Tag: Medication history

Over half of hospitalized patients experience medication discrepancies, many of which can be prevented by a pharmacist collecting a thorough medication history. In a modern healthcare setting, **do pharmacists take patient history**? The answer is a resounding yes, and it is a critical and expanding aspect of their professional responsibilities.

Discovered in 1950, chlorpromazine was the first antipsychotic medication, revolutionizing psychiatric care by treating conditions like schizophrenia. The question, “What does purple Man do?” in the context of pharmacology is not a reference to a specific person but a fascinating misnomer tied to this historical and vividly-colored medication. It all relates to the unique properties and side effects of chlorpromazine and its class, the phenothiazines.

While many believe the popular painkiller Anacin was outright banned, the truth is more complex: the brand was forced to reformulate in the 1980s after the FDA outlawed its key ingredient, phenacetin, due to serious health risks.

Between 1940 and 1971, the synthetic estrogen known as diethylstilbestrol (DES), or Stilbestrol, was widely prescribed to pregnant women in the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriages. This article examines the historical and medical context of what is Stilbestrol used for, its wide-ranging applications, and the devastating long-term health consequences that led to its ban.

Yes, original formulations of Vicks NyQuil liquid contained a significant amount of alcohol [1.2.1, 1.5.7]. In fact, according to a 1992 New York Times article, NyQuil's formula once consisted of 25% alcohol, which is more than double the amount found in many of today's liquid versions [1.4.7].

First approved in 1958, DIABINESE (chlorpropamide) was one of the early oral medications prescribed to help manage blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This first-generation sulfonylurea played a significant role in diabetes care before being largely succeeded by newer, safer alternatives.

In 1990, the FDA banned over-the-counter anti-diarrheal products containing certain belladonna alkaloids, leading to the discontinuation of one version of Donnagel. This raises the question: what is Donnagel and why is it no longer widely available?

In November 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory recommending against the use of products containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) due to an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. This included medications whose active ingredient was the same as the veterinary drug Propalin, meaning Propalin is definitively not for humans.

First developed in 1903 as a human version of an equine liniment, Absorbine Jr. has been a popular over-the-counter remedy for decades. Despite changes in ownership, the answer to 'Is Absorbine Jr still made?' is a resounding yes, though the product line has evolved under new management.