Reminder about food poisoning . . . with the holidays and family gatherings - we all get to talking and forget how long food has been out!

Bacteria starts to grow on food that is out of the fridge for just ONE hour! Also, leftovers are only good in the fridge for four days.

This bacteria can result in food poisoning - causing severe diarrhea and vomitting - sometimes resulting in hospitalization.

Remember - those at greatest risk - children and the elderly, as they dehydrate quickly!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

They are drug free - they contain wintergreen - so they are not habit forming. But, remember if snoring continues see your doctor.

The strips can be bought over the counter for approximately $11.00 for 30 strips.

Mucinex Moisture Smart Nasal Spray . . . made by the same company that makes Mucinex tablets.

The spray contains oxymetazolilne, which promotes drainage by shrinking swollen nasal membranes, which relieves sinus congestion and pressure. It also contains moisturizing agents to hydrate nasal membranes.

So - in combination with Mucinex tablets we can eliminate congestion and mucus. Mucinex Smart Nasal Spray can be bought over the counter.

NOTE: Both Thrifty Pharmacies will have flu shots until the end of November.

Recent withdrawal of infant cough & cold medicines - such as Pedicare, Triaminic, etc.

The reason is - in children under 2 years there have been overdosage & deaths!

These really have not been proven to be effective in kids under 2 anyway. We are encouraging non-drug therapies first . . . fluids, saline nose drops & humidifiers. But the most important thing to avoid problems is to contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

The difference between anti-histamines and decongestants. With all the rain - allergies have been terrible. So remember for sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes - you take an anti-histamine to dry you up - but remember they make you sleepy.

For a stuffy, congested head - you take a decongestant - remember these tend to keep you awake.

To know for sure which one you need ask your pharmacist . . . also because they can interact with other medicines and disease states.

Roller-Aid is the scooter Dani Lynch rode when she was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks after her tendon transplant. It is an alternative to crutches - especially for women.

It looks like a little bicycle, but instead of sitting on the seat, you put your knee on the seat and propel with the other foot.

It is great compared to crutches that make you so sore. They are available at Thrifty Pharmacy.

Edmond Senior Health and Wealth Expo - Saturday, August 18th from 10am to 4pm - Touchmark at Coffee Creek Retirement Center, 2801 Shortgrass Road in Edmond (off of Covell, east of Kelly)

There will be all kinds of exhibitors relating to Seniors, of course Thrifty will be there.

Seminars, lunch and a panel of experts on Seniors to ask questions will also be available - as well as drawings for prizes!

For more info - call Thrifty Pharmacy.

OKC's Favorite Retro Rock'n'Roll Band - The Wise Guys will entertain - and band member Brad McPherson is a good friend of ours!

Please Join Us
as we
Celebrate the Decade of Love
1960!

Those most at risk for not taking medicine correctly are:

- people with symptom free diseases (hypertension)
- elderly
- teenagers

Reasons are the confusion surrounding drugs - so the bottom line is ask your pharmacist questions, you deserve answers!

AND

 

TICKETS! TICKETS! TICKETS!
(PRECIOUS FEW TICKETS!!!)

MONDAY, AUGUST 6th @ Thrifty Pharmacy
between 12:00/noon and 1:00

Lisa Sykes will be there to give you tickets and info

 

Fan Jam happens
August 11, 2007!!!

Bausch & Lomb's Ocuvite DF . . . it is an anti-oxidant formula containing the anti-oxidants genistein & alpha lipoic acid. This formulation is for diabetics, as they are at increase risk for vision loss.

These anti-oxidants combat oxidative stress in the retinas of diabetics.

It can be bought over the counter.

Fat in our diet . . . the new trend is to cut out trans fat in everything. We are so focused on reducing trans fat that we have forgotten about the saturated fat, which raise your bad cholesterol.

We need to make food choices thata contain little or no saturated fat & trans fat.

The American Heart Asociation has a new website to help us understand tha types of fats and to make better choices.

The website is: AmericanHeart.org Face the Facts

buji . . . it is a protective lotion and sunscreen that forms an invisible layer of protection between you and the toxic plant oil uroshiol, with the added protection of an SPF of 24.

