OptumRx Supplement Universe: Your Pharmaceutical Guide at optumrx.com - Page 5

Opioid-Induced Constipation: How to Prevent It and What Prescription Options Actually Work

Opioid-Induced Constipation: How to Prevent It and What Prescription Options Actually Work

Opioid-induced constipation affects up to 95% of long-term users and doesn't improve on its own. Learn why fiber doesn't help, what laxatives actually work, and the prescription options that target the root cause without affecting pain relief.

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Corticosteroid Immunosuppression: How to Reduce Infection Risk

Corticosteroid Immunosuppression: How to Reduce Infection Risk

Corticosteroids like prednisone suppress the immune system, raising infection risk. Learn how dose, duration, and prevention strategies like prophylaxis, vaccines, and rapid tapering can protect you.

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FDA Bioequivalence Standards for NTI Drugs: What You Need to Know

FDA Bioequivalence Standards for NTI Drugs: What You Need to Know

The FDA enforces stricter bioequivalence rules for narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs like warfarin and digoxin, requiring tighter limits and special testing to ensure safety. Learn how these standards protect patients and what you need to know if you take one.

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Authorized Generics: Same Drug, Different Label - What You Need to Know

Authorized Generics: Same Drug, Different Label - What You Need to Know

Authorized generics are identical to brand-name drugs but sold under a generic label. Learn how they work, why they’re cheaper, and how to spot them - without sacrificing quality or safety.

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NTI Drug List: Common Medications with Narrow Therapeutic Windows

NTI Drug List: Common Medications with Narrow Therapeutic Windows

NTI drugs have a tiny margin between effective and toxic doses. Common examples include warfarin, lithium, digoxin, phenytoin, and tacrolimus. These require strict monitoring and careful dosing to avoid serious harm.

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Restless Legs Syndrome: How Sleep Disruption Works and Why Dopaminergic Therapy Is a Double-Edged Sword

Restless Legs Syndrome: How Sleep Disruption Works and Why Dopaminergic Therapy Is a Double-Edged Sword

Restless Legs Syndrome disrupts sleep with intense leg sensations at night. Dopaminergic drugs offer quick relief but carry high risks of worsening symptoms over time. Safer alternatives and lifestyle changes can help manage it long-term.

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Counterfeit Drugs in Developing Nations: The Hidden Killer in Your Medicine Cabinet

Counterfeit Drugs in Developing Nations: The Hidden Killer in Your Medicine Cabinet

Counterfeit drugs in developing nations kill hundreds of thousands yearly, with fake medicines containing toxic ingredients or no active drugs at all. Weak regulation, poverty, and criminal networks fuel this crisis-here’s what’s being done and what must change.

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Antibiotics and Warfarin: How to Prevent Dangerous INR Spikes and Bleeding

Antibiotics and Warfarin: How to Prevent Dangerous INR Spikes and Bleeding

Antibiotics can dangerously raise INR levels in people taking warfarin, increasing bleeding risk. Learn which antibiotics are most dangerous, when to check your INR, and how to prevent life-threatening spikes.

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The Orange Book: How Therapeutic Equivalence Guides Generic Drug Substitution

The Orange Book: How Therapeutic Equivalence Guides Generic Drug Substitution

The Orange Book is the FDA's official guide to therapeutic equivalence, helping pharmacists determine which generic drugs can safely replace brand-name medications. Learn how TE codes work, why they matter, and how they save billions in healthcare costs.

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Are Generic Drugs Copies? The Truth Behind the Myth

Are Generic Drugs Copies? The Truth Behind the Myth

Generic drugs are not copies - they're FDA-approved equivalents with the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. Learn the science behind why they work the same, cost 85% less, and are safe for most people.

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