Safe Medication Storage
People often take multiple medications. It can be easy to lose track of all the pill bottles you have in your home. People often struggle in handling these medications and keeping track of them all. It is important to manage your meds and always be aware of any meds that are expired or ones you are no longer taking. Follow these steps for better medication handling.
- Go through your meds. Make sure you have enough of what you need
- Check to see if any of them are expired. There may also be some meds you are no longer taking. Set those aside for proper disposal.
- Make sure you store them in a dry and safe place in your home. Store them in a safe location like a cabinet or drawer.
- Do not store in places that can be easily reached by children or pets. Avoid areas that can be damp like the kitchen or on a bathroom counter.
Safe Medication Disposal
If you do find meds that are expired or you are no longer taking. Dispose of them quickly and safely. The best way is to look for any medication take-back programs in your area. Many programs have specific dates for medication drop-offs.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) provides many of these programs. They have also set up permanent disposal sites in hospitals and pharmacies. More details about drug disposal can be found here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
The next best thing is to dispose of the meds in your household trash. First, check the bottle for any special disposal instructions and follow those directions. If there are no special instructions, then follow these steps.
- Take the pills out of the bottle and mix with something like cat litter, used coffee grounds, or even dirt.
- Mix the substance with the pills and place in a container like a sealed plastic bag.
- Throw the sealed container away with the regular trash.
Remove any personal information from the bottle and place in recycling or trash.
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What is the keto diet and is it safe to try?
The latest fad diet everyone is talking about is the keto diet. A quick walk down the grocery aisle and you’ll find a bag of chips or cookies labeled as “keto friendly”. It is not uncommon to hear celebrities or influencers boast about their dramatic weight loss on this diet. A typical keto diet consists of 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbs. How can a diet so high in fat cause weight loss?
Keto, short for ketogenic, is a diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. The main fuel our bodies use is glucose. We get glucose from the breakdown of carbohydrates we eat every day. When we don’t have access to carbohydrates, our bodies can break down fat stores to be used as fuel. The liver will convert fat stores to ketones. When ketones and the main fuel source our body uses—the body enters a metabolic state called ketosis. Prolonged ketosis can lead to significant weight loss.
After hearing the basics of the diet most people are pretty excited about it. “I get to eat extra butter and still lose weight? Sign me up!” Not so fast… When things seem too good to be true, they most likely are. There are some serious risks associated with the keto diet.
- It is hard to stick to the diet: Many keto diets require that your stick to 15-30 grams of carbs per day to remain in ketosis. This is much lower than the standard 230-325 grams in a regular healthy diet. Many people underestimate the number of carbs they eat a day and cannot remain in ketosis long enough for the diet to be effective.
- Increased cholesterol: Eating fats, especially saturated fats, causes cholesterol to rise. Specifically, it causes LDL or “bad cholesterol” to rise. This extra cholesterol builds up in the arteries creating plaques. These plaques can build up, restricting blood flow to different parts of the body. Heart attacks occur as a result of plaques in the arteries.
- Nutrient deficiencies: The keto diet stresses low carbohydrates. This includes good carbohydrates like nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Prolonged use of the keto diet can deprive your body of necessary micronutrients like vitamins and antioxidants. A diet low in fruits and vegetables also lacks fiber. Without fiber, our digestive tracts can have a hard time clearing waste. This can lead to constipation.
In addition to the health risks, many people gain the weight back after stopping keto. If you are looking for a way to sustain weight loss, the keto diet is likely not for you. Working with a nutritionist or dietician to develop a personal meal plan is a much healthier way to go.
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Inhalers
Asthma is a disease that causes airways to swell and lowers the amount of air that is able to get to the lungs. The symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. It can be triggered by many different things such as dust and other allergens, exercise, and cold weather. Most patients with asthma are prescribed an albuterol inhaler. This is a rescue inhaler and is used when you have asthma symptoms. Patients are told to take 2 puffs every 4-6 hours as needed for shortness of breath or wheezing. It is important to wait 1 minute between the 2 puffs to give the medicine a chance to work. It opens up the airways at the top of the lungs so that the second puff can get deeper into the lungs and work better. Albuterol should start to work in 8-10 minutes after use. The goal is to not have to use your albuterol inhaler more than 2 times in a week.
