Just walking by the lilac tree in our yard today brought a smile to my face. Oh, the fragrance of a lilac tree in bloom! And so many other flowering trees and shrubs in bloom. Sometimes a slight breeze can bring a pleasant odor and you’re not …

Many of us will find ourselves caring for a family member or friend at some point in our lives. Some of us have already been there, some are there now. Most of us want to help our family members stay independent, happy, and healthy for as long as …

Fish oil supplements are popular. In fact, a survey published just last year by Consumer Labs showed that over half of Americans who use at least one dietary supplement take fish oil. You may be one of them, or maybe you’re wondering if you should …

It’s likely that many of you who are reading this post have a penicillin allergy written in your medical record. As a matter of fact, about one in ten patients in the US report having a penicillin allergy. In my own experience as a pharmacist, …

That’s one of the most common questions I hear. Sometimes people say it jokingly, as if they believe there’s no going back. Other times people say it out of frustration — they’re tired of getting prescriptions filled over and …

I’m filled with gratitude as I write this last blog post of 2022. It’s been a busy year for Better My Meds — just look how long it’s been since I’ve had time to publish a blog post (September!)..There’ve been joys …

Atrial fibrillation (AF, or afib) affects nearly 10% of adults over 65 and more than 15% of those over 70. It sometimes goes unnoticed, but noticed or not, it can be life-threatening. AF usually requires treatment with medications, so I’m …

Greetings, everybody! You may recognize some of the information in this post. Don’t worry, you’re not having deja-vu. At the time of the original posting of this article, it did contain the latest information. However, as expected, the …

Many patients come to Better My Meds for help because they don’t want to take so many medications. It’s true that many common health problems like osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders, and others are usually treated with …

We’ve talked in previous posts about safe and secure disposal of medications. Why it’s important, and how and where it can be done. Several BetterMyMeds readers and event participants have pointed out that it can be tough to dispose of …

Somehow I missed the collagen boat. Collagen supplements have become more and more popular over recent years, but it’s only the last couple of months that I’ve had questions about them from readers. They’re marketed to do …

Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Many monitor their blood pressure at home. If you use a home blood pressure (HBP) monitor, you’re already doing a great job taking care of your health. But are you sure your …

  Saturday, April 30, 2022, is National Drug Take-Back Day. Seems like there’s a National Day for just about every activity, doesn’t it? But honestly, every person who takes any kind of medicine should pay attention. Drug disposal …

Pneumonia vaccines have been in use for years. And they’re very effective at preventing serious illness in people of all ages. But just when we think we’re on top of the best way to vaccinate, experts find new information and change the …

Nerve pain, especially in the legs, feet, and hands, is common among adults in the United States. Also called peripheral neuropathy, it affects up to 30% of adults, and nearly 10% of those over age 65. There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, …

Calcium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining bone strength. From children all the way on up to the elderly, these vitamins and minerals are important for health. But I’ve found that there’s a fair amount of misunderstanding about …

Are you one of the many people who count grapefruit as one of your favorite fruits or juices? If so, you may have been disappointed if you were told to avoid it because of a medication. It’s even worse if you learn you’ll need to take …

As a pharmacist, I love helping my patients understand more about how their medications work, how they improve health, and which ones might not be needed anymore. While every patient brings different questions and health concerns to our discussion, …

Well, here comes 2022! A lot has changed over the past two years. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that lots was changing even before that. But the changes really accelerated in early 2020 and, for many of us, life feels …

I try to live a life of gratitude. Can’t pretend I’m always successful at it, but I do tend to be more of an optimist than a pessimist. I think that means I’m more often grateful for what I have than upset about what I don’t …

Somehow, the terms “additional dose” and “booster dose” for Covid-19 vaccines have become interchangeable. I heard an expert from CDC say on a national webinar that they were only using the term “booster” to refer …