Eye Wash to the Rescue!
I can’t believe I haven’t touched on this subject yet -the almighty eye wash!
Let me tell you how many times this simple eye irrigating solution has come to my rescue…A LOT! During my time of working the 3rd shift, my eyes would become irritated more easily. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I had my contacts in all night! 
Whatever the reason, this is when I discovered my fav OTC drugstore product.
I’m so gaga over eye wash, that I one time touted it as a must have for a patient with a very irritated eye. He came to the pharmacy the next night solely to tell me I saved his eyeball! He used the wash a couple of times in a row, and his eye felt remarkably better shortly thereafter. See, I’m dead serious, this stuff is good!
Bausch & Lomb makes an eye wash, but you should be able to find a generic version at most drugstores.
Eye wash can be used daily to cleanse and refresh your eyes, remove pollen or other allergens, remove chlorinated water (that would’ve been good to know during my many years of competitive swimming!), and soothe stinging, burning, itching, and irritated eyes.
It can also be used in emergency situations when you randomly get a foreign substance in your eye. We’re not talking like a stick in the eyeball kind of foreign substance…more along the lines of a piece of dirt or a small black-fly!
What I really like about this stuff is you can use it as much as you want! I usually will rinse my eye(s) a couple times in a row and come back to it a little later (even like an hour or so) if my eye(s) start to feel irritated again.
You wouldn’t want to use an eye wash when you have an open wound in or near the eyes. You also don’t want to use an eye wash if the solution has become cloudy or changed colors (probably contaminated at this point).
One last thing, if you start to experience eye pain or changes in vision or your condition is persistent or worsens, stop using the eye wash and consult with your doctor.
I love you dear eye wash…just a little shout out!
You know what I also love? Saving money whenever I can! You too can save money by checking out our video course on how to save money on your prescription meds. Did I mention the course is totally free? Yup, it is and it’s all for you…enjoy!
Thanks for visiting and be sure to stay tuned for my video on how to use an eye wash. Feel free to share your thoughts below or e-mail me at cate@getpharmacyadvice.com with any questions.
Vitamin D for Kids
Vitamin D is all the rage now-a-days. I wrote an article Vitamin D -all about vitamin D in general and vitamin D in adults. But what about those kids?!
Just like adults, the majority of kids have low levels of vitamin D. Kids are more likely to be inside and use sunblock, which blocks their ability to get some vitamin D from the sun. Latino and African American kids have an even higher rate of low vitamin D levels due to darker skin -which blocks out the sun more.
What do I give the kiddo? 400IU/day from a few months old until adulthood.
How do you feel about vitamin D and your kids? Do you give them supplements? We would love to hear from you!
How do I give them 400IU/day? Most parent’s turn to fortified milk or formula -1 glass only equals 100IU of vitamin D. For kids, most multivitamins have 400IU. For the babies, Tri-Vi-Sol or Poly-Vi-Sol have vitamin D (along with some other good vits).
Why give my kids vitamin D? Potential benefits for cardiovascular health and overall immunity.
Qualaquin for Nighttime Leg Cramps -No Good?
Hey folks,
Watch out! Qualaquin can cause serious side effects, especially when used to prevent or treat nighttime leg cramps. Check out my short clip below to get the scoop.
Keep in mind, most of the serious side effects occurred in patients using Qualaquin to prevent or treat nighttime leg cramps.
Qualaquin is still FDA approved for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria…it is not approved to prevent or treat nighttime leg cramps.
Hit me up with some questions or comments by typing them in below. You can always find me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com too!
One last thing, this time it’s about saving money! Check out our very free video course on how to save money on your prescription medications. It’s serious stuff…as long as you follow the advice, you’re certain to keep some extra moolah in your wallet!
Griseofulvin to Treat Ringworm in Kids
In an earlier article I wrote a brief summary about ringworm treatments, so you may want to read How to Treat Ringworm first.
I wanted to do a write up about griseofulvin because it is the most used to treat ringworm in kids that need an oral treatment.
Griseofulvin (Grifulvin) is the current prescription drug of choice. Griseofulvin was first isolated in 1938 and yet, over 70 years later, it continues to be first line of treatment. Griseofulvin is available in microsize suspension and tablets (Grifulvin V) and ultramicrosize tablets (Gris-Peg). It has been approved in children older than 2 years old.
Griseofulvin works by inhibiting fungal growth and helps protect new skin from being infected. This means it stops the fungal infection from progressing, allowing the infection to clear as the infected skin dies and sheds. Because it does not kill the fungi, griseofulvin has a long length of therapy. General ringworm of the body is usually treated for two to four weeks, whereas infections involving the head or feet can be treated for as long as four to 12 weeks. Yes, that’s right, 2 to 3 months of treatment.
Griseofulvin is typically given to children in the suspension form because it allows specific weight based dosing. Both suspension and tablets are best absorbed when taken with a fatty meal. Peanut butter or ice cream are recommended, which makes administering the medication a bit easier for parents J. The ultramicrosize tablets may be crushed and mixed with 1 tablespoon of applesauce and taken right away without chewing.
