Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

I am a pharmacist and medical writer currently living in Hiroshima, Japan. I write a wide range of articles targeting pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, and consumers, and am especially interested in health policy, drug pricing, and regulatory systems.

Consumer Health

GoodRx •

Deflazacort vs. Prednisone: 5 Differences Between These Muscular Dystrophy Treatments

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle breakdown and weakness over time. There are over 30 different types of muscular dystrophy, each affecting muscles in their own unique way.

If you or your child have muscular dystrophy, your healthcare provider may prescribe corticosteroids to help slow down the progression of muscle weakness. They aim to keep your muscles stronger for longer. Two of the most commonly used corticosteroids for muscular dystrophy are deflazacort (Emflaza) and prednisone (Rayos).

Deflazacort and prednisone offer similar benefits, but they aren’t one in the same. Here, we’ll look at the top five differences between deflazacort and prednisone.
GoodRx •

9 Everolimus (Afinitor) Side Effects You Should Know About

Everolimus (Afinitor) is an oral medication that treats certain types of cancer. Everolimus is also available at lower doses under the brand name Zortress, which helps prevent organ rejection after a transplant. But the focus of this article is Afinitor.

If you’ve been prescribed everolimus, you may be wondering what to expect while taking it. Here, we’ll look at nine possible everolimus side effects and how to manage them.
GoodRx •

Vraylar Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Vraylar (cariprazine) is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It’s approved to treat several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Here, we’ll review the recommended Vraylar dosages for adults only, as it’s not approved for children. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider may have prescribed a different dosage for you than described below. Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions when taking Vraylar.
GoodRx •

Charitable Pharmacies: What They Are and How They Help People Access Medications

It’s estimated that around 10% of people in the U.S. don’t have health insurance. Many more are underinsured and are forced to stretch their finances or choose between medications and other basic necessities, such as food or rent. And with rising prescription costs, nearly 40% of people say they struggle to afford their medications.

Charitable pharmacies, which are often nonprofit organizations and provide free medications to low-income and uninsured people, are tackling this problem by helping those who need it most. In fact, according to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, there are more than 5.8 million visits to charitable pharmacies and clinics every year.

Below, we’ll answer common questions about charitable pharmacies — what they are, the services they provide, and how to find one in your area.
GoodRx •

9 Buspirone Side Effects You Should Know About

If you’re living with anxiety, you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders affect almost one-third of U.S adults at some point in their lifetime. Luckily, medications like buspirone can help manage anxiety symptoms and loosen their grasp on your day-to-day life.

While buspirone is an effective treatment for many people, it does have some side effects to be aware of. Below, we’ll discuss nine possible buspirone side effects and how to manage them if they occur.
GoodRx •

9 Advair Side Effects You Should Know About

Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) is a popular combination inhaler used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two medications: fluticasone (Flovent), a steroid, and salmeterol (Serevent), a beta-agonist. Both are long-acting medications inhaled every day to help manage asthma or COPD symptoms. If you’re taking Advair, you may be wondering what to expect, including what side effects are possible.

Here’s a list of nine possible Advair side effects. Keep in mind, this isn’t a complete list; be sure to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you experience any other side effects while taking Advair.
GoodRx •

What is Step Therapy? How to Get Insurance to Pay for Your ‘Non-Preferred’ Medication

Before prescription insurance plans will pay for certain medications, they want to make sure that other, more affordable or appropriate medications don’t work for you first. This may mean that you’ll have to try a different medication before you can get coverage for the one your healthcare provider prescribed. And this process is called step therapy.

Essentially, step therapy is a type of prior authorization — a restriction your insurance company puts in place to determine whether or not they will pay for certain medications. Many argue, however, that step therapy may negatively affect your health and make it harder for you to get the medication you need.
GoodRx •

12 Cymbalta Side Effects and How to Manage Them

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant. It’s used to treat depression, anxiety, and certain nerve or muscle pain conditions. If you’ve been prescribed Cymbalta, you may be wondering what to expect.

With most antidepressants, you may experience side effects when you first start treatment. This is also true of Cymbalta. Nausea, dry mouth, and constipation are just a few examples. But for many people, these should improve over time. While rare, serious side effects are also possible.

Below, we’ll discuss 12 Cymbalta side effects you should know about and how to manage them.
GoodRx.com •

Why Do I Need Folic Acid When I’m Taking Methotrexate?

If you’ve been prescribed methotrexate, then it’s very likely your doctor has also prescribed folic acid. You may be wondering why. Let’s talk about folic acid and why it is important to take while you are on methotrexate.

What is methotrexate, and how does it work?

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is in a class of medications called Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). They are drugs that can slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis to keep you better for longer.
GoodRx.com •

FDA Approves Nexletol, a New Kind of Cholesterol Medication – Here’s What You Need to Know

The FDA recently approved Nexletol, a new cholesterol medication that works differently from how any other cholesterol medication works. Statins have been and continue to be the go-to treatment choice for high cholesterol because of how well they work to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease and death. For some people, though, statins aren’t able to lower cholesterol enough, and another medication is prescribed on top of them. Nexletol is used for this purpose, and its approval gives providers a new tool in their toolbox. Let’s talk about what you should know about it.
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