The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Editorial
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The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
The People's Perspective on MedicineLoading articles..
The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
Some doctors become annoyed when patients push back on prescriptions. Instead, they should welcome the opportunity for honest dialog.
Which People's Pharmacy podcasts did listeners download most often in 2025? You won't want to miss any of these crucial health conversations.
Instead of viewing illness as a mechanical malfunction, pharmacy might want to learn how to support the body's natural healing capacity.
American adults who embrace five elements of a healthy lifestyle can expect to live longer, on average, than those who are less conscientious.
Providing full information about the potential risks of pharmaceuticals is something pharmacists aspire to but cannot achieve. Here's why.
When was the last time you had your vitamin B12 levels monitored? Common medications may lead to this nutritional deficiency.
Do you ever get medications through the mail? How are mail-order medicines shipped? What does the FDA say about temperature fluctuations?
Thanks to our listeners, the People's Pharmacy podcast just reached 10 million downloads. Have you been listening?
Would a free lunch affect a doctor's decision about prescribing? Most patients assume the answer is no. There's research suggesting it might.
Sun Pharma, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world, has a history of serious problems at its manufacturing plants.
The weather has been incredibly hot and humid. That means you will be sweating like crazy. And that means body odor! Magnesium works!
We have plastic in our brains? How does it get there? Research suggests we breathe in microplastic particles. They're also in our arteries.
Can you or your friends and family members avoid dangerous or fatal drug interactions? There are do-it-yourself drug interaction checkers.
Are we starting to experience a drugstore desert? Many of America's pharmacies are in big trouble. Why are so many drugstores disappearing?
Omega 3 fats have been controversial for decades. Is fish oil good or bad for the heart? The most recent analysis of VITAL data says good!
Listening to The People's Pharmacy radio show will give you valuable tips on how to stay healthy.
Many consumer products, including personal care items like acne treatments, contain toxic chemicals such as benzene.
Do you buy things online like books, pet food or electronics? What about online prescribing and dispensing? Is Telehealth the new Wild West?
Do you know how effective your medicine really is? Drug companies have a secret strategy: statistics! Their math misleads too many patients.
Drumroll please: Listeners have downloaded The People's Pharmacy podcast 9 million times. Are you one of them?
People with insomnia often take sleeping pills, but reports of dementia have scared MDs and patients. Are Z-Drugs like zolpidem safe?
Are pharmacies just convenience stores in which pharmacists play the same role as grocery store checkout clerks? Or does counseling matter?
Mail order med deliveries may sit in a freezing cold or hot mailbox for hours. The vehicles they are shipped in also get very cold...or hot!
A reader accused Dennis Miller, RPh, of being a hypocrite as a pharmacist. He suggests that many pharmacists harbor doubts about drugs.
ProPublica's investigation shows a pattern of insurers consulting doctors who advise them to deny coverage.
In the prescription drug world many brand names are unspellable, unpronounceable, and incomprehensible. Why are weird drug names so popular?
An intriguing study reveals that what you feed your microbiota influences the variety of microbes in your intestines. The relationships are unique to you.
Trump's choice of Dr. Marty Makary to head FDA is interesting. Will Dr. Makary stand up against Big Pharma?
Has the soul of pharmacy been sold? Is understaffing and time pressure putting patients at risk of mistakes? How can you protect yourself?
ProPublica's investigation shows how patients with serious problems are too often denied health insurance coverage for essential services.
Is there a pandemic of mistakes in the pharmacy? Pharmacists worry about working conditions that make mistakes inevitable. Protect Yourself!
Medical mistakes are a leading cause of death, yet they go unreported and ignored. A new study (10/1/24) reveals diagnostic errors are common!
Hurricane Helene has destroyed roads, power stations and water treatment plants in the North Carolina mountains. Drinking water is scarce.
Readers share stories about being fired by their doctors if they declined to take statins or HRT. Can MDs do that? Can patients fire MDs?
Blockbuster drugs like Januvia and Jardiance have been busting Medicare's budget. Now the government has negotiated big price reductions!
Take care not to forget your medications, and keep them in your carry-on luggage. Stopping medicines without a plan can be risky.
How many pills do you take daily? Anything more than 2 or 3 means you are practicing polypharmacy. Multiple meds could lead to a deadly mix.
Retired pharmacist Dennis Miller is frustrated that fellow pharmacists don't seem to care about contradictions in their profession.
