Category: Drugs

It’s 1:00 a.m., and you are nodding off over a presentation due tomorrow at work. But in a few hours, the meeting will begin. If offered, would you take a pill “guaranteed to keep you awake and focused for hours?” Why not? Lots of kids these days take Adderall, right? Adderall and Ritalin, both amphetamine-based…

Antidepressants – the new miracle drug? You’d think so based on the number of non-psychological uses for which they are now prescribed. General pain, migraines, fainting, incontinence and premature ejaculation are all conditions that can be helped with antidepressants. “These antidepressants are often prescribed “off-label,” says David Diaz, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at…

Ever complain about the itchiness of a mosquito bite, only to have a friend hand you two aspirins? Though you may think your friend has gone to la-la land, she is completely right to hand you the aspirins. This is one of the off-label uses of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Off-label use of an OTC med…

Being prepared can be a life-saver when it comes to a home pharmacy, both figuratively and literally. For treating minor aches and pains, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help ease symptoms and provide comfort. Meanwhile, emergency topical ointments can help provide relief from skin rashes, keep cuts clean and infection-free,…

Painkillers can make recovery from injuries and surgeries, and dealing with chronic illnesses more tolerable, but statistics show that these drugs may be part of a deadly trend. According to Consumer Reports, prescriptions for opioid medications, including OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin, have increased 300 percent over the past decade, and 46 people each day, or…