It is hypoallergenic and fragrance free - you only apply every 6 hours.

It is pretty expensive - about $15 for 2 oz.

At this time, it is only available on the internet.

Burns . . . with summer and the 4th of July - people are at risk for burns from campfires, fireworks, motorcycle mufflers, etc.

Remember - if you are burned - immediately run cold water over the burned area - never use butter!

Then asses the severity of the burn . . . some will only require minor first aid like aloe vera gel . . . more severe burns may require a visit to the doctor and possibly need burn ointment.

Be careful this 4th!

alli . . . the first FDA approved diet pill. Now that it is out - I am getting feedback from patients. You must cut your fat intake to reduce - not eliminate - oily discharges and oily stools.

Please do not just go into a store and buy it - get advice - it is not for everyone!

Remember it blocks fat soluble vitamins - so you must take a supplement.

Get counseling from your pharmacist!

The Mosquito Patch . . . a patch that contains no chemicals or pesticides. It contains 300 mg of Vitamin B-1. Our bodies usually absorb 50-75 mg of Vitamin B-1 - the rest is excreted thru sweat glands.

Research has shown that mosquitoes, gnats and flies do not like the smell. The patch is applied to the skin and starts working in 2-3 hours and lasts for 36 hours.

Cost is $2.49 for a pack of 2 patches.

Sunburn treatment . . . remember, sunburns can be mild with redness and heat to very severe with blisters and burning several layers of skin.

For mild sunburns aloe vera gel is very soothing. Buy it containing lidocaine and reftigerate it for a soothing, cooling effect.

For more severe burns you may have to see a doctor and be treated with burn cream.

Pet diabetes . . . we often forget that our animals can get some of the same diseases as humans. At my pharmacy I have many diabetic cats and dogs.

One of the first signs of unregulated diabetes is weight loss.

You can test for this by getting over the counter glucose test strips.

If diabetic it may be necessary for the pet to have insulin injections directed by your vet.

At Thrifty we compound for animals of all types.

Sunscreens . . . remember sunscreens need to be replaced every season. They lose potency - especially if they are kept outside . . . so you could be fooled that the SPF is still good and you could get burned. Also, sometimes they separate due to weather conditions.

So - be safe especially with little ones. Throw away last years sunscreen and buy new!

Avandia - a drug used for Type II diabetes . . . the FDA issued a safety alert on Monday - a study showed that it might be associated with a greater risk of heart attack.

This is not proven - and remember Type II diabetics are at greater risk already for heart disease.

Patients should not stop taking Avandia - discuss it with your doctor and let's wait for more information.

Vacation time and medications . . . with summer and vacation time looming, we need to remember to keep each prescription separately labeled. Do not put medicines in pill minders, because they will be confiscated at airports - and you run the risk of getting medications mixed up . . . also do not put all your medications in 1 bottle to save space.

For traveling advice on your medications, feel free to call either of my Thrifty pharmacies.

Lyme disease . . . a bacterial infection spread by ticks. Ticks will be very prevalent this spring and summer with all the rain lately.

Symptoms occur after contact with an infected tick. Watch for a rash - bullseye in shape.

Left untreated, it can affect the nervous system, heart and joints.

The infection can be diagnosed easily with a blood test and treated with antibiotics - so be mindful this spring and summer.

The poison ivy cream I recommend is now available generically. Zanfel, that removes uroshiol from the skin and stops poison ivy spread - costs $35.00 - has a new generic equivalent called Poison Ivy-Oak Wash and reatils for $16.97. This is a great savings and as I have talked about before, it works!

What to do with old medications that are either expired or you are no longer taking.

We used to tell people to flush or put down the sink . . . NOW we must be careful as traces of drugs are showing up in rivers, lakes and treated water sources.

The current advice is to flush controlled substances, because of diversion and poisonings, others can be put in trash mixed with kitty litter or coffee grounds. Destroy the prescription label before you dispose of the container.

