1. January 16, 2010 Monica Robinson Green, PharmD, BCPS

2. Myth # 1 “Brand drugs are more effective than generic drugs” Fact  Generic drugs are required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route of administration  Generic drugs do not require the same inactive ingredients as the brand product  A Generic drug performs the same in the body as its respective brand (reference) product  Generic drugs cost less (but are not inferior) because the manufacturers do not engage in costly advertising, marketing, or research and development  Brand drug manufacturers make approximately 50% of the generic drugs themselves

3. Myth # 2 “Non-prescription /Over -the-counter (OTC) medications are safer than prescription medications” Fact  All Medications, even those sold without a prescription, have the potential to cause harm  Taking more than the recommended dose may cause adverse effects such as stomach bleeding, as well as liver or kidney problems  Effects of certain prescription medications can be increased or decreased by non-prescription medications  Patients should tell their physician and pharmacist about ALL medications

4. Myth # 3 “Herbals are safe because they are natural” Fact  Herbal supplements can be dangerous because they are not regulated as drugs by the FDA  No studies are required to show the safety and effectiveness of Herbal supplements  Studies have shown that active ingredients within the same type of supplement can vary by up to 150%  Some herbal supplements interact negatively with prescription and non- prescription medications

5. Myth # 4 “Splitting pills is always a safe way to save money” Fact  Some pills are made with a protective covering to prevent nausea/upset stomach but if broken may cause that particular adverse effect  Splitting pills (that are not scored) can disrupt essential properties of the medication  Ask your pharmacist if a pill is safe to split Scored tablet

6. Myth # 5 “Children can take adult medications in smaller doses” Fact  In some cases children may require smaller or larger doses of medications than adults  Antihistamines usually cause drowsiness in adults but may cause hyperactivity in children  Children with fever causing illness should not take Aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome which is potentially life- threatening  Always ask the doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the correct dose of a medication for children

7. Myth # 6 “The bathroom medication cabinet is a good place to store medications” Fact  Medications should never be stored in the bathroom because of the negative effects of excessive heat and humidity  Children can easily access medications in a bathroom cabinet leading to accidental poisoning  Medications should be stored in a secure, dark location with little humidity

8. Myth # 7 “Medications can be taken safely with any liquid” Fact  Certain liquids may enhance or diminish the effect of a medication  Grapefruit juice completely inactivates some medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol  Always check with the pharmacists to determine what liquids are safe to take with your medicines

9. Myth # 8 “Expired medications are safe to use” Fact  Expired medication may not only be ineffective, but also harmful to one’s health  Chemicals within expired medication are often altered by various exposures (heat, humidity)  Expired medications do not only include pills, but also creams, ointments and inhalers (prescription and non-prescription)

10. Myth # 9 “Unused/left-over antibiotics can be used to treat any infection” Fact  Antibiotics (used in bacterial infections) should not be used for viral infections such as the common cold or flu  Partial and incomplete treatment of infections with antibiotics may lead to difficulty in treating common infections in the future  Take entire prescribed regimen even if you feel better before finishing them  Throw away unused antibiotics and do not keep for future use

11. Myth #10 “It is safe to use a family member’s medications” Fact  Do not share your medication; Medications are prescribed to specific individuals for their conditions  Some medication doses are based on weight, age of the patient, and potential drug interactions with other medications being taken  Using another person’s medications may lead to under- or over-dosing, interactions with other drugs and/or avoidable side effects

12.  Doctors rarely know what medication your particular insurance plan may cover at a lower cost  Insurance plans may not cover the same drugs in 2010 that they covered in 2009  Cash prices vary from one retail pharmacy to another  $4/$5 generic prescription drugs are available at many retail pharmacies  A 90-day supply may save you money  Refrain from using multiple pharmacies (Polypharmacy)

13.  How should I take this medication?  What side effects should I expect from this medication?  Will this medication interfere with any of my current medications?  When will I see/notice the effect/benefit of this medication?

14.  Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration  American Society of Health-System Pharmacists American Society of Health-System Pharmacists  National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine  Note: Right click and select “open hyperlink” to access the above web references. N