A Hard Pill to Swallow? How to Make It a Little
Easier to Take 

Some new research could help patients make hard-to-swallow pills go down a bit more easily. A German study found two techniques improved medication swallowing, a problem that plagues half of patients who take tablets or capsules. What are the techniques and how well do they work?

Allergic to Allergy Medications: When the Cure Causes
a Flare Up

Some topical products used to help relieve allergic reactions actually can cause different reactions that might be more severe. That’s according to a presentation at the recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Scientific Meeting. Find out which medications are most likely to cause allergic reactions and how to spot them.

State Laws Require Translation of Drug Labels for Non-English Speakers

With New York already having similar laws in place, the California Board of Pharmacy is considering strengthening requirements for translation of drug labels. A proposal calls for pharmacies to provide drug labels in five different languages other than English. Pharmacists, however, have expressed concern about their ability to assure the quality of labels they can’t read and understand. Here are the details. 

New IBS Guidelines Offer Some Advice, Few
Strong Recommendations 

New guidelines provide some advice on what drugs can be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, which affects up to 15% of American adults. The authors note, however, that a lack of evidence-based studies, comparison between therapies, and consistency in how the condition presents makes it difficult to provide many strong recommendations. Here is more information.