Medications

A study found that antibiotic prescriptions as we know them are no match for the replicative power of drug-resistant bacteria -- and that combining them can actually make things much worse.

By Alison Cooper

Mixing medications is always tricky – the last thing you want is a cocktail of side effects that makes you feel sick. But fear not! There's really only one class of antibiotics to watch out for when it comes to adding pain relief.

By Alison Cooper

Some antibiotics cause red, itchy or dry eyes (or all three), but the majority of infection-killers aren't known for their vision side effects. There is one big exception, however, and doctors prescribe these drugs far more often than they should.

By Alison Cooper

"Better safe than sorry" is a dubious maxim when applied to medication prescriptions. If you're on the pill and holding a script for penicillin, just how worried should you be about an unintended pregnancy?

By Alison Cooper

You know how bad guys never die in horror movies? Bacteria are rapidly becoming like that. So how do we wipe out bacteria and the resulting infections without antibiotics?

By Meisa Salaita

As children, we couldn't use fancy words to describe our scrapes, but we could point and wince, and somehow the medicine knew where we hurt. It still does. How?

By Nicholas Gerbis

Learn about cytoprotective barrier agents, including possible side effects and drug interactions, in this article.

By Elizabeth Scherer

Imagine just being able to indulge in a pill that will make you small enough to fit into a bikini -- without having to trudge to the gym. Does a drug called Lipozene do the trick, or is too good to be true?

By Molly Edmonds

Depression is tough. It affects your mood, your relationships -- and your body. For some people, depression is also a source of physical pain. That's where Cymbalta comes in.

By Molly Edmonds

The bigger the better? Not when we're talking bad-cholesterol numbers. The drug Lipitor takes that number way down. How does a little pill pack such a punch?

By Molly Edmonds

Lots of folks take a daily aspirin to lower their risk of getting heart disease. How does this little white pill help prevent blood clots from forming?

By Julia Layton

Rainbow-colored pee? No, you're not crazy -- it could be a side effect of a medication you're taking. What's the weirdest thing a drug can do?

By Shanna Freeman

Inotropic drugs, which are used to manage various heart conditions, alter the force of your heartbeat. How do they work, and what are some of their side effects?

By Jill Ferguson

Vasodilator drugs help lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels. How do they work, exactly -- and are there any serious side effects?

By Jill Ferguson

Doctors are prescribing more antidepressant drugs than ever. What does this trend suggest? Are these drugs being overprescribed, or are patients simply more comfortable with confiding in doctors about depression?

By Jane McGrath

Diuretics are used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Learn about diuretics in this article and find out what conditions diuretics can treat.

By Jill Ferguson

About half of all prescriptions are filled with a generic equivalent of a brand-name drug. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients, safety and effectiveness as brand-name medications, but are they really just as good? And why are they so much cheaper than brand-name drugs?

By Melissa Jeffries

We often hear that antidepressants, cholesterol medicines, blood pressure drugs and countless other prescription medications are widely used in the U.S. How do the most commonly-used prescription drugs compare in terms of sales?

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Insulin therapy is a lifesaver for those with type 1 diabetes. Learn the history of insulin, how it was first extracted, where it comes from, and which type is used today.

By Timothy Gower

High blood pressure is the leading cause of death among Americans. Fortunately, there are a number of blood pressure medications that can vastly reduce a patient's risk. Learn more about blood pressure medications.

By Alex Nechas

Following more than 200 reports of strange behavior in minors taking Tamiflu, including 15 deaths, the FDA has made an addition to the drug's warning label.

By Julia Layton

Prescription drug costs are out of control. But you, as a consumer, don't have to just sit back and pay them or, worse, forgo proper medical treatment. Learn how to pay less for prescription drugs.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

OTC painkillers come with warnings that should be taken seriously. Learn about OTC painkillers warnings in this article.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Medications for the ears and the eyes range from antibiotics and steroids for ear infections to beta blockers and carbonic anhydrate inhibitors for glaucoma. Read more information about how ear and eye prescription drugs work.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Hormones are substances that are produced and secreted to stimulate and regulate body functions. Hormone medications mimic the effects of naturally produced hormones. Learn about hormone medications, including oral contraceptives and anti-inflammatory drugs.

By Editors of Consumer Guide