Holiday Tips for Your Prescription Drugs

Our health possibly the most important gift we have. When we're healthy we are able to give our loved ones the best of ourselves. Have a Happy, Healthy Holiday season and remember the following prescription tips from George's this holiday season:

Don't Run Out
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, sometimes our prescriptions is the last thing we think of. Download George's App or order onion to have the prescription delivered and ready and waiting when you're ready to pick it up in our convenient drive-through. You can also call in your order or we'll fill it immediately while you wait.

Pack Properly
When you are traveling with prescription medications, make sure someone back home has an extra copy of your prescriptions. Also, carry a list of your medications with you, including names and dosages. Keep all medications in their original containers. If you have any injectable medications, carry a letter, on your doctor's letterhead, with the physician's prescription for it. If you are flying, pack your medications in your carryon bag for easy access and so they aren't lost or delayed. If traveling internationally, be sure to check with the American Embassy or Consulate to ensure your medications are allowed in the host country.

Be Aware of Holiday Food and Drug Interactions
Drugs can have adverse effects with foods and alcoholic drinks. Food can speed up or slow down the action of medications, impair absorption of vitamins and stimulate or suppress your appetite. Alcohol intensifies the effects of some medications, and medicines can increase the effects of alcohol. Review your prescription warnings by talking to your doctor or pharmacist or visiting the prescription website. Read more about interactions here.

Remember these prescription tips, and know that at George's Pharmacy care about your health and wellness. Happy Holidays from all of us at George's!

Springfield Residents Get Open Enrollment Answers for Medicare

 With the recent changes in the Medicare program, and open enrollment limited to October 15 through December 7, you may have questions about whether or not you need to make changes to your existing plan. Help is available for Springfield, Missouri residents.

At George's Pharmacy every Tuesday & Thursday through December 7, a Medicare Consultant is available to help you with any questions or concerns you have about your Medicare program.
Call 417-889-7898 to make a consultation appointment today.

Who Needs a Flu Shot?

On Springfield, Missouri on September 25, 2012 Woody P. Snow interviewed George's Pharmacy about Flu shots.

Visit George's Pharmacy on Podbean

Click play on the media player above to hear straight from George's pharmacist, Greg Serocki about the truth in flu shots. Discover who should get them, whether or not there are dangers in getting a flu shot, and how log it takes for the Influenza vaccine.   George's Pharmacy is locally owned and operated in Springfield, Missouri. With fast drive-through service, free delivery in Springfield and a friendly staff, George's is the "Best Little Drug Store In Town."

Generic Perscriptions Can Save You $$$

Generic drugs can save you money. What are considered generic drugs? According to the FDA:

"A generic drug is identical--or bioequivalent--to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price."

Below are two lists* for drugs which are soon to become "generic" for the years 2011 and 2012.

2011

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availibility

Uroxatral------------------------- alfuzosin------------------------July
Zyprexa---------------------------olanzapine----------------------October
Lipitor-----------------------------atorvastatin--------------------November
Caduet----------------------------amlodipine----------------------November
Tazorac----------------------------tazarotene cream---------------November

2012

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availibility

Lexapro---------------------------escitalopram--------------------February
Entocort EC-----------------------budesonide----------------------February
Avandia---------------------------rosiglitazone--------------------March
Avandaryl-------------------------glimepiride---------------------March
Avandamet-----------------------metformin-----------------------March
Boniva----------------------------ibandronate---------------------March
Seroquel--------------------------quetiapine-----------------------March
Avapro----------------------------irbesartan----------------------March
Avalide---------------------------hydrochlorothiazide-------------March
Provigil---------------------------modafinil------------------------April
Plavix-----------------------------clopidogrel----------------------May
Viramune-------------------------nevirapine-----------------------May
Lescol-----------------------------fluvastatin----------------------June
Tricor-----------------------------fenofibrate----------------------July
Clarinex--------------------------desloratadine--------------------July
Singulair--------------------------montelukast---------------------August
Actos-----------------------------pioglitazone----------------------August
Exforge---------------------------amlodipine-valsartan------------September
Diovan----------------------------valsartan------------------------September
Diovan HCT----------------------hydrochlorothiazide--------------September
Geodon---------------------------ziprasidone----------------------September
Combivir-------------------------lamivudine-zidovudine-----------November
Atacand--------------------------candesartan---------------------December
Maxalt---------------------------rizatriptan-----------------------December

*these lists are provided by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit Independent Licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Facts and Myths about Generic Drugs

Fact: 7 in 10 prescriptions in the United States are filled by generic drugs.

Myth: Brand name drugs are safer than generic drugs. Fact: FDA receives very few reports of adverse events about specific generic drugs. Most reports of adverse events are related to side effects of the drug ingredient itself.

To learn more facts and myths concerning generic drugs, please visit the FDA site.
*content credit: reposted from the  pclshealthcare blog

Drug Take Back Initiative

 Now is a great time to see if any of your medicines should be discarded because they are too old or no longer needed. On prescription bottles, the label will often tell you when the medicine should be discarded. On over-the-counter medicines and sample medicines, the expiration date (the date it should be discarded) is often printed on the label under "EXP," or stamped without ink into the bottom of a bottle, carton, or the crimp of a tube. For medicines without an expiration date, unless you know you purchased it within the past year, it's best to toss it. As time passes, medicines may lose their effectiveness, especially if they are stored in a medicine cabinet in a warm, moist bathroom. In rare cases, outdated medicines could become toxic. For example, taking expired tetracycline (an antibiotic) can cause serious kidney problems.
In the past, most people flushed old medicines down the toilet. This was done to prevent accidental poisonings of children and animals who may find medicines in the trash. But today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no longer recommends this. Sewage treatment plants may not be able to clean all medicines out of the water. This may harm fish and wildlife.
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say just three small steps can make a huge difference:
1. DO NOT FLUSH unused medications. Consumers were once advised to flush their expired or unused medications; however, recent environmental impact studies report that this could be having an adverse impact on the environment. While the rule of thumb is not to flush, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that certain medications should be flushed due to their abuse potential. Read the instructions on your medication and talk to your pharmacist.
2. When tossing unused medications, protect children and pets from the potentially negative effects. APhA recommends that consumers:

• Crush solid medications or dissolve them in water (this applies for liquid medications as well) and mix with kitty litter or sawdust (or any material that absorbs the dissolved medication and makes it less appealing for pets or children to eat), then place in a sealed plastic bag BEFORE tossing in the trash.
• Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from the medication container.
• Check for approved state and local collection programs or with area hazardous waste facilities. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy.

3. Talk To Your Pharmacist. Research shows that pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals. As the medication experts on the healthcare team, pharmacists are available to guide you on how to properly dispose of your unused medications.
Following these simple steps can help protect your family and community, minimize a potential negative impact on the environment, and prevent the illegal diversion of unused medications.
Source: http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/

George's Pharmacy wants to keep our community up to date with the most current community health information available, so we’ve gone social!

You can now find George's Pharmacy on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Follow our Facebook page for things like specials, events and health tips. If you’d rather tweet than Facebook, we’re there for you, too! Want to know more about George's? Our videos on Youtube showcase our pharmacy and staff.

We hope you take advantage of this new feature we’re offering you, and would appreciate any feedback!