medline

Medication Safety

 

prescription medication bottles and a pill organizer

Medication Safety

Staying informed about your medications, vitamins, and supplements is important for your health and safety. First, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about the medications you take, including vitamins and supplements. Another reliable resource you may find helpful is the MedlinePlus Drug, Herbs, and Supplements information page. Here you can search or browse alphabetically by brand or generic name for over-the-counter and prescription drugs. For each drug, you’ll find information on:

  • Why is this medication prescribed?
  • How should this medicine be used?
  • Special precautions and dietary instructions
  • What to do if you forget a dose
  • Side effects
  • Storage and disposal
  • In case of emergency/overdose

US Travel for Fully Vaccinated People

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can travel safely within the United States:

  • You do not need to get tested before or after travel unless your destination requires it
  • You do not need to self-quarantine

While you are traveling, you should still take these precautions:

  • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
  • Stay 6 feet from others and avoid crowds
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer

Learn more about domestic travel during COVID-19

Seal Out Tooth Decay

Dental sealants are a thin resin coating that is painted on teeth in a dental office, a community dental clinic, or in a school sealant program. The sealant flows into chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars) and forms a physical barrier on the tooth surface to help prevent cavities. Sealants should be applied soon after permanent molars come in, around age 6 for first molars, and age 12 for second molars. Adults who do not have cavities or decay on their molars can also get sealants.

Why use dental sealants?

  • Sealants are a quick, easy, and painless way to prevent the cavities in permanent molars.
  • Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for 2 years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years.
  • Sealants may eliminate the need for expensive and invasive treatments like dental fillings or crowns.

Sexual Assault Awareness

Sexual assault can affect your health in many ways and can lead to long-term health and emotional problems. It’s important to seek help if you have been assaulted. Sexual assault can happen to men, women, or children and is always the fault of the perpetrator (person committing the assault).

Sexual assault can include:

  • Any type of sexual contact with someone who does not consent or cannot consent because they are underage, have an intellectual disability, or are unable to respond
  • Rape or attempted rape
  • Sexual coercion
  • Sexual contact with a child
  • Unwanted touching

Sexual assault can also be verbal, visual, or non-contact including voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual harassment or threats, forcing someone to pose for sexual pictures, and sending someone unwanted texts or sexual photos.

Find support, guidance, and help if you have been abused in any way.

What Gives Fruits and Vegetables a Red Color?

Did you know that lycopene is the naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red color? You can find it in tomatoes, watermelons, red oranges, pink grapefruits, apricots, rosehips, and guavas. Learn more about this powerful antioxidant.

Chicken and Black Bean Salsa Burritos

Lemon juice and green onions add a fresh flavor to these oven-baked chicken and black bean salsa burritos. Use dried beans instead of canned to lower the sodium content.