There is a second type of inhaler that is commonly prescribed for asthma. This is a maintenance or controller inhaler. Examples of this type are Symbicort and Advair. These inhalers are used to relax the muscle in the airways and block swelling. They are supposed to be taken every day even if you are not feeling the symptoms of your asthma. It is important to remember to rinse your mouth out with water (do not swallow the water) after each time you use the inhaler. This is to prevent you from getting an infection in the mouth and throat called thrush.
The goal of these inhalers is to keep the number of symptoms during the day to less than 2 times per week. The number of times your asthma wakes you up at night should be less than 2 time in a month. Talk to your doctor if you are having asthma more often.
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Improving Your Independence as You Age through Mobility
Mobility is the ability to move freely and easily. It is needed in daily activities such as walking to the bathroom or shopping for food. Living all by yourself requires this free movement. Sadly, as we age, we lose some of our mobility. For example, you can lose your strength and balance. Without our mobility, we need more help from others, and we lose the feeling of independence.
Now, how can you maintain or improve our mobility? There are some things you can work on and add to your home:
- First, you can start moving daily. Walking, taking the stairs, and marching in place are simple things you can add to your day.
- Second, you can stretch your arms and legs often to get more blood through your body.
- Third, you can eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and leaner meats. A better diet leads to a better body.
- Fourth, you can adjust your home to allow for more open spaces and extra handrails. For example, a sturdy railing can help you get up and down stairs by yourself.
- Lastly, you can pick out a walking aid. Instead of a wheelchair, you could pick out a cane since a cane will help you work on your mobility.
Losing mobility can be a scary idea as you age. No one wants to lose their independence. However, there are many things you can do to maintain or improve your mobility. This includes exercise, stretching, eating healthy, improving your home, and getting a walking aid. Every day you can do something small that helps your mobility in a large way.
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Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a common disorder where your thyroid does not make enough hormones. These hormones are needed to do different things in the body. They help control your heart rate, body temperature, and digestion. The symptoms are weakness, weight gain, dry skin, constipation, and being sensitive to the cold. This is a lifelong disorder that you will have to take medicine for every day.
The treatment is a daily hormone pill to make sure your body is able to work. There are a few different types of thyroid medicines. Levothyroxine or Synthroid is a man-made type of hormone. Armour is a hormone medicine made from the thyroid of pigs. Some side effects of the medications are hair loss, dizziness, headache, and throwing up. Both of these medications should be taken 30 minutes before eating or drinking. Take your medicine every morning even if you don’t feel sick. Call your doctor if you have questions.
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Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest and throat. It is caused by stomach acid coming back up into the throat. That is also known as acid reflux.
It can be confusing when it comes to deciding what medication is best for you. First, we need to understand how the medicine works. There are 3 types: Antacids, histamine 2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors.
Tums is an antacid. Antacids work by neutralizing the acid in your stomach. You should take Tums for quick relief of occasional symptoms.
Pepcid or famotidine is a histamine 2 receptor blocker. It works by preventing acid from being produced in the stomach. You should take this when you have heartburn more often. Pepcid should be taken before you get heartburn. It is recommended to take 20mg two times a day, once in the morning and once at bedtime. You can also take 40 mg once daily at bedtime.
Prilosec OTC or omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. It works by stopping acid from being released into the stomach. You should take this when you have heartburn more than 2 days a week. This medicine does not relieve heartburn right away so it should not be taken for fast treatment of heartburn. Prilosec should be taken once a day before a meal. Do not take Prilosec for more than 14 days. Call your doctor if you have heartburn for more than 14 days or these options are not working for you.
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Compounded Medicines
Compounded medicines are those that are made for a certain patient. One reason for this is that drugs may only be available in certain forms. A child may need a medicine that is only made in a pill, but be unable to swallow pills. The pharmacy could make the pills into a liquid for them, and even add a flavor. This can be helpful to get kids the medicines they need.
Another reason to make a medicine would be for patients that have allergies. The drug can be made without the ingredient that the person is allergic to.
Pet medicines are another huge part. If someone has a small animal, they may need to have a small strength of drug made that isn’t sold. Some people may also find it easier to give their pets a liquid instead of a pill. Also, flavors such as chicken and beef can be added to make it easier to give to the pet.
