitoring.
Categories: Conditions
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Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Medication Names That Cause Errors: What You Need to Know
Look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) medication names cause thousands of preventable errors each year. Learn the most dangerous drug pairs, why current safety measures fail, and how patients and providers can stop these mistakes before they happen.
Categories: Medications
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Long-Term Opioid Use: How It Slows Down Hormones and Kills Sexual Function
Long-term opioid use can drop testosterone and disrupt sex hormones in up to 86% of users, leading to low libido, erectile dysfunction, and menstrual problems. Learn how it happens, what helps, and what most doctors miss.
Categories: Medications
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Kombucha and Alcohol-Sensitive Medications: What You Need to Know Before You Drink
Kombucha contains trace alcohol that can interact dangerously with medications like metronidazole, antidepressants, and diabetes drugs. Learn which combinations are risky, how to spot hidden alcohol, and what to drink instead.
Categories: Medications
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FDA Safety Communications Archive: How to Research Historical Drug and Device Warnings
Learn how to access and use the FDA Safety Communications Archive to research historical drug and medical device warnings. Find official alerts, labeling changes, and safety updates from 2010 to 2024.
Categories: Medications
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Schizophrenia: Understanding Antipsychotic Medications and Atypical Agents
Antipsychotic medications are the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment. Atypical antipsychotics like aripiprazole and clozapine offer better tolerability than older drugs, but each has unique risks and benefits. Finding the right one depends on symptoms, side effects, and individual response.
Categories: Medications
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Antiretroviral Therapy and Common Medications: High-Risk Interactions You Can't Afford to Ignore
Antiretroviral therapy can have dangerous interactions with common medications like statins, steroids, and painkillers. Learn which combos are life-threatening and how to stay safe.
Categories: Medications
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