Nima Ataei, PharmD
I help manage your health between doctor visits. Sign up for a FREE consultation: https://pharther.com/free-med-review/
Nima Ataei is a clinical and consultant pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Affairs, and Consultant Pharmacist certification. He specializes in medication optimization, chronic-care management, and helping patients feel more confident and in control of their health. Through Pharther Health, Nima provides personalized medication optimization, side effect assessments, wellness care, chronic care management and long term health strategy built around each patient’s goals and lifestyle.
Taking a blood thinner?
Check before reaching for ibuprofen.
NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can increase the risk of bleeding, and that becomes especially important when you’re also taking medications that already affect clotting.
That can include medications like Eliquis, Xarelto, warfarin, Pradaxa, Plavix and others.
And remember: ibuprofen can also show up inside combination OTC products, so always check the active ingredient.
This doesn’t mean you have no options for pain relief.
It means the right option should take your entire medication list and health history into account.
Save this and check before adding a new OTC pain reliever.
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General education only. Medication decisions should be individualized with your healthcare professional.
Can you take Tylenol and ibuprofen together?
For some people, the answer may be yes — but that doesn’t mean the combination is automatically appropriate for everyone.
Tylenol contains acetaminophen, while ibuprofen is an NSAID. They work differently, but each comes with its own things to consider.
Before combining them, check:
• Whether you’re already taking another product containing acetaminophen
• Whether you have kidney, stomach, heart, or bleeding concerns
• Whether ibuprofen interacts with any of your other medications
One of the biggest mistakes with OTC medications is looking at each bottle individually instead of looking at the whole medication list.
When you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist before combining pain relievers.
Save this for the next time you’re standing in the medicine aisle.
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General education only. Medication decisions should be individualized with your healthcare professional.
10/01/2026
A lot can happen between appointments.
You may start a new medication and wonder when to take it.
You may miss a dose and not know what to do.
You may notice a side effect a week later.
You may start an over-the-counter medication and wonder if it’s safe with everything else.
Those questions are happening now, even if your next appointment isn’t for another few months.
That’s why having access to medication support between visits can make such a difference.
Your health doesn’t only need attention on appointment days.
If you have a medication question, don’t wait until you’ve forgotten it. Write it down, ask it, and get clarity when it matters.
“Can I drink alcohol with my medications?”
It depends.
Alcohol can interact with medications in different ways. It may increase drowsiness or dizziness, affect coordination, contribute to bleeding risk with certain medications, or create additional concerns with medications that affect the liver.
And as we get older, the way our body responds to alcohol can change too.
So the better question isn’t:
“Can I drink while taking medication?”
It’s:
“Can I drink while taking MY medications?”
Your prescription medications, OTC products, supplements, health conditions and amount of alcohol all matter.
If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist before assuming it’s safe.
Save this for the next time you’re checking your medication list.
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General education only. Medication and alcohol decisions should be individualized with your healthcare professional.
Can you cut your pill in half?
Sometimes yes.
Sometimes absolutely not.
Before splitting a tablet, check:
1. Whether it’s scored
2. Whether it’s an extended-, delayed- or controlled-release product
3. Whether the medication’s actual labeling says it can be split
Even medications with the same name can be manufactured differently, so don’t assume that because your old tablet could be split, your new one can too.
And don’t rely on appearance alone.
If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist before reaching for the pill cutter.
Save this for the next time one of your medications changes.
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General education only. Medication decisions should be individualized with your healthcare professional.
That “PM” on the front of the box is worth looking at a little more closely.
Many OTC sleep products contain older antihistamines like diphenhydramine or doxylamine.
They can make you sleepy, but in older adults they can also contribute to dizziness, next-day drowsiness, confusion, dry mouth, constipation and increased fall risk.
If you’re using one regularly, especially after age 65, turn the bottle around and check the active ingredient.
And rather than simply replacing it with another sleep product, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what’s actually interfering with your sleep in the first place.
Save this and check what’s in your medicine cabinet tonight.
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General education only. Medication decisions should be individualized with your healthcare professional.
Advil and Aleve are available over the counter but that doesn’t mean they’re the right choice for everyone.
NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, which becomes especially important if you have kidney disease, are dehydrated, have certain heart conditions, or take certain blood pressure medications or water pills.
The point isn’t that NSAIDs are “bad.”
It’s that your health history and medication list matter when deciding what’s safe for you.
Before reaching for something in the medicine cabinet, know what you’re taking and how it fits with everything else.
Save this for the next time you’re choosing an OTC pain reliever.
A new symptom doesn’t always mean a new diagnosis.
Sometimes the better first question is:
What changed recently?
New medication?
Higher dose?
Stopped something?
Added an OTC product or supplement?
Timing doesn’t prove the medication caused it, but it can give you an important clue.
If something new shows up, make medication changes part of the conversation.
And if the symptom is sudden, severe, or concerning, get medical attention rather than trying to sort it out on your own.
Save this reminder for yourself or someone you help care for.
If someone asked you right now for your complete medication list, could you pull it up in 10 seconds?
A good medication list should include:
• Medication name
• Strength
• How you actually take it
• What you take it for
• OTC medications, vitamins, and supplements
• Medication allergies
• Your usual pharmacy
Keep it somewhere easy to access on your phone, and update it anytime something changes.
And if you help manage a parent’s healthcare, keep a copy of theirs too.
It’s one of those things that feels unnecessary until the moment you really need it.
Save this and make your list today.
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Boca Raton, FL
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