Education

September 08, 2017

Ready, a public service campaign designed to educate and empower citizens to prepare for emergencies such as natural and man-made disasters, proclaims September to be National Preparedness Month (NPM). In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and in anticipation of Hurricane Irma, you may be wondering how to go about preparing for such events. This is especially important to consider if you have a chronic disease or condition.

April 11, 2017

Heliobacter pylori is a bacteria highly prevalent worldwide and is closely linked to duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, and peptic ulcer disease. It is also linked to an increased risk of developing gastric cancer in an infected person. Despite being more common in developing countries with poor socioeconomic conditions, the American College of Gastroenterology states that 30-40% of the U.S. population is infected with H. pylori, putting them at risk for conditions such as peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer.

March 29, 2017

Many people take aspirin occasionally to provide relief from various conditions (e.g. pain, inflammation, fever, headaches), but what about taking a low-dose aspirin every day for prevention reasons? As with all medications, aspirin poses various benefits and risks that need to be taken into consideration before you start taking it. Certain individuals would benefit the most from taking a low-dose aspirin and others shouldn’t take it at all.

February 27, 2017

What a time to be a person with diabetes! These days there are more medications on the market than ever to help you control your diabetes. But how do you know which medication is right for you?
Of course you should always consult your physician or your local pharmacist for medical advice. However, here is some information about these new medications so that you don’t feel out of the loop.
Some of the current insulin medications that you are used to are Lantus, Humalog, and NovoLog. These medications deliver the hormone insulin to your blood so that insulin can tell your cells to take in more glucose. This keeps your blood sugar down.

February 21, 2017

February has been designated as American Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it — both at home and in the community. It’s a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.

January 24, 2017

Confusion, weakness, anxiety or irritability, a general sense of confusion — these are signs of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. It often happens when diabetics take too much insulin.
Hypoglycemia happens to many people with diabetes, and it can be serious or even fatal.
Severe hypoglycemic episode, also referred to as insulin shock, can occur when the body has too much insulin that can lead to low blood sugar levels.

January 17, 2017

The Congressional Budget Office has analyzed the effects of healthcare repeal, and estimates 22 million Americans will lose health coverage if a repeal plan, like the one passed in 2015 by Congress, were to become law.
With the loss of insurance coverage, many patients will no longer be able to afford the prescription medicines they need to stay healthy. Medicare and Medicaid enrollees may also see the stresses of change with possible increases in premiums and deductibles. ScriptSave® WellRx can help.

January 11, 2017

The US supplement industry is a $30 billion dollar business. The Council for Responsible Nutrition estimates that almost 70% of US adults use dietary supplements. The FDA is the administration that regulates the approval and use of prescription medication. What this means is that on a prescription bottle labeled with a specific amount of ingredients, you can be certain that the actual amount in a given tablet, capsule, cream, suppository, solution, etc. is between about 95% and 105% of what the label actually states.

December 15, 2016

The holidays are a time of good cheer and family gatherings, but they can offer plenty of reasons to be stressed out — the gifts still need wrapping, the office party invites, and maybe the biggest — the family. Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Taking steps to prevent the stress and depression can prevent problems ahead of the holidays.

December 13, 2016

Why do I need a statin? Why are there so many with different names? Why did my doctor prescribe this brand name statin I can’t afford? What are the risks, side effects, and benefits of this medication? Why are they talking about cola-colored urine? If you’re like most people, you have thought of these questions leaving your doctor’s office or pharmacy and might have forgotten to ask. You’re in the right place.

December 07, 2016

Are you spending too much on your prescription medications? It’s staggering, we get it. There are a lot of companies in the discount prescription space, so who do you trust? How do prescription saving cards work? We hope this will help explain how it works and how you can save on your medications.

November 15, 2016

If you struggle with arthritis pain, chances are you’ve tried a variety of anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief. While drugs falling into the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory category (NSAIDs) can help, they often come with gastrointestinal side effects. A major 10-year study has shown that Celebrex (generic name, Celecoxib) may not have the same side effects of […]

November 11, 2016

Pharmacogenomics is a form of personalized medicine where “one size does not fit all.” By using your personal genetic makeup, it may be possible to see how well you respond to a medication and then make adjustments to your medication regimen as needed. Utilizing this method takes out the guess work where prescribers may try multiple medications before finding one that works best for the patient.

October 25, 2016

Common cold got you down? Are you sneezing and blowing your nose day and night? Are your coworkers and family sick, and now it seems like it is finally your turn? You might be thinking of going to the clinic for azithromycin (Z-Pak) to cure your ills, but that might not be such a good idea.

September 28, 2016

Unlike IBD, IBS isn’t classified as a true disease. Instead it’s known as a “functional disorder.” This means that the symptoms don’t have an identifiable cause. Contrary to popular belief, IBS isn’t a psychological condition. IBS has physical symptoms, but there is no known cause.

September 22, 2016

There’s no known cure for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a common disorder that often starts in childhood, but is sometimes not diagnosed until adulthood. It is important for parents to remember that ADHD can be successfully managed. There are many treatment options, so parents should work closely with everyone involved in the child’s life—healthcare providers, therapists, teachers, and family members.
For children 6 years of age and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends both behavior therapy and medication as good options, preferably both together. For young children (under 6 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy is recommended as the first line of treatment, before medication is tried. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring of whether and how much the treatment helps the child’s behavior, and making changes as needed along the way. You can learn more

September 13, 2016

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in men and women in the United States. Heart disease can affect anyone, no matter your age, race or ethnicity. There are many risk factors that contribute to heart disease. Some of these factors include high blood pressure, high LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, lack of physical activity, being overweight or obese and smoking.
There are many things a person can do to improve heart health and to decrease heart disease. Some of these include following a heart healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excessive alcohol use and not smoking. Knowing your family health history and discussing blood pressure goals regularly with your doctor can help avoid risks for heart disease as well.

August 18, 2016

Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are the most common breathing conditions that require the use of inhalers, either a rescue inhaler or controller inhaler based on their purpose.

August 12, 2016

Do you feel like you’re losing the war with warfarin? You have your annual doctor’s visit, which includes a brief conversation hearing the words “anticoagulation” or “INR” and receive a prescription for warfarin, which requires blood work every few weeks. The conversation goes on to detail dietary restrictions, including foods and over-the-counter medications you should not take while on this medication, along with a long list of side effects. Walking out with a dazed look from information overload you ask yourself “What does this all mean?” Here’s the break down.

August 02, 2016

It’s important to properly dispose of unused medication as soon as possible. Learn about drug take back programs and other options available for safe disposal.

June 21, 2016

As the summer months approach, many have started planning their summer vacations. However, before you consider making travel plans for the summer, you should also consider looking into any pertinent travel vaccines or medications that may be necessary for international travel. There are risk factors which are dependent on where you are traveling, activities you will participate in …

June 06, 2016

Folic acid supplementation has always been regarded as the key to natal wellness. However, recent studies have linked high levels of this vitamin to autism. So this may have you wondering what is a sufficient amount and where can I obtain it? First, you should be aware of the difference between folate and folic acid. Folate is the naturally occurring form of the vitamin which is found in foods such as…