Author: Lesley Williams

How to Tell Food Allergies Apart from Medication Allergies

Learn how to tell the difference between food and medication allergies by timing, symptoms, immune response, and testing. Misdiagnosis can be dangerous-know what to look for to stay safe.

Taking Medication with Food: When and Why It Reduces Side Effects

Taking medication with food can reduce side effects like nausea and stomach damage, but it can also block absorption or cause dangerous spikes in drug levels. Learn which meds need food, which need an empty stomach, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

MAOI Dietary Restrictions: Tyramine Triggers and Safety Plan

MAOI antidepressants require strict dietary rules to avoid tyramine-triggered hypertensive crises. Learn which foods are dangerous, how to stay safe, and what's changed in modern guidelines.

Eyelid Disorders: Understanding Ptosis, Entropion, and When Surgery Is Needed

Learn about ptosis and entropion-two common eyelid disorders that affect vision and comfort. Understand causes, symptoms, surgical options, and what you can do to protect your eyes as you age.

How to File a Direct Complaint with the FDA as a Patient

Learn how to file a direct complaint with the FDA about adverse reactions or product problems. Step-by-step guide for patients, caregivers, and consumers on using MedWatch, the Safety Reporting Portal, and what happens after you report.

Medication Reformulations: When Companies Change Drug Formulas

Medication reformulations change how drugs are made without altering the active ingredient. Learn why companies do it, how it affects you, and what to watch for when your prescription looks different.

DOACs in Renal Impairment: How to Adjust Doses to Prevent Bleeding and Clots

DOACs like apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran require precise dosing in kidney disease to avoid bleeding or clots. Learn which drug is safest, how to calculate kidney function correctly, and common dosing mistakes to avoid.

Vaping and Lung Health: What the Evidence Shows About E-Cigarette Risks

Vaping is often seen as a safer alternative to smoking, but evidence shows it harms lung health. Learn about the toxins in e-cigarettes, links to COPD and EVALI, immune suppression, and why there's no safe level of vaping.

Cardiac Rehabilitation After Heart Attack or Surgery: What to Expect and Why It Works

Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or surgery is a proven, life-saving program that combines exercise, education, and support to help you recover faster and reduce future heart risks. Learn how it works, who qualifies, and why so few people take advantage of it.

Quality concerns: when clinicians question generic manufacturing

Clinicians are raising alarms about generic drug quality as manufacturing shifts overseas. Studies show higher adverse event rates for drugs made in India, and outdated supply chains are causing dangerous shortages. Transparency and domestic production may be the key to safer generics.