In this episode, Susannah Fox, author of Rebel Health, describes the patient-led revolution in health care.
The FDA has issued a "guidance" to end deceptive drug ads on TV. Warning! The recommendations are "nonbinding." Let's fight back! NO more ads
A retired pharmacist bemoans the neglect of preventive efforts and overreliance on medications. Are we serving the pharmaceutical industry?
Are your medicines really "safe and effective?" A new survey reveals that many physicians do NOT understand the FDA's drug approval process.
The FDA says it will now allow Florida to import drugs from Canada. Is it now legal for the rest of us? Learn about the latest FDA flip flop.
Have you been interrupted by a doctor before you tell your full story? A study reports doctors often interrupt patients after a few seconds.
Diagnostic mistakes are common, often leading to permanent disability and death. A study says nearly 1 out of 5 patients are misdiagnosed.
In popular use, the word "pills" implies a product that may deserve ridicule rather than respect. Do you agree?
Patients may understand their diagnoses and treatment plans better when doctors learn to teach and communicate more clearly.
Orphan drugs are huge money makers for drug companies. These medicines save lives but the cost is unlikely to be sustainable for much longer.
We go into hospitals hoping to be healed. Too often people are harmed in the hospital by preventable mistakes. Learn how to protect yourself!
Retired pharmacist Dennis Miller lists the most important things FDA must do if it wants to regain the public trust.
Most people believe nonprescription drugs are safe. That's why they may not read OTC medication labels. But OTC drugs can harm or kill!
Pharmacists are going on strike to protest working conditions that keep them from providing the best quality care to their customers.
A proposed FDA safety alert on amalgam fillings disappeared almost without a trace. Many dentists were glad. The pros and cons of amalgam.
What is it about quinine in tonic water that eases leg cramps? Can we explain this benefit? We think the bitter taste stimulates TRP channels!
Here’s one pharmacist’s perspective on what’s causing the cancer epidemic. Can you avoid carcinogens in modern life?
Careful analysis of demographic data from pre-industrial Finland shows that grandmothers matter for child survival.
In many states, the law requires a discard date one year from when the prescription is dispensed. This is NOT the expiration date. Why not?
Is speed filling prescriptions more important than accuracy or helpful advice from the pharmacist? Dennis Miller, RPh, says it is.
Pharmacists' biggest secret is that they would rather help people develop healthy lifestyles than dispense unnecessary medicines.
The conduct of the pharmaceutical industry, aka Pharma, does not inspire trust from consumers or health care providers.
When your pharmacist discusses your drugs with you, you may not learn all the relevant information. Here’s what pharmacists don't tell you.
Doctors love medical jargon. They think it is efficient, but medicalese creates confusion and barriers between patients and providers.
If you appreciate listening, you might contemplate a year-end gift to public radio stations. Tell them we sent you.
Most medications can cause adverse reactions. Why do so many doctors deny drug side effects? A study sheds a little light on this bad habit.
Americans pay more for their prescription medications than people in other countries. Turns out our dog's drugs are also less than human meds
Drug price gouging is becoming commonplace. Desperate people are being charged thousands of dollars a month for critical medicines.
Economic forces seem to explain why pharmacists are cheerleaders for drugs, even when there is some evidence that the medicines carry risks.
Medical mistakes are more common than most people realize. Do doctors disclose their errors or try to pretend they never happened? Read the latest study.
When we visited Gaia Herbs farm, lab and factory, we learned how deeply committed they are to quality–integrity, purity & potency.
The FDA wants food companies to cut back on salt. AHA guidelines are much stricter. Are the low-salt targets practical? Are they healthy?
Several years ago, people with diabetes were urged to eat less fat and more carbs. Now experts recommend a diabetes diet low in carbs.
The vegetables and fruits available in farmers' markets might do more for your health than some highly advertised pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacists are responsible for all the work done by technicians. With pharmacy techs quitting in the pandemic, the chances are higher that a tech's mistake will slip by your pharmacist.
Where was your medicine made? China, India, Mexico or Slovakia? Foreign made meds fill pharmacy shelves. What happened to made in the USA?
Drug prices are going up! Surprised? We didn't think so. Politicians keep promising to lower high drug prices and keep failing miserably.
Some customers think a pharmacist's job description only involves putting pills from big bottles into little ones as fast as they can.
A local pharmacist who knows what you are taking can watch out for interactions and even save you money, as one reader discovered.