If you have any questions - ask your pharmacist.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR DANNY WILLIAMS
April 19th at
Thrifty Pharmacy Hefner & May Avenue
and
Danny's 80th Birthday Bash
April 20th at
Express Events Center

Zanfel . . . it's poison ivy time - time to talk about Zanfel.

A cream that you wash with in the shower. It binds with the chemical urosniol that poison ivy puts on the skin that you cannot get off.

It immediately stops any further spreading and allows healing to begin. It can be used at any stage of the reaction.

It is $35.00 - but works!

Alli is the OTC version of Xenical, which is by prescription only. Alli is 1/2 the strength of Xenical. It is the only FDA approved over the counter weight loss product. The product is indicated for weight loss in adults 18 & over, when used with a reduced calorie, low fat diet.

Taken at mealtime Alli works by blocking about 25% of fat you eat.

The dose is 60mg 3 times a day. Alli will be available this summer. It will cost about $2.00 a day.

Results of a 24 year study showing that low dose aspirin is good in preventing heart attack death . . . . . . 81 mg of aspirin a day is recommended. But remember, aspirin can irritate the stomach and can interfere with other medicines. So check with your doctor or pharmacist.

This is a very inexpensive therapy - costing less than $0.05 a week. No benefit is seen in higher doses.

Sinol Allergy & Sinus Relief . . . it contains capsacin (Red Pepper), which is a clinically proven analgesic or pain reliever.

It desinsitizes mucous membranes in the nose makiing them less iritated by airborne particles, relieving allergies & congestion fast.

It stimulates secretions that help clear congestion & mucous from sinuses whle keeping them infection free.

It is available over the counter for approximately $20.00

Zaditor Eye Drops . . . it has always been prescription, used for itchy, watery eyes. It is a prescription strength antihistimine drop. It works in minutes and lasts 12 hours. It is for ages 3 years and older. A 30 day supply of Zaditor is $14.63 - and Thrifty carries it!

A new line of supplements from Bayer Nutritional Science . . . they have come out with a line of supplements formulated to keep your mind & body vital and active:

- Daily Multi-vitamins - promote cell health
- Heart Vitality - helps lower cholesterol
- Vital & Sharp Mind - promotes mental sharpness
- Eye Health & Vitality - maintains eye health
- Joint & Bone Vitality - keeps joints flexible & Bones strong

Formulated so you can take any combination together . . . can be bought over the counter.

Internet pill switches occurring that could be dangerous to your health!

Consumers who thought they were purchasing sleep aids, anti-depressants and other medications over the internet, instead were shipped an anti-psychotic drug - Haloperidol.

Some consumers ended up in the ER!

So be careful if you are buying on the internet . . . you need to know the drugs are coming from a reputable pharmacy and make sure you recognize the drug or have it identified by a pharmacist.

Also, if you notice unusual side effects or signs the drug is not working - be suspicious!

Aladerm Cream - a 20% urea cream that Dr. Dani Lynch makes. It retains moisture in the skin.

All lotions & creams contain water so they create a vicious cycle - you put it on - it makes you dry and so on. Aladerm preserves the moisture - good for any dry skin - especially cuticles and feet.

It feels a little heavy at first - but goes right in.

2 oz. is $4.99 and can be bought without a prescription.

Mucinex . . . an over the counter expectorant tablet. It is a bi-layer tablet with an immediate release layer and an extended release layer.

It relieves chest congestion and thins & loosens mucus for 12 hours, making your cough break up.

Mucinex contains 600 mg of guaifenesin and is available in 20, 40 & 100 count boxes.

About Gas-X Thin Strips . . . used for the pressure due to bloating from gas, but instead of a chew tab - they now come in thin strips that melt on your tongue. They can be descreetly taken anywhere.

They are available in cinnamon or mint over the counter for about $5.00.

Antibiotic resistance . . . we are seeing very strong opportunistic pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics in critically wounded soldiers in Iraq. These pathogens are in our society & are no big deal unless someone who is critically ill or wounded and cannot fight these bugs. Doctors, nurses & family who are around these soldiers can expose them to these bacteria & they are not able to fight them & the bugs are not affected by antibiotics.

We are also seeing this in hospitals - so we must be very careful with antibiotic prescribing.