Disclaimer added after article publication: Check with a healthcare professional before deciding if a probiotic may be appropriate for you. A recent, updated guidance made by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommends against the use of probiotics for most digestive conditions. To potentially select a probiotic supplement, it is useful to first know the semantics […]

Probiotics have become increasingly popular with more and more patients seeking these out for various health concerns. Pharmacists, being the most accessible healthcare professional, are frequently asked about probiotic supplements. From understanding the different strains, the type of products, side effects and which conditions it can help, knowing the answers to these common probiotic questions […]

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as commentary and discussion, not direct medical advice. Before making any medical decision, consult with your medical provider.   Pharmacists are often consulted for recommendations regarding patient allergies by other health care professionals. One such allergy that is frequently reported by patients is an allergy to an opioid. Sometimes patient-specific […]

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social communication, interaction, behaviors and interests. It is characterized by a range of symptoms and severity, which is why it is called a spectrum disorder. Symptoms typically appear in early childhood and can include difficulties with communication, social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and sensory […]

“Diabetes.” We hear this word and our minds automatically think “too much sugar and too much carbs”. But there is more to having diabetes and prediabetes than just eating excess amounts of sugar and carbs, there is also a component called insulin resistance that plays an important role in this condition.  What is Insulin Resistance?  […]

Semaglutide (Ozempic ®, Wegovy ®) has gained attention recently for not only treating type 2 diabetes, but mainly for its weight loss potential. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide works by regulating appetite and reducing food intake, leading to significant weight loss in clinical trials. This drug has shown promising results in helping individuals with […]

Image via Ascend Medical In the United States, 1 in 5 (over 14 million), children and adolescents are affected by obesity. There are various contributing factors to excess weight gain in this patient population including behavior, genetics, certain medications, child care and school environments. Obesity related problems that can occur in children are high blood […]

Similarly to how different types of viruses can cause multiple different viral infections, there are many types of fungi that can cause different types of fungal infections.  It is often a difficult task to determine which antifungal product may be the most appropriate to utilize for a specific situation. Although there are many different types […]

Stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person”. More specifically, “social stigma” refers to the disapproval of, or discrimination against, a person based on perceivable characteristics that distinguish them from the rest of society. Some common examples of innate traits that are associated with stigma include race, […]

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. According to the CDC, in 2016 about 6.1 million (9.4%) of children were diagnosed with ADHD. However, what is also interesting about this condition is that it not only affects children but also adults. About four to five percent of adults in the […]

Birth control. Typically when we hear these words we either think of condoms or hormonal medications that women use to prevent pregnancy. However when it comes to birth control, it seems as though there has always been an “unofficial” responsibility of women to be more in control of this than men. Methods such as male […]

Insulin is an important hormone in the body because it is produced by the pancreas in order to allow cells to utilize sugar (glucose) molecules in the bloodstream for either energy or storage. However, what happens when the pancreas is not able to function properly?  Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas either […]

The opioid epidemic has been ravaging across the United States, leading to overdose deaths from prescription opioids, heroin, and more. In fact, the mortality rate quadrupled since 1999 with an average of 38 deaths each day from overdoses involving prescription opioids in 2019. To combat the epidemic, federal and state legislations have given more resources […]

It seems as though as COVID-19 is starting to subside in regards to the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, another virus outbreak finding its way into our somewhat normal lives again: Monkeypox.  What is MonkeyPox?  According to the CDC, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection of the monkeypox virus which is part […]