Our guests argue that climate change is the greatest threat to global health. What can we do about it?
Cognitive dissonance and a desire to remain employed are just two of many reasons why pharmacists don't criticize pharmaceuticals.
You’re probably unaware of the many ways that Big Pharma manipulates you into accepting pills for everything.
A pharmacist explains why drug commercials are far more harmful than you realize. They promote a world view without responsibilities or risk.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) has been associated with muscle pain and weakness. It this because of the statin or are such symptoms coincidental?
Do you pay attention to the side effects listed in pharma ads? Perhaps the companies should tell us how to prevent type 2 diabetes on TV.
Brand names for prescription drugs are hard to spell and impossible to understand. Are they generated by computer?
Lots of books are critical of pharmaceuticals, but many pharmacists don't appear to be interested in reading them. Here's a list.
Pressure on pharmacists may worsen when they struggle to administer lots of COVID-19 vaccinations despite chronic understaffing.
Should you care about COVID vaccine storage? 1st, if you get the vaccine you want it to work. 2nd, there are lessons for storage of all drugs!
Local drugstores will probably find it difficult to compete with Amazon Pharmacy. Will that make a difference for you?
Drug company execs are NOT supposed to meet with competitors to set prices. Men played golf and women sipped martinis at Girls' night out.
Starting in pharmacy school, significant social pressures encourage pharmacists to be positive about pills and downplay diet and lifestyle.
In light of the serious questions about the safety of many pharmaceuticals, why do doctors prescribe drugs so freely? Here are 10 reasons.
Quarantines related to the COVID-19 epidemic make it impossible for the FDA to conduct drug manufacturer inspections in China.
Around 20 percent of insured patients were faced with unexpected bills after surgery that should have been in-network. What's going on?
Free samples seem like a good deal for those who get them, but they help drive costs up over the long run. Companies use them to market pricey drugs.
Do you read your electronic health records? Most people don't. The really important information is likely missing unless the health system offers OpenNotes.
Health professionals have a terms for "good" patients. They are "compliant." Do you take your pills? If so, you are compliant. Reminders are big business!
Many subscribers missed the newsletter reading list. We've brought it back for your convenience. You'll find it at the bottom of each post.
Many health websites have been buried by a new Google algorithm update. Search is fruitless. We provide drug side effect information. Why can't you find it?
Pharma has a financial incentive to convince people that many ailments are “chronic conditions" even though much is known about preventing those conditions.
Pharma (the pharmaceutical industry) views the human body as a machine that is constantly prone to breakdown and needs shoring up with synthetic chemicals.
Saving money on medicines has become a hot political football. There's a lot of smoke but very little action. Can you really import drugs from Canada?
How do pharmacists and the general public react to the reality of potentially very serious adverse effects? Is denial a common coping mechanism?
Some writers have raised serious questions about generic drug quality, but most pharmacists don't seem very interested in the topic. Why not?
Have you tried pronouncing brand name drugs these days? It's enough to make you gag. There's Otezla, Xeljanz, Xarelto or Zytiga. What is it with Xs and Zs?
A pharmacist says, "I'm more interested in prevention than pills." Does that make him a pariah?
A new time-motion study finds that interns spend far more time in front of computers than they do interacting directly with patients.
Many cosmetics contain chemicals such as parabens or phthalates that can alter development. Other personal care products may also change hormones.
Be prepared for common illnesses and ailments by keeping your medicines organized but out of kids' reach. Here's what you may need.
Have you ever looked for a lot number on a prescription drug label? It's important if drugs are recalled. It's impossible to find if pills are repackaged
Pressure from the Trump administration has encouraged J&J to announce it will include price information on Rx drug commercials. Will that solve the problem?
Pharmacy benefit managers use a complex and obscure system of rebates. Drug manufacturers claim these are the true culprits behind rising drug prices.
The amount spent on healthcare marketing has ballooned in the past few decades as the business of healthcare has grown increasingly profitable.
The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was supposed to save lives. But the law of unintended consequences struck. Why are patients dying faster?
Medical mistakes are common. Health care harm is a leading cause of death. There is a way to dramatically reduce harmful medical errors. Learn what it is!
Hospital discharge between Christmas and New Year's Day was linked to a higher likelihood of readmssion to the hospital and of premature death.
Lying to your doctor could have negative consequences for your healthcare and your health. But it is not unusual. Many people fib to their physicians.
