The Medicine Shoppe

Generic drugs are alternatives to name-brand drugs that are in high demand by many people because the price for a generic drug is much lower than a brand name medication.

In 1852 the first national professional society of pharmacists was established. The American Pharmacists Association serves all those who are certified and work in accredited retail or private locations.

Some drugs, like heart medications containing nitrate, should never ever be transferred to another container. If these medications are exposed to oxygen, the nitrate evaporates and the medication loses its effectiveness.

Did you know that one of the first known heart medicines was the dried leaves of the foxglove plant? The foxglove’s unique properties were first discovered in the late 1700s by physician John Ferriar, and today, foxglove, also known as "digitalis," is still a commonly prescribed heart medication.

The main allurement of a drug store is the pharmacy. The pharmacy accounts for 70 percent of the revenue, whereas the front-end of the store only accounts for 30 percent of the stores' overall sales.

[P]rovide the means of instruction by the establishment of a school of pharmacy in which shall be taught those branches of knowledge essential to the education of an apothecary (Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, 1821)

In the late 19th century, fever-reducing antipyretics were the hot new drug for advanced medical treatment. Aspirin, cosaprin, eupyrine, malarin, phesin, and pyrantin were just a few of the many compounds devised to treat fevers and provide pain relief.

Need help remembering to take your prescriptions? Today, there is a huge selection of prescription reminders included timers, voice activated and timed pill holders and even alerts sent to phones and emails.

Did you know that ancient Chinese pharmacies were inspired by the emperor Shen Nung? According to legend, he sought out an investigated the medicinal value of several hundreds of herbs.

One of the most important tips for taking your prescription drugs is to know all of the information about your drugs before you begin taking them. If needed, ask your pharmacist to explain in detail everything about how to take your pills: what they are, what they'll do, when to take them, and so forth.

What are just a few notable pieces of information that are included on prescription drug labels? Boxed warnings, any major changes in the medications, indications and usage, dosage and administration info, warnings and precautions, and a patient counseling information statement.

Early pharmaceutical publications include the Pharmacopeia of London (1618) and the Pharmacopeia of Paris (1639). These dealt primarily with elixirs, spirits, and powdersfar different from the complex pharmaceutical remedies we are familiar with today.

The Professional Compounding Centers of America, or PCCA, is a group of individuals with over 4,000 members of independent community pharmacies in the United States that strive to create customized medications for patients.