Griseofulvin has a low incidence of serious side effects. The most common adverse reaction is headache. Also included are belly upset, oral thrush, sensitivity to sunlight and dizziness. Rare but serious side effects include liver toxicity and decrease in white blood cells; these often disappear even with continuation of therapy. Perhaps most interesting and pertinent is the estrogen-like effects that griseofulvin can cause in children. Estrogen-like effects in children can include bloating, depression, headaches, thyroid interference and impaired blood sugar control- once again serious but rare.
Other antifungal medications used to treat ringworm are terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconzaole (Sporanox) and fluconazole (Diflucan). These drugs appear to have similar efficacy as griseofulvin but with a shorter therapy cycle, typically four weeks.
It is imperative to treat ringworm in children. If left untreated, bacterial infections and permanent hair loss can occur. Griseofulvin remains the drug of choice for treatment of ringworm, however this is mostly based on old information. Back in the day, griseofulvin was the only treatment option available in generic formulation and was therefore bumped to first in line due to price. Nowadays, all of the medications have some dosage forms available in generic. When discussing your child’s treatment plan with her physician, be sure to consider the length of treatment, dosage forms and price of the medications.
What do you think? Love to hear from you -please leave a comment!
If you want to learn about saving some dollars on your prescription drugs -go ahead and visit our **FREE video course!**
Whey Protein…Whey What?
Whey protein…can’t say this is my favorite topic, but there was a request from a Charlotte native about the safety of this food supplement at a certain dose . What’s funny is I cannot for the life of me remember what daily dose he was taking (will have to get back to you on that)! That’s okay though because I’ll provide you with the specifics on dosing so there’ll be no going overboard with this one.
FYI -we’re talking whey protein to increase athletic performance and nothing more at this time!
So, whey protein, which is also known as Goat Milk Whey, Milk Protein, and Whey Protein Concentrate to name a few, has been shown by some clinical studies to increase lean body mass, strength and muscle size when combined with 6 to 10 weeks of strength training (this is compared to taking nothing).
The magic dose needed to attempt to achieve the same outcomes as these studies is 1.2 to 1.5 grams/kg of body weight.
NOTE: Studies involving natural medicines/supplements generally are not designed well so the results may be a little wishy-washy. Whey protein is possibly effective in increasing athletic performance, but we cannot say that it is for sure without stronger studies available to solidify this claim.
This means that a 180 lb person would weigh 81.8kg (weight in pounds divided by 2.2) and would take about 98 to 122 grams of whey protein per day.
Researchers believe whey protein may increase athletic performance by promoting higher blood amino acid (the building blocks of protein) concentrations which causes stimulation of the protein-making process (based on animal models).
Research in healthy volunteers who took just 10 grams of whey protein following exercise experienced this stimulated protein-making process where more muscle protein was produced, which then could potentially lead to bigger muscles. SWEET!
Whey protein is believed to be safe when used orally and appropriately (i.e. if used as demonstrated by the clinical trials). When taken by mouth, the supplement is well tolerated. High doses of 2.3 to 6.5 grams/kg/day can lead to increased stool frequency, bloating, cramps, thirst, nausea, reduced appetite, fatigue, and headache. Pleasant, right?!
Whey protein can also increase blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a measure used to show the concentration of nitrogen in the blood (in the form of urea). What the heck does that mean? I wouldn’t get bogged down by the details of the answer to this question. Just know your BUN level can increase twofold when taking whey protein in addition to a normal diet, so if you get labs done and your BUN appears to be off-the-chart, you’ll have an explanation for your physician!
There’s one medication that whey protein should not be combine with -levodopa. Combining levodopa with whey protein may decrease the absorption of the levodopa, thereby decreasing the medication’s desire effects. Avoid this combination at all costs!
Whey protein does not interact with any foods so get your meal on at the same time as taking this supplement if so desired.
Caution: People allergic to bovine milk products should not take whey protein because it comes from whey, the watery portion of milk.
Yup, that’s it…shouldn’t run into much of a problem when taking this supplement. Just a little stomach or intestinal discomfort if you over do it with the dose!
Are you a big whey protein fan? Curious to know what else whey protein is used for? Get at me -Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com or leave a comment below.
I hope you’ll check out our video course that’ll explain 90 ways to save money on your prescription meds. Best part is it’s all your’s at no cost…saving money already!
Peace out.
Why Midol?
I received a recent email from a 16 year old girl. She said she was having cramps and her older sister said she should use Midol. She wanted to know what was in Midol and why it would work. So, I replied in video form -here ya go…
Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Cholesterol Levels
Quick post and video for everyone…last minute packing (as usual) for the week of vacay that starts tomorrow promptly at 2PM! Running low on time at the moment
Just wanted to inform you of the effects oral contraceptives (aka birth control, the pill, etc.) can have on your cholesterol levels.
Check it out below!
The progestin name I was trying to pronounce was norethindrone!
Let’s keep this discussion going…leave a comment below or send me a message at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Have a great week!
How to Treat Ringworm
Dermatophytes, more commonly known as “ringworm”, are the most common type of fungi that cause infection of the skin and nails. Most patients are happy to hear ringworm is due to a fungal infection and not an actual worm.
