In 2005, cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, an effective decongestant, were moved behind the pharmacy counter. In response, many drug companies replaced pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine, which could be sold over the counter. While the FDA has determined that phenylephrine is not effective as an oral medication, it hasn’t been proven unsafe.

As flu season approaches, getting a flu shot and timing it right will help protect you and your loved ones from a potentially serious illness.

Whether you need a prescription or are looking for an over-the-counter pain reliever or fever reducer, not being able to get your medications can be worrisome. Due to specific shortages, some pharmacies even limit the amount of over-the-counter medications a person can purchase at one time. “These shortages are occurring with medications that we’re not used to seeing in short supply, which can create some challenges,” says Nebraska Medicine pharmacist Christopher Zaleski, PharmD. “Especially with OTC medications, we tend to take for granted that they’ll be there when we need them.”

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics over the years have led to one of today’s most pressing health care problems – antibiotic resistance. Read about these tips to become a more responsible user of antibiotics.