Advice from your Pharmacist

Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) - OTC Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer
Take it seriously, take it safely...
Anemia Medicines Warnings
New safety warnings for EPO, Procrit, and other anemia medicines in cancer patients...
Cholesterol Medicines - Vytorin and Zetia
Media buzz causes unnecessary concern for patients taking these medicines...
Cough-Cold Medicines in Children
"Do Not Use" recommendations extend to children under 4 years of age...
Generic Medicines FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about generics...
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Vaccine to prevent some types of cervical cancer in girls and young women...
Lyrica for Fibromyalgia
Is it helpful?...
New Medicine for Weight Loss
What you need to know about orlistat (alli)...
Prescription Drug Ads
Be a smart shopper...
Rx vs OTC
Why do some medicines change from prescription (Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) status?...
Sleep Medicines - Do You Need Them?
Improve your chances of sleeping well without medicines...
Understanding Your Medication
Tips for knowing about the medications you are taking...

If you are using albuterol (CFC) inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems
You will receive albuterol (HFA) inhaler instead...
Albuterol HFA inhaler - Go Green and Keep it Clean
Cleaning and priming instructions
Inhaladores de albuterol con HFA: no dañan el medio Ambiente
Instrucciones de preparación y limpieza
If you are taking blood pressure medicines - Nifedipine XL or Felodipine
You may receive amlodipine (generic Norvasc) instead...
If you are taking the blood thinner medicine, warfarin
Tablets have new shape but same color scheme...
If you need the bowel cleansing preparation, Fleets Phosphosoda...
It is now stocked behind the counter at Kaiser Permanente pharmacies...
If you are cutting tablets in half
Learn more about the "do's" and "don'ts"...
If you are taking diabetes medicines - Glyburide or Tolazamide
You may receive a medicine called glipizide instead...
If you are taking Effexor XR
You may receive generic venlafaxine IR instead...
If you are taking the laxative medicine - Miralax
You may now purchase it over-the-counter without a prescription...
If you are using Procrit injection
Your dose may change...
If you are taking sleep medicines - Ambien CR or Lunesta
You may receive zolpidem (generic Ambien) instead...

The information presented here is about selected medicines. For more information about these or other medicines, please see the Drug Encyclopedia at kp.org. You may also speak with a pharmacist at your local Kaiser Permanente facility.

Antibiotic resistance
What is it and why does it matter to me?

Cold and Flu Medicines
Get the facts

What to do About Colds and Flu in Adults

What to do About Colds and Flu in Children

What to do About Sore Throat and Strep Throat

Be a Love Bug, not a Flu Bug! Don't let the flu bug you this season. It's more serious than the common cold and very easy to transmit to other people. The best way to keep from catching the flu or passing it on to your loved ones is by getting an annual flu vaccination.

Kaiser Permanente flu shot clinics open in mid-October. Free flu vaccinations will be available at Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout the winter. To find out where, call 1-800-KP-FLU-11 (1-800-573-5811). Also visit kp.org/flu for information about preventing and treating the flu.

Cover Your Cough! Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or direct your cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. And be sure to toss your used tissue in the waste basket. Wash your hands often, especially after you sneeze or cough. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For more information about colds and the flu:
-Kaiser Permanente Health Encyclopedia at kp.org
-Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook - Colds, Flu

Additional resources:
-National Allergy Bureau
-US National Institutes of Health

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

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