COMPOUNDING IN PHARMACY, AND HOW IT IS USED IN HORMONES AND PAIN MEDICATIONS

COMPOUNDING IN PHARMACY IS NOT RECOGNIZED THE FDA BUT IS SOMETIMES USED IN TREATING PATIENTS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TRADITIONAL THERAPY AND THIS THERAPY HAS NOT WORKED.

TWO GOOD EXAMPLES ARE USE IN HORMONE THERAPY AND IN PAIN MANAGEMENT.

THERE ARE ABOUT 600 COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT DO ALMOST NOTHING BUT COMPOUNDING. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVALGE OF WORKING AT ONE OF THOSE PHARMACIES FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR.

OFTEN THERE ARE PATIENTS WHO MAY BE VERY ILL OR TERMINALLY ILL WHO CANNOT TAKE OR SWALLOW PAIN MEDICATIONS IN A SOLID FORM. THE COMPOUNDING PHARMACY CAN OFTEN PREPARE THOSE MEDICATIONS IN A ORAL LIQUID, OR A TABLET THAT WILL DISSOLVE UNDER THE TONGUE OR WORK BY INSERTING THE MEDICATION RECTALLY. THIS IS A UNIQUE SPECIALTY THAT REQUIRES STERILE CONDITIONS AND A WEIGH TO MEASURE IN AN EXACT MODE THE AMOUNT OF MEDICATION IN ANY GIVEN DOSE. OFTEN THE PROVIDER WHO IS ORDERING THE MEDICATION WILL NEED TO BE EDUCATED AS TO HOW THESE MEDICATIONS ARE MADE AND HOW THEY ARE DISPENSED.

YET ANOTHER AREA OF EXPERTISE IS THE USE OF COMPOUNDED HORMONES FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE FAILED ON ORAL THERAPY. SEVERE PMS, OR SYMPTOMS THAT MAY OCCUR POST MENAPAUSE ARE TWO SUCH EXAMPLES OF SUCH A USE OF A COMPOUNDED RX. THESE HORMONES ARE OFTEN MADE UP IN A CREAM OR OINTMENT THAT ARE APPLIED AND TAKEN IN THRU THE SKIN. BECAUSE THIS IS A NON TRADITIONAL METHOD OF USE THAT MANY PROVIDERS THAT DO BELIEVE THIS FORM OF THERAPY DOES WORK, AND YET WHEN YOU TALK TO PATIENTS IT SEEMS THAT THIS FORM OF THERAPY WORKS ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE SOME PROVIDERS WHO ARE EDUCATED IN THESE FORMS OF THERAPY AND HAVE SEEN REAL CLINICAL RESULTS IN THESE TREATMENTS. THESE PROVIDERS MAY ALSO USE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF THERAPY BUT THEY ALSO WORK IN THE AREA OF COMPOUNDING AS WELL.

TOMMORROW I WILL DISCUSS OME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THERAPY AND HOW THEY WORK TO END YEARS OF SYMPTOMS. AS ALWAYS PLEASE FEEL FREE E-MAIL ME AT brucegreenwald@sbcglobal.net WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

SORE THOAT, WHAT CAN I DO?

THIS IS A COMMON QUESTION I GET AT THE PHARMACY COUNTER, WITH THE WEATHER CHANGING ON A DAILY BASIS, ITS COLD, THEN ITS A LITTLE WARM THEN IT IS SNOWING AND MY THROAT IS SOAR.

THERE ARE A FEW PRODUCTS OUT ON THE MARKET THAT CAN HELP. IT DEPENDS IF YOU ARE AN ADULT OR A CHILD.

FOR KIDS YONGER THAN 10 NOT MUCH CAN BE DONE, TYLENOL OR GENERIC TYLENOL TO HELP KILL THE PAIN. A GARGLE OF SALT WATER THAT IS NOT TO WARM AND NOT TO COLD IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP KILL THE PAIN. TAKE A GLASS OF WATER, PUT IN 1/2 OF A TEASPOONFUL OF SALT, MAKE THE WATER LUKE WARM AND HAVE THE CHILD GARGLE FOR 30 SECONDS, AND DO THIS TWICE IN 5 MINUTES AND THIS SHOULD HELP EASE THE PAIN.

ADULTS HAVE MORE OