Health

Aspirin and coronary vascular disease

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Aspirin is a very common medication. It can be used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Aspirin has another important benefit: it can reduce the risk of another heart attack or stroke in a person who has already had one. Studies are being conducted to see whether aspirin can prevent a first heart attack or stroke; some doctors recommend aspirin to certain patients who are at risk.

Behind-the-counter drug class good for consumer

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Consumers today are taking a more active role in their health care and self-diagnosing and self-medicating with over the counter medications, as well as dietary supplements and herbals. Historically NCL has been in favor of a "behind-the-counter" drug class to increase patient access to those medications they can safely use, after consultation with a pharmacist, to self-treat conditions they can self-diagnose. A BTC class would expand the range of conditions that patients can self-treat without spending time or money on a doctor’s visit. NCL's Rebecca Burkholder recently testified before the Food and Drug Administration about why and how NCL would support a new BTC class of drugs.

What are drug interactions?

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When one drug interacts or interferes with another, this changes the way one or both of the drugs work in the body and can cause unexpected, and sometimes dangerous, side effects.