* Note: You must include your email address if you'd like a response to your question. Questions with broad interest may be anonymously posted on this Web site and/or our Partners in Health newsletter.

Here are some common questions. Click the blue arrow to read Paul's answers.

Everyone keeps encouraging me to use generic drugs. Are they as safe and effective as brand name drugs?

How much value should I place in prescription drug ads I see on television and in magazines?

Drug companies claim the ads provide an educational benefit to patients, alerting them to potentially helpful remedies for their conditions. However, in most cases, they are nothing more than a carefully crafted attempt to increase prescription drug sales. View these ads with great skepticism and understand there are risks and benefits associated with their use.

For example, the original maker of the ulcer medicine Prilosec has heavily promoted Nexium, a drug derived from Prilosec. While Prilosec is available in generic form and as an over-the-counter medication, Nexium will have no generic equivalent for several years. By promoting Nexium (which has little, if any, clinical advantage over Prilosec for most people), the manufacturer can increase profits by steering patients away from the lower-cost alternatives.

Prescription drug advertising will continue to spark debate, especially as the pharmaceutical industry increases the amount it spends on ads. Drug companies spend about $4 billion annually on consumer advertising.

Keep in mind when you see a drug ad that you are seeing only one treatment option. If your current medicine is working well, don’t be swayed by an advertisement promising something “new and improved.” Often, “new and improved” is no more effective than what is already available.

Where’s the best place to store all the medications I have? I often keep them in a closet in my bathroom.

I have some medicines that have expired. What’s the best way to dispose of them?

Is it important to inform my doctor and pharmacist of any herbal supplements or vitamins I am taking?

My son often refuses to take his antibiotics when he’s sick. If I mix his medication into food, will this reduce the drug’s effectiveness?

It seems a number of prescription drugs are now available over-the-counter (OTC). How does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decide which drugs will be available OTC, and what precautions should I follow when taking one of these medications?

I keep hearing about extended release versions of prescription drugs. What is the advantage of taking these drugs?

It sounds as though taking an aspirin a day can prevent several serious illnesses, such as heart attacks and some cancers. Can I just start taking aspirin or is it something I should discuss with my doctor?