Ringworm can occur anywhere on the body but typically involves the scalp, feet (athlete’s foot), and groin (jock itch). Typically, ringworm can be treated with over the counter medications but with more serious and widespread infections, prescription drugs may be needed.
OTC Antifungals:
Strongest OTC -use for 1 to 2 weeks:
1. terbinafine (Lamisil AT)
2. butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra) -this is the same medication as prescription Mentax but cost 5 times less!
Other OTC options -these work as well but need to be used for longer. Use for 3-4 weeks:
3. clotrimazole
4. miconazole
Should I use the cream, solution, spray or powder? Creams and solutions work best. Solutions should be used for hairy parts of the body.
Important notes:
- Apply the medication to the rash and 2 inches beyond the rash. The infection area is usually larger then just the rash area.
- Treat the rash for as long as advised -even if the skin looks okay.
- Do not use any topical steroids (i.e. hydrocortisone). Often, topical steroids can worsen the infection.
Oral Prescription Drugs:
- These would be used to treat ringworm of the scalp, nails and extensive skin infections or when topical OTC medications fail.
1. terbinafine (Lamisil) the scalp, nails, extensive skin infections, and those that fail topicals.
2. itraconazole (Sporanox)
3. fluconazole (Diflucan)
4. griseofulvin (Gris-Peg)
So, there you have a quick rundown of your options! If you have any specific questions, please leave us a comment!
If you want to learn your options on how to save money on your prescription drugs -watch our FREE video course.
The Use of Coupons at the Pharmacy
In light of the bad economy, drug companies have been mass producing coupon cards (aka voucher kits/cards, savings cards, etc.) to help patients save money on their prescription medications. I think this is absolutely awesome!
In fact, I highly stress you check out manufacturer websites or call the maker of each of your prescription medications to see if they have any savings programs going on at the moment!
My point in bringing this topic up though (aside from informing you of the existence of such programs) is to teach you how to make the process of using these cards a more pleasurable experience at the pharmacy.
As of right now, what I find happening over and over again is patients are waiting until they pickup their prescriptions to inform the pharmacy staff that they have a coupon card to use. This causes a little angst at the pharmacy because the processing of said coupon card is a little more difficult than say, processing your prescription through your insurance.
For one, each program has different processing requirements so it takes a little bit of time to figure out what needs to be entered into the system (i.e. codes, ID numbers, group numbers, etc.) in order to get the claim to go through. If you plan to wait around for your prescription, be sure to allow the pharmacy staff a few extra minutes to figure out how to process the discount/coupon card.
Some of these coupon cards need to be activated by the patient before use…please do this before you hand the card over to the pharmacy! You’ll know it needs to be activated if there’s a sticker or message on the front of the card telling you to do so (much like activating a new credit card). This way you won’t come back to the pharmacy just to find out the savings from the coupon card hasn’t been applied yet!
Another great idea is to read the rules and terms of the savings card. All the necessary information should be typed (in very small letters!) somewhere on the card (front or back). By doing this, you’ll know whether your card can be used for refills or if it can only be used one time. Some programs can only be used once in a lifetime…crazy, right? But very true!
Knowing the details of the program will decrease stressful situations at the pharmacy. It would be no fun if you were planning on paying a certain amount for your prescription, but then learn that you actually have to pay more because the coupon card can only be applied to the first fill of the prescription or because it expired.
The absolute best time to tell your pharmacy that you have a coupon card to use for your prescription is right when you drop the prescription off. If you need a refill of a medication that has a coupon card to go with it, make sure you talk directly to someone in the pharmacy versus using the automated system to initiate the refill process. There would be know way for us to know you have a coupon card to use unless you actually tell us…this will eliminate any delays at the pick-up window!
Be prepared for the pharmacy staff to have to call the company involved with the coupon card…some of the cards are really confusing and it’s sometimes faster to get help from a representative than it is to play around with the card information to try to get it to go through. Your patience would be much appreciated and the process will go much smoother if all involved are calm, cool, and collected!
One last thing, I’m pretty sure all of these coupon cards are for brand name medications only. Just thought you should know!
With all that being said, another great way for you to keep money in your bank account is to view our free video course on how to save money on your prescription medications. Check it out for sure!
Know of any other ways to make using drug coupon cards more enjoyable? Share your thoughts below or e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Thanks for tuning in…happy weekend!
Sulfa Allergy and Diuretics
Is it safe to take diuretics (aka water pills) if you have a sulfa allergy?
Check out my video below to find out!
Just a little disclaimer to go with the clip: this is not my best video to date. Don’t know what happened!
So, those potassium-sparing diuretics I mentioned that do not contain sulfa are amiloride, triamterene, and spironolactone.
The additional diuretic that does not contain sulfa, but is not a potassium-sparing diuretic is ethacrynic acid.
Just wanted to provide those medication names in case you absolutely cannot take a sulfa-containing diuretic!
Whoa, that was a little rough, but at least you’ve got some info to start with, and if you need some clarification on the matter, definitely get in touch with me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Thanks for checking in!
