Americans abandoning prescriptions when faced with costs

Americans with health insurance are increasingly abandoning their prescriptions at the pharmacy counter, according to a review of insurance-claims data by Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions. This so-called “abandonment,” when a patient refuses to purchase or pick up a prescription that was filled and packaged by a pharmacist, increased by 55 percent during second quarter of 2010, compared with four years earlier. Patients are not picking up the most expensive drugs most often, according to the study. . read more.

I think I may have an aspirin allergy. What are the symptoms?

Reactions to aspirin are common. If you have an aspirin allergy or sensitivity, you may also have a reaction to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others). An aspirin allergy or sensitivity, or a reaction to another NSAID, can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe. Reactions generally occur within a few hours of taking the medication. . read more.

Sulfa allergy: Which medications should I avoid?

How can I tell if a medicine contains sulfa? Should I simply avoid those with ingredients that have the prefix "sul" or "sulfa"? . . Avoiding only medications with the prefix "sul" or even "sulfa" is not a good rule of thumb if you have a sulfa allergy. The term "sulfa allergy" is most often used to describe an adverse drug reaction to antibiotics that contain sulfonamides. Generic names or brand names of medications that contain sulfonamides may not start with "sul" or "sulfa." . . read more.