Author: Melissa Kopaczewski

24 Jan

Crushing Tablets and Splitting Pills: What’s Safe and What’s Not

by Melissa Kopaczewski Jan 24 2026 2 Medications

Crushing or splitting pills can save money and help with swallowing-but it can also be deadly. Learn which medications are safe to split, which are dangerous, and how to do it right if you must.

13 Jan

Generic Prescribing Guidelines: Professional Recommendations for Clinicians

by Melissa Kopaczewski Jan 13 2026 13 Medications

Generic prescribing saves the NHS £1.3 billion a year and improves patient outcomes. Learn when to prescribe generics, when to stick with brands, and how to talk to patients about it.

12 Jan

Vortioxetine and Nausea: How to Manage Early Side Effects and Stay on Treatment

by Melissa Kopaczewski Jan 12 2026 10 Medications

Vortioxetine often causes nausea in the first weeks of treatment, but it's usually temporary. Learn how to manage it with dose timing, food, ginger, and OTC meds - and why sticking with it pays off.

6 Jan

Inhaled Corticosteroids: How to Prevent Oral Thrush and Hoarseness

by Melissa Kopaczewski Jan 6 2026 16 Respiratory Health

Learn how to prevent oral thrush and hoarseness caused by inhaled corticosteroids with simple, proven steps like rinsing after use, using a spacer, and proper inhaler technique.

5 Jan

Digoxin Interactions: What Heart Patients Need to Monitor

by Melissa Kopaczewski Jan 5 2026 14 Medications

Digoxin helps manage heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but it has dangerous interactions with common drugs, foods, and supplements. Learn what to avoid and how to monitor for toxicity.

30 Dec

Switching from Warfarin to a DOAC: What You Need to Know About Side Effects and Safety

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 30 2025 14 Medications

Switching from warfarin to a DOAC can reduce bleeding risk and eliminate weekly blood tests-but only if done correctly. Learn the safety rules, side effects, and when not to switch.

29 Dec

Photosensitivity from Antibiotics: Doxycycline and TMP-SMX Sun Safety Guide

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 29 2025 8 Medications

Doxycycline and TMP-SMX can cause severe sun sensitivity, leading to burns in minutes. Learn how to protect your skin, how long the risk lasts, and what actually works-backed by medical guidelines and real patient data.

15 Dec

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors: Managing Gas, Bloating, and Diarrhea Side Effects

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 15 2025 15 Medications

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose help control post-meal blood sugar but often cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Learn how to manage these side effects and whether the drug is still worth taking.

11 Dec

Orthostatic Hypotension from Medications: Why You Feel Dizzy When You Stand Up

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 11 2025 8 Medical Conditions

Dizziness when standing up may be caused by medications lowering your blood pressure too much. Learn which drugs are most likely to cause orthostatic hypotension, how to spot it, and what to do to feel better.

8 Dec

Child and Adolescent Depression: How Family Therapy and Medications Work Together

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 8 2025 8 Medical Treatments

Child and adolescent depression requires evidence-based treatment. Family therapy repairs emotional bonds, while SSRIs like fluoxetine and escitalopram offer symptom relief. Combining both gives the best outcomes for teens.

4 Dec

Meningitis: Types, Symptoms, and How Vaccines Prevent It

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 4 2025 14 Medical Conditions

Meningitis can be deadly, but vaccines and early action save lives. Learn the five types, key symptoms to watch for, how vaccines prevent the worst cases, and what to do if you’re exposed.

1 Dec

Bisphosphonates and Calcium Supplements: How to Avoid Absorption Problems

by Melissa Kopaczewski Dec 1 2025 12 Medications

Bisphosphonates and calcium supplements can't be taken together-doing so blocks absorption and makes treatment ineffective. Learn the exact timing rules, why IV options work better, and how to avoid common mistakes that sabotage osteoporosis treatment.