Overall, we want to make a medicine that the patient can easily take to have good health. The easier it is to take, the more likely the patient is to actually take it. Come to St. Louis Hills Pharmacy for all of your compounding needs.
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Common Flu Shot Myths
It is flu season again! Have you gotten your annual flu shot this year? Come on into St Louis Hills Pharmacy to get that marked off your to do list. If you have any questions about the flu shot, they can be answered from one of our pharmacists. There is a lot of myths about the shots. Here are some flu shot myths everyone should know.
#1 The flu shot can give you the flu
False. The flu shot does not have any strains of an active flu virus. You might experience symptoms such as, low-grade fever, body aches, and/or headache shortly after receiving the flu shot. This is because your body is building immunity to fight against the flu virus.
#2 Being vaccinated last year will protect you this year
False. Last year’s flu shot will not protect you this flu season. Every year, there is a new strain of the flu virus. This requires a new flu shot every year to be protected.
#3 Healthy people do not need the flu shot
False. Flu shots are recommended for every person over the age of six months old. Getting the flu shot will reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalizations. It will also help protect older and immunocompromised people who have a higher risk of severe illness.
#4 Pregnant women should not get the flu shot
False. Pregnant women should especially get the flu shot. Women’s immune systems are weaker than usual during pregnancy. The flu shot is safe at any stage of pregnancy.
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How can I lower my blood pressure?
Have you been told that you have high blood pressure? Are you trying to find ways to lower your blood pressure? Being told that you need to lower your blood pressure can be alarming. Figuring out where to start making changes can feel even scarier. Here are a few changes that you can make that can help lower your blood pressure:
- Eat a healthy diet
- The best way to reduce blood pressure naturally is through a healthy diet. A diet proven to reduce blood pressure is the DASH diet. This diet has lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. It is also lower in saturated and total fat. This heart-healthy diet can lower your blood pressure by up to 11 mmHg! It can also help reduce your LDL (bad cholesterol). If you are interested in learning more about this diet, check out this article from the MayoClinic:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456
- Keep a healthy weight
- Our hearts have to work harder when we carry around extra weight. When our hearts are working harder, our blood pressure rises. If you are overweight, it is estimated that for every 2 lbs you lose, your blood pressure lowers by 1 mmHg. That means if you lose 10 lbs, you’ve lowered your blood pressure by 5 mmHg!
- Lower sodium/salt intake
- Reducing your daily sodium intake is another great way to lower blood pressure. It can be really difficult for most people to avoid salt. Sodium “hides” in processed foods like cured meats, frozen dinners, and canned foods. A heart-healthy daily intake of salt should be less than 2300 mg/day. You can lower your blood pressure even more by lowering sodium to 1500 mg/day. If you are unsure of how much sodium a food contains, be sure to check the nutrition label!
- Exercise!
- Getting your body moving can help strengthen your heart. When your heart is stronger, it doesn’t have to work as hard. When it doesn’t have to work as hard, your blood pressure will lower. Routine exercise is the best way to strengthen your heart muscle. Consistency is key here! Experts recommend at least 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week.
- Lower alcohol intake
- Alcohol can feel like a way to de-stress after a long day. But frequent drinking can actually raise your blood pressure. Limit alcohol to 2 drinks per day if you are male, or 1 drink per day if you are female.
These are just some ways you can lower your blood pressure. These recommendations above should not be used instead of the medication. These healthy lifestyle choices should be used with medication for the best results. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your blood pressure!
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Blood Pressure Meds – When Should I Take Them?
This is a very good question. Usually blood pressure is the lowest while you sleep. Blood pressure is usually highest in the mornings and throughout the day. It makes sense to take blood pressure medication in the morning then, right? Not necessarily!
New studies have found that this may not be the case. They show that night-time blood pressure readings are the best estimators of total heart health. This means by controlling your blood pressure at night, you may have overall better results. One large study found a decrease in heart attacks in patients who took their blood pressure medication at night.
It is important that you speak to your doctor before making any changes. Some people may not benefit from taking them at night. This is sometimes true for those with diabetes or kidney disease. Also, some blood pressure medications like diuretics, or “water pills” should not be taken at night. Taking water pills at night could force you to wake up having to use the bathroom. So be sure to talk to your doctor about it first. If you take multiple medications for blood pressure, just be sure to talk to your doctor. You may benefit from taking one or more of them at night.
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