Spring is in the air at West Grange Pharmacy!
Did You Know?
Last month’s question: What is Borrelia burgdorferi?
Answer: Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. It is transmitted to
humans by blacklegged ticks. See more on Lyme disease in this month’s An Ounce of Prevention.
This month’s question: How many generic drug approvals came from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 2016?
Greetings!
Health matters to us at West Grange Pharmacy. We work
hard every day to help ensure that our valued customers
enjoy productive, healthy lives. Health Matters Monthly is an
e-newsletter designed to keep you in the know and up to date
about brand name and generic medications, side effects, drug
disposal, the latest medical treatments, and lifestyle trends
and topics that can benefit you and your family. You’ll hear directly from our pharmacists and
also receive special offers and money-saving coupons. Here’s to your good health! Your West
Grange pharmacists (left to right) Manda Fernandez, Jim Giordano and Rachel Henegar are
always available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Ask the Pharmacist
The directions on my ibuprofen 600mg prescription say “Take one tablet every 6 – 8 hours.”
Does this mean I have to take at least 3 tablets each day, or do I just need to take a tablet
if I have pain?
The answer depends on the prescriber’s intentions. Ibuprofen is used to decrease
inflammation, as well as treating pain. Sometimes the prescriber has given the patient an
ibuprofen prescription to treat any pain that may result from a procedure or injury. In other
situations, the prescriber wants the patient to take ibuprofen on a regular schedule for a time
to decrease inflammation and pain, then switch to taking it just as needed. If your prescriber
did not tell you a specific schedule, or give you additional written directions, the staff at West
Grange Pharmacy would be glad to call the office and request further clarification for you.
An Ounce of Prevention
Warm weather brings more outdoor fun. Be sure to protect
yourself and your family from Lyme disease by avoiding tick
bites. Blacklegged ticks can transmit the Borrelia burgdorferi
bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Lyme disease symptoms
include headache, fatigue, fever, and the characteristic
“bulls-eye rash.” If Lyme disease is not treated properly, it can
then move on to infect the joints, nervous system, and heart,
causing much disability and pain.
Protect your family from tick bites when outdoors with the following tips from the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of trails.
• Use repellents containing 20 to 30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing.
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after being outdoors to wash ticks off and more easily
spot a tick on the body.
• Check the entire body for ticks after returning from a tick-infested area. Be sure to check
under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, between the legs, around
the waist and in the hair.
• Examine gear and pets for “hitch hiking” ticks.
For more tick bite prevention strategies, visit the CDC’s website.
If you find a tick attached to the skin, use tweezers to remove it as soon as possible. For tips on
proper tick removal, visit the CDC’s website.
If you or family member develops any symptoms of Lyme disease (bulls-eye rash, fever, swollen
joints, facial paralysis, etc.) see a medical provider for evaluation and possible treatment.
Visit the CDC’s Lyme disease symptoms page for a comprehensive list of symptoms.
West Grange Pharmacy carries several kinds of insect repellants for prevention and tweezers for
tick removal. Ask one of our pharmacists for a recommendation.
Over The Counter Cures
Xyzal® (levocetirizine) is now available without a prescription — just
in time for spring allergy season! Levocetirizine is an antihistamine
that is approved to treat runny nose; sneezing; itchy, watery eyes; and
itching of the nose or throat caused by allergies. The over the counter
tablets are the same strength as the prescription product, but you no
longer need a prescription to purchase it. Xyzal® is also available in
a children’s liquid. Visit Xyzal’s website for more information and money saving coupons.
You can find Xyzal® in the first aisle as you enter West Grange Pharmacy along with other
non-prescription antihistamines to treat your allergies. If you need help choosing the
antihistamine product that is right for you or your family members, just ask one of our
knowledgeable West Grange pharmacists!
Dose of Reality
Eucrisa® (crisaborole) is a new medication available to treat eczema. It is an ointment applied to
the involved skin and is not a steroid, so it does not have the same side effects as steroids. The
main side effects include stinging and burning where applied to the skin. It is rather expensive,
so insurance companies may have prior authorization or step therapy limitations in place.
However, another treatment for patients who suffer from the itching and irritation of eczema is
good news. See Eucresa’s website for more information about the product.
Some tips for controlling eczema include:
• Bathe in warm (not hot) water and limit time to 5 to 10 minutes.
• Use mild and fragrance free cleansers.
• Apply a thick cream after a bath while skin is still moist.
• Wash new clothes before wearing.
• Keep nails trimmed short to reduce injury due to scratching.
For more eczema information and tips, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.
Pharmacy 411
Minastrin® 24 Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol
and ferrous fumarate) tablets are now available in a generic
version. Minastrin® is approved as a birth control pill that
can be chewed. Chewable tablets are expeciallly helpful for
patients who have trouble swallowing tablets.
Pristiq® (desvenlafaxine) is also available in a generic. Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) approved to treat depression.
Two new generics are good news for patients who wish to save money on their
heath care costs!
Prescription for Living Well
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important components to
maintaining your health. The average adult needs seven or more
hours of sleep each night. Children need even more. According to
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lack of
sleep is associated with several diseases including diabetes, heart
disease, depression, and obesity. Lack of sleep also causes poor decision making and slowed
reflexes which can lead to accidents or serious injury.
Tips for a good night’s sleep include:
• Limit caffeine. Do not drink caffeinated beverages late in the day.
• Do not eat large meals right before bed.
• Exercise daily, but not close to bedtime.
• Remove the TV and other electronics from your bedroom.
• Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning.
• Make your bedroom dark and quiet. Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature.
For more information on getting a good night’s rest, visit the Sleep Foundation, Sleep.org, and
the CDC’s website.
West Grange Pharmacy | 3390 West Road | Trenton, MI 48183