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EXCELLENCE HEALTH

Medicines, Explained

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LEVEL 1 · 0/3LEVEL 2 · 0/3LEVEL 3 · 0/3LEVEL 4 · 0/3LEVEL 5 · 0/3START
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How medicines are tested, what placebo and nocebo really do, when antibiotics help, how to use acetaminophen and avoid interactions, what makes a generic equivalent, how supplements fare in trials (and how to judge any medicine claim) from the FDA, the CDC, the WHO and the research. General education, not medical advice.

2h 56m5 constellations
AT THE SUMMIT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

01Read medicine claims by trial phase, placebo comparison and outcome

02Use antibiotics only when they can help

03Avoid double doses and interactions, and report side effects

04Save money with generics and skip untested supplements

Every lesson of Medicines, Explained

15 lessons in 5 levels, about 3 hours. Level 1 is free.

Level 1How Medicines Are TestedFree · 3 lessons
  1. From lab to pharmacyKnow the phases of clinical trials, and how few drugs make it through.11 min
  2. What placebos really doKnow what the evidence says about placebo effects, and what it doesn't.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: the nocebo effectSee how expecting side effects can create them, and what to do about it.12 min
Level 2Antibiotics and ResistanceMembership · 3 lessons
  1. When antibiotics help, and when they don'tKnow what antibiotics can and can't treat.11 min
  2. Resistance, in numbersUnderstand the scale of antimicrobial resistance, and what drives it.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: the leftover pillsHandle common antibiotic situations well.12 min
Level 3Using Medicines SafelyMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Acetaminophen, safelyKnow the adult acetaminophen limit, and the hidden doses in combination products.11 min
  2. Grapefruit and other interactionsUnderstand how food can change a drug's effect, and check before you mix.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: read, notice, reportUse the leaflet, notice side effects, and report them.12 min
Level 4Generics, Supplements, QuestionsMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Generics: same medicine, lower priceKnow what makes a generic equivalent to the brand.11 min
  2. Supplements, testedSee what a large trial found for vitamin D, and how to judge supplement claims.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: talk to the pharmacistAsk the questions that prevent medicine mistakes.12 min
Level 5Your Medicine PlanMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Judging a medicine claimUse trials, placebo and phase to judge any medicine or supplement claim.11 min
  2. Your medicine listKeep an up-to-date list of everything you take, and use it.12 min
  3. Capstone: your medicine planPut testing, placebo, antibiotics, safety and value into one plan.13 min
FREE

Level 1 is open.

Membership opens every other level of this path.

See membership
AFTER THE CORE

Keep going where this path leads.

How Vaccines WorkTrials and safety monitoring for vaccines · 2h 53m
Think Like a Scientist: Studies, Numbers and HeadlinesRead any study yourself · 2h 59m