Yvette C. Terrie, BSPharm, RPh

The 2 main causes of joint pain are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis may be treated with self-therapy—several recommendations and product choices are reviewed here.

Back pain is a very common patient complaint—nearly everyone will experience it at some point in his or her lifetime. Counseling tips and OTC solutions are offered here.

The use of herbal supplements has increased in the last 10 to 15 years, and an estimated 25% of adults use one or more herbal supplements to treat a medical condition.

New guidelines for managing patients with atrial fibrillation emphasize stroke prevention.

An estimated 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and pharmacists need to be aware of the several classes of OTC products currently available to treat this common condition.

With more and more individuals establishing regular exercise routines, they will be seeking advice on the many products on the market to improve performance and endurance.

Reported outbreaks of MRSA highlight the need for greater public awareness of how these infections are transmitted, treated, and prevented.

Various treatment options are now available for patients with HIV. The 3 newest FDA approvals—maraviroc, raltegravir, and etravirine—are reviewed here.

More women than men die of cardiovascular disease, but awareness of this risk lags behind the troubling statistics.

Motion sickness is a common and inconvenient malady. Pharmacists can assist patients by counseling them on the proper use of pharmacologic agents commonly used to prevent and treat this condition and any adverse effects associated with the use of these agents. Nonpharmacologic approaches to managing this condition are also discussed.

Studies show that counseling improves patient care and therapeutic outcomes, helping patients to become well informed about the proper use of their medications; several tips for pharmacists are outlined here.

As summer approaches, it is important to be aware of the harm excessive sun exposure can cause. Pharmacists are in a unique position to increase patient awareness of potential risk factors and assist them in the proper selection and application of sunscreen products.

With spring comes hay fever, and with these seasonal allergies come a variety of OTC treatment options.

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder that requires long-term treatment—pharmacists should be aware of the disorder's many intricacies.

The elderly are more susceptible to problems with drug therapy, and pharmacists are pivotal in identifying possible drug interactions, contraindications, and incidences of polypharmacy.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease without a cure; several preventive measures and treatment options are available, particularly for women, the population most affected.

New guidelines for managing patients with atrial fibrillation emphasize stroke prevention.

Pharmacists play a key role in identifying those most susceptible to dry mouth and helping patients manage it.

Prior to recommending any product for diarrhea, pharmacists should help patients determine whether self-treatment is warranted.

Ms. Terrie is a clinical pharmacy writer based in Haymarket, Va.

Ms. Terrie is a clinical pharmacy writer based in Haymarket, Va.