An interesting new study pits low-carb against higher-carb diets. When it comes to maintaining weight, the low-carb diet wins handily.
A doctor's personal experience with a rare disease led him to a hypothesis about vampires. Why did they avoid garlic? Because it made them sick!
Should drug companies have to tell patients how much their medicines cost? The government wants the industry to include prices in their TV commercials.
A power outage kept us from providing your Friday newsletter before the weekend. Now that we are re-connected, we are sending it to you.
To avoid the flu this year, consider getting a flu shot, wearing a face mask and gargling with green tea. Careful hand washing can also be helpful.
Have you been tempted to save money with mail-order prescriptions? Some insurers require it. Will meds lose effectiveness if they get too hot or too cold?
The pharmaceutical industry often justifies the high cost of medications by citing how much it spends on R&D. But what do clinical trials really cost? A new study answers that question.
Waiting for a prior authorization for your prescription can be frustrating. Here's an explanation of what they are and how they work.
A pharmacist refused to fill a valid prescription because he had an ethical question about it. The customer called him out on social media. What would you do?
Doctors disagree as to whether or not people should take nutritional supplements. The vitamin wars continue to rage. Should you be taking extra vitamins and minerals?
Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals. Bank tellers are trained, but do not have to pass the kinds of rigorous challenges pharmacists do. Who makes more mistakes? A pharmacist tells all.
Many people with a terminal illness are willing to take almost any risk to improve their odds. Will the new right to try bill passed by Congress help? What are the downsides?
Can the drug companies justify extraordinarily high orphan drug costs? If a new cancer treatment can cost up to a million dollars, who will pay? Will insurance premiums skyrocket?
Learn about drugs that disappeared from pharmacy shelves and why. Could a medicine you are currently taking be withdrawn from the market in the future?
What would you do if your were stranded on a desert island? What about if the power went out for several months? What are the best drugs in such extreme situations?
Planning ahead and knowing what your insurance plan will cover can help you sidestep unpleasant surprises at the pharmacy checkout counter.
A new Senate report shows that opioid manufacturers funneled millions to patient groups and professional organizations. It turns out that industry support of patient advocacy groups is common.
Chinese makers sell fentanyl online and ship it to drug dealers through international Express Mail. The Postal Service doesn't have the resources to stem the tide.
Have you tried to pronounce the name of your medicine lately? Hard to pronounce prescription drug names are now common. How do you say ipilimumab or empagliflozin? Why are such names dangerous?
The FDA has received many reports of dogs made ill by processed bone treats. This includes 15 deaths.
Attorneys general from a majority of states are suing a number of generic drug makers for collusion with respect to prices.
US hospitals have spent billions of dollars installing systems for electronic medical records, but they are not using these records as they were intended.
The FDA has joined with Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies to discourage illegal drug sales over the Internet.
Top Ten Reasons Pharmacists Are Disillusioned and Why You Should Care by Dennis Miller, R.Ph.
A new analysis show that the cost to develop a new cancer drug is high, but not as high as the industry has claimed. Moreover, the cost is recouped quickly.
Use the coupon LABORDAY2017 to get a 20% discount on anything in The People's Pharmacy online store.
The interstitial cystitis drug Elmiron costs only one-third as much from a Canadian online pharmacy. Which ones can you trust?
Accelerated drug approvals seem like a great idea. We all want the latest and greatest drugs and devices. But what if the FDA approval process is flawed?
Elite female athletes with high testosterone levels tend to perform slightly better than competitors. Even a small difference could make a champion.
California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has decided to list glyphosate as a possible carcinogen under Proposition 65.
A new analysis finds reports to the FDA about adverse effects to cosmetics have increased dramatically in the past year or so.
People who plan to buy medicine from Canada must do extra homework and take care to select a legitimate online pharmacy.
Have you ever looked at your electronic medical record to make sure what is written is correct? You might be amazed at how often there are errors.
Your medical records belong to you, but getting a copy can be complicated. Electronic health records should make this much easier.
Chances are very good that if you take any prescription medicines some will be generics. In recent years high prices for generic drugs have prompted inquiry
Most doctors believe they always tell patients the truth. But surveys reveal a very different result. How common is it for doctors to make mistakes and fib?
Have you checked prescription drug prices lately? They are skyrocketing! Insurance companies often force you to buy generics. How can you get a better deal?
