When I use an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray, like Afrin, can I also take decongestant pills? What should I watch out for?

A recall of RegenArouse, a "natural female intimacy enhancement" supplement, is being conducted by its maker, Regeneca, Inc., said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today. The herbal pills actually contain, tadalafil, the drug found in Cialis and other pills used to treat erectile dysfunction in males.

Medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) might increase the risk of a type of chronic diarrhea that can lead to severe intestinal problems and, in rare cases, death, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. These drugs—which include Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec—are used to treat heartburn and gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).

The McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of Johnson & Johnson has asked retailers to remove approximately 12 million bottles of its Motrin painkillers from retail shelves. Company testing of samples of the drug revealed that the coated caplets may not dissolve as quickly as intended.

The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to steer clear of the weight-loss product known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), because the diet drug has not been approved by the FDA, and the companies selling them make unsupported claims.

It's long been known that large doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) taken all at once can be fatal. But it turns out that cumulative smaller doses that exceed the maximum daily amount might be even riskier. These so-called staggered overdoses are more likely to damage the liver and other organs and increase the risk of dying, according to a study published today in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

A couple of years ago when I took my teenage son to the dermatologist, we asked the doctor to set the record straight on a number of acne myths: Did too much chocolate make it worse? (Possibly…) Could popping pimples cause scarring? (Possibly…) And was Proactiv worth the cost? (Absolutely not!) He said a topical treatment with any over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide product was an equally good and far less expensive choice, and that it would be great if someone would set the record straight for gullible parents and teens.

Insight Pharmaceuticals has recalled 34,092 bottles of Nostrilla, a nasal decongestant (oxymetazoline) spray used to relieve nasal discomfort caused by colds, because the spray may contain bacteria.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Primatene Mist and other inhalers won't be available next year as over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options for asthma sufferers. The culprit: CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) used to dispense the epinephrine drugs have been banned by global agreement.

If Hurricane Irene left you with flooding and water damage, chances are food, drinking water, and even medicines in your home were affected, exposing you and your family to potential illness and other serious health risks. To lessen these risks, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that you discard any drug products—even those in their original containers—that have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. That includes capsules, tablets, and liquids in drug containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers and injections, inhalers, and skin medications. If needed, contact your doctor or pharmacist for replacements.

Pfizer hopes consumers will soon be able to get its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) without a prescription, according to two news reports. But our medical advisors say that’s a bad idea because Lipitor and other statins are potent medications that can cause dangerous side effects, and should only be taken with a doctor's supervision.

The maximum daily dose for Tylenol will be lowered on all acetaminophen-containing adult products from 4,000 mg (8 Extra Strength Tylenol pills) to 3,000 mg (6 pills), the manufacturer said today. The move is intended to reduce the risk of accidental acetaminophen overdoses that can lead to liver failure and death.

Since the recall last week of nearly 61,000 bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief because of a musty, moldy odor, you may be finding it hard to find the product on pharmacy shelves. Or the string of Tylenol recalls for that same problem going back over a year now might make you think that it’s time to look for alternatives.

Johnson & Johnson issued a recall notice for 60,912 bottles of its Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief medicine after receiving a small number of reports regarding a musty, moldy odor.

Almost 900,000 bottles of children’s concentrated pain and fever drops were recalled because the dispenser fails to meet standards for child-resistant closure.