Medication Articles
Expert-reviewed guides on pill identification, drug safety, and pharmacy science.
NDC 10-Digit Versus 11-Digit Codes: How Pharmacies Add Leading Zeros and Why the Same Drug Appears Under Both Formats
Why the same medication can show up with both 10-digit and 11-digit NDC formats, and how leading zeros get added in pharmacy systems.
October 17, 2026 PharmacyOver-the-counter vs prescription: the same drug at different strengths
OTC and prescription versions of the same drug can differ in strength, directions, and coverage. Here's how to check what actually changed.
October 13, 2026 SafetyDrug interactions your pharmacy system might miss and how to check yourself
Pharmacy software catches a lot, but it can miss drug interactions when your med list is incomplete or the risk lives outside the prescription record.
September 28, 2026 IdentificationIdentifying loose pills: what to do when you find an unknown medication at home
Found a loose pill at home? Here's how to identify it safely, when to call your pharmacist, and what not to do before you know what it is.
September 19, 2026 RegulationBiosimilars vs generics: why biological drugs play by different rules
Biosimilars aren't generics with a fancier name. They're approved differently, substituted differently, and that matters at the pharmacy counter.
August 31, 2026 TechnologyHow Electronic Prescribing Systems Reduce Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Medication Errors
Electronic prescribing can cut look alike and sound alike medication errors by forcing structured drug selection, dose checks, and pharmacist reconciliation.
August 22, 2026 TechnologyHow to Use Pill Imprint Codes, Shape, and Color Together to Identify Tablets When the NDC Label Is Missing
Use imprint codes, shape, and color together to narrow down an unknown tablet when the bottle label is missing, and know when to call a pharmacist.
August 4, 2026 TechnologyRxNorm vs NDC vs SPL: how drug databases map the same medication across prescribing, dispensing, and pill identification
RxNorm, NDC, and SPL track the same drug in different ways. Here’s how they connect prescribing, dispensing, and pill identification.
July 26, 2026 RegulationHow to Use the FDA NDC Directory and DailyMed Together to Verify Manufacturer, Strength, and Package Authenticity
Learn how to use the FDA’s NDC Directory and DailyMed together to confirm your drug’s manufacturer, strength, and genuine packaging.
July 11, 2026 RegulationHow the FDA Drug Labeling Hierarchy Defines Active Ingredients, Strength, and Dosage Form for Accurate Pill Identification
FDA labeling defines every drug by its active ingredient, strength, and dosage form — the core identifiers pharmacists use to ensure pills are correct.
July 7, 2026 RegulationHow the FDA Orange Book Defines Therapeutic Equivalence and Why It Matters for Generic Substitution Decisions
How the FDA Orange Book defines therapeutic equivalence and why those ratings determine whether your pharmacy can substitute a generic drug.
June 21, 2026 SafetyPreventing mix-ups between bimatoprost (Lumigan) and latanoprost (Xalatan) eye drops
How to avoid confusing bimatoprost (Lumigan) and latanoprost (Xalatan) eye drops, why labels look similar, how storage habits contribute, and what pharmacies are doing.
May 2, 2026 SafetyPreventing Medication Errors from Look-Alike Metformin and Mounjaro Pens: Label Verification, Storage Practices, and Patient Counseling Steps
Metformin tablets and Mounjaro injection pens can look confusingly similar. Here’s how labeling checks, storage habits, and counseling prevent mix-ups.
April 16, 2026 RegulationFDA Updates Orange Book Therapeutic Equivalence Codes for Lamotrigine XR Generics: What Pharmacists Need to Verify Before Substitution
Recent FDA Orange Book code changes for lamotrigine XR generics affect substitution. Pharmacists must double-check TE ratings before dispensing.
April 10, 2026 TechnologyAI-Driven Detection of Mislabeled Compounded Semaglutide Vials
AI tools can spot fake or mislabeled compounded semaglutide vials by matching label images and DSCSA serial data during pharmacy verification.
April 7, 2026 PharmacyPharmacy Response to the 2026 Amoxicillin Suspension Shortage: Substitution Protocols, Compounding Options, and Patient Counseling Challenges
Amoxicillin suspension shortages in 2026 have forced pharmacists to rely on substitution protocols, compounding, and tough counseling choices.
April 4, 2026 RegulationFDA Revises REMS Requirements for Isotretinoin: Digital Authorization, Pharmacy Verification, and Patient Identification Updates
FDA tightens isotretinoin REMS: new digital authorization, pharmacy verification, and ID requirements reshape how Accutane-type drugs are dispensed.
April 1, 2026 IdentificationDecoding Counterfeit Adderall Tablets: Emerging 2026 Street Market Imprints, Color Variations, and NDC Mismatch Clues
Counterfeit Adderall in 2026: how fake tablets look, new street imprints, off-color fillers, and NDC mismatch tricks that fool even careful users.
March 20, 2026 RegulationFDA Expands DSCSA Enforcement: How New Barcode and Serialization Rules Affect Pharmacy Pill Identification
Pharmacists now face tighter DSCSA enforcement. Here’s what the 2026 FDA barcode and serialization rules really mean for pill identification in pharmacies.
March 17, 2026 SafetyUnlabeled Ozempic and Wegovy Pens in Online Markets: Identifying Counterfeits and Reporting Safety Risks
Some Ozempic and Wegovy pens sold online are unlabeled counterfeits. Learn how to spot and report them before injecting anything unsafe.
March 14, 2026 RegulationFDA Revises Labeling Standards for Extended-Release Morphine Tablets: New NDC Formatting, Imprint Verification, and Pharmacy Dispensing Requirements
FDA updates labeling rules for extended-release morphine: new NDC format, imprint checks, and tighter pharmacy dispensing standards.
March 11, 2026