Rapid rises in generic drug costs have competitors mirroring each other. Is there something underhanded going on? The Justice Department is checking.
Infectious disease experts tell doctors and nurses to wash hands to reduce infections. How about shoes? They are also source of hospital germs
Congress and the FDA have seemingly forgotten the reason behind orphan drugs! People with rare diseases were supposed to get new meds at affordable prices.
An analysis of artificial sweetener research finds that many studies have conclusions in line with the interests of the reviewers.
The head of Mylan, the pharmaceutical company that makes EpiPen, told Congress her company makes only $50 profit on a $300 EpiPen. How does that work?
A new drug, eteplirsen (Exondys 51), has been given the green light to treat a rare disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Why aren't you angry about the ever escalating costs of prescription drugs? Americans pay more for medicines than the people in any other country!
What would happen if pharmaceutical manufacturers set drug prices based on patient outcomes and benefits instead of based on volume?
People now depend on cellphone and wireless technology to communicate. They assume such devices are safe, but is there a link between cellphones and cancer?
Have you ever been told to consume a low salt diet? Public health officials have insisted that everyone should cut back on sodium. Was this advice wrong?
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is now ranked the number one program in the United States. How did UNC Pharmacy achieve such an amazing distinction?
Did you know that mail order pharmacies routinely violate USP guidelines for shipping prescription medicines? What about generic drug shipments from abroad?
Can people really save money buying drugs from Canada? Is it worth the challenge? Find out about the price discrepancy between U.S. and Canadian pharmacies.
Doctors may tell patients that statins will save their lives, but they don't say how much longer that life will be. New data shows you can count it in days.
The cost of life-saving medicines has reached stratospheric levels. That's especially true for rare diseases. Without access to these drugs people will die.
Drug prices have been out of control for years but it took the 5000 percent increase in the cost of Daraprim to wake up the American public. What changed?
A new report from the best doctors in America says diagnostic errors are common and deadly. Protect yourself and your loved ones from diagnostic disasters.
Drug companies have finally infuriated cancer doctors to the point that they have started a movement to lower high cancer drug prices. Want to join them?
Are there new directions in health you'd like to have The People's Pharmacy present? Tell us where you'd like us to expand our coverage.
FDA considered restricting dental fillings with mercury amalgam, but the proposal was squelched by Health & Human Services. What's the story?
Pricey pills for cancer, hepatitis and other hard-to-treat conditions are bankrupting individuals, insurance companies and programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans Affairs.
The People's Pharmacy website has been redesigned to make your browsing experience richer.
We love hot peppers and their spicy heat. Are there benefits or danger to consumption? How can one deal with the burn of overly spicy food?
Often when the FDA tells pharmacy to recall a prescription drug, no one is required to tell the patients taking it that there might be a problem.
For years Americans have been told to cut back on salt. But solid research suggests that cutting sodium too much is associated with worse health outcomes.
Facebook is an easy way to keep up with The People's Pharmacy information.
Our series of three interviews on unconventional approaches to treating cancer offers patients and their families information they may not find elsewhere.
Hand washing is not just about good hygiene, it's about infection control.
Professional education of health professionals often overlooks herbal medicines, despite its popularity among patients. This could cause serious problems.
Have you ever had a bad case of indigestion? Did you wonder whether it might be a heart attack? What symptoms should men and women be aware of?
The People's Pharmacy online store offers lots of information in guides, books, CDs and mp3s. You'll also find special body care products.
Will eggplant water lower blood pressure? This is not a remedy that has been well tested but there is a potential mechanism to explain the possibility.
The People's Pharmacy online store offers access to products and information that will help you stay healthy.
Blood pressure pills like Lisinopril are perceived as generally safe medications, but mysterious lisinopril side effects called angioedema can be life threatening.
Could an everyday culinary herb help ease the discomfort of psoriasis? One reader thinks so and shared the story with us.
Aspirin is the Rodney Dangerfield of the drug world. It gets very little respect even though studies show this drug has powerful anti-cancer effects.
Many pharmacists continue to insist that generic drugs are absolutely identical to brand name medicines. Do they really know how the FDA approves generics?
Do free lunches influence doctors? Most physicians would say no way. They think they always do what is best for patients. But free pizza may have an impact.
When a drug is prescribed for an unapproved purpose, that is considered an off-label use. Patients should learn more about benefits and risks of such drugs.
