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
Not recommended for children under 2 years of age...
Generic Medicines FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about generics...
Heparin shortage
Why is there a shortage and what's being done about it?...
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
A new 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...

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 www.members.kp.org. You may also speak with a pharmacist at your local Kaiser Permanente facility.

Spring into Against Allergies

Get the Facts about Allergy Medicines

Avoid your Allergy Triggers

Evite los desencadenantes de su alergia

Tips for Using Anti-inflammatory Nose Sprays

Aerosoles nasales antinflamatories

NEWS! Cetrizine (Zyrtec) Now Available Over-the-Counter! This well-known allergy medicine, advertised for treating indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms, recently switched from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC) status. Prescription Zyrtec is no longer available. The good news for consumers is that Zyrtec products are now conveniently available to purchase in pharmacies as both brand name Zyrtec and generic cetirizine in the original prescription strengths.

For more information about seasonal allergies:
-Kaiser Permanente Health Encyclopedia at www.members.kp.org
-Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook - Allergies
-Kaiser Permanente Healthphone: 1-800-332-7563, listen to message #476 on airborne allergies

Additional resources:
-National Allergy Bureau at www.aaaai.org
-US National Institutes of Health at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html

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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