A Plus Pharmacy

When you use one pharmacy to fill all of your prescriptions, they will maintain records on your current and past medications, and will be able to screen for issues such as drug interactions or allergies.

Did you know that not all brand name drugs have a generic counterpart? The Food and Drug Administration must approve all generic versions of a drug before these can be released onto the market.

One class of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. is analgesics, which are drugs that relieve pain. Analgesics can be either narcotic or non-narcotic; however, the narcotic versions are highly controlled and regulated because of the risk of addiction.

A study of prescription drug spending in the U.S. indicated that the increase in total spending fell sharply in 2007 compared to the previous year, largely because of the use of generic drugs.

Did you know that the patent protection for most brand name drugs lasts for 20 years? This means that no manufacturers can create generic versions of brand name drugs until the brand name drugs have been on the market for 20 years.

Did you know that a pharmacist can help you with over-the-counter medications too? If you need help purchasing an over-the-counter medication for whatever ails you, just ask our pharmacist about the best type of medication for your symptoms.

Have you ever wondered how time release capsules or tablets work? Coatings on tablets, ingredients in the tablets and the capsules, and the cover on the capsules are created to work with your stomach acids to 'time' the delivery of the medication.

After a patent expires, drug companies can seek approval for copies of brand name drugs that are the same in every aspect as the original drug. The FDA must approve all generic drugs before they can be sold.

The precursor to the pharmacist was the apothecary. The apothecary was a medical professional, trained through an apprenticeship, who prepared and dispensed medications and also provided medical services including examinations, midwifery, bloodletting and minor surgeries.

According to the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), up to 50% of prescribed medications fail to work because they are used improperly. If not taken correctly, drugs can have adverse effects and do serious harm.

Have you ever heard of drugstore show globes? In the late 1800s to mid 1900s, pharmacists would hang large beautiful glass globes, filled with colored water, to attract customers and to identify their store as a pharmacy.

The Federal Drug Administration will not approve a generic drug unless strenuous testing indicates the generic drug has the same quality, purity and stability as the brand name drug.

Did you know that willow bark was a precursor to aspirin? Willow bark has been a remedy for thousands of years for fever and inflammation; this herb contains a chemical, salicin, which was studied and used to develop acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin.

Brand name drugs are more expensive than generic copies because research and development costs of the brand name drug are included in the price.

When a drug company introduces a new medication to the market, it receives a patent, which gives the parent company an exclusive right to sell the drug as long as the patent is in effect. As long as a brand name drug has a patent, generic manufacturers cannot copy the drug.

Did you know one of the leading causes of pet accidents in the home is related to pets eating prescription or over-the-counter medications? If you have a pet in your home, be sure to keep all medications completely out of reach.

Did you know that the bathroom is one of the worst places to store medications? High humidity and temperature fluctuations in the bathroom can affect your medications. Instead, store them in a dry, dark and cool place.

Antibiotics are extremely common in pharmacies since they can treat all types of bacterial infections. While some antibiotics are only effective against certain types of bacteria, others can treat a broad range of infections.

Many of the medicinal plants which were used hundreds of years ago to treat illnesses are still used today. For example, the famous malaria drug - quinine - is a substance found in the bark of the cinchona tree.

According to Forbes.com, the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States in 2009 was hydrocodone. This pain killer registered more than 128 million prescriptions.

The practice of pharmacy dates back to ancient times. Greek legend includes the story of Asclepius, the god of the healing art, who gave the responsibility of compounding his various remedies to Hygeia.