Prescrire — real reviews and safety tips for meds and pharmacies

Welcome to the Prescrire tag. Here you’ll find straightforward reviews, buying tips, and alternatives for prescription and OTC drugs. If you want quick facts—how a drug works, common side effects, whether an online pharmacy is legit—this tag groups the useful articles so you don’t waste time hunting through long posts.

Why this tag matters: medical info online can be mixed. Some sites advertise cheap pills but skip safety details. Prescrire collects posts that focus on practical checks: who makes the drug, how to buy safely, real patient notes, and sensible alternatives. Expect short, usable advice you can act on today.

How we vet sources and reviews

We check a few concrete things before tagging an article Prescrire. First, does the piece name the active ingredient (not just brand names)? Second, does it explain risks and common side effects in plain language? Third, does it list how to verify an online pharmacy—license, contact info, prescription rules, and secure checkout (HTTPS)? Finally, we prefer articles that compare options, not just promote one seller.

If you read a review here, you should be able to answer: what’s the drug’s true purpose, who shouldn’t take it, and where to buy it safely. Good posts also flag paperwork or monitoring needed for certain drugs (like blood tests or follow-up visits).

Quick safety checklist before you buy or try a drug

Use this short checklist every time: 1) Check the active ingredient and dose. 2) Search for the pharmacy’s license and a real phone number. 3) Make sure the site requires a prescription when the drug needs one. 4) Compare prices across two or three trusted sellers. 5) Read user experiences but weigh them against medical guidance—one story doesn’t equal proof.

Want to explore alternatives? Look for articles under Prescrire that compare drugs and list non-drug options, like lifestyle changes or OTC supplements. For example, posts tagged here often point out when a lower-cost generic works as well as a brand-name drug or when therapy and exercise could reduce medication needs.

Still unsure? Ask your pharmacist or doctor and bring what you read. Print or screenshot the article and mention specific points—dosage, interactions, or side effects—and get a quick professional check. Prescrire aims to guide your questions so medical conversations are faster and clearer.

Use the tag to browse focused, practical posts—reviews, buying guides, and honest comparisons. If you want help finding an article in this tag, tell me what drug or issue you’re researching and I’ll point you to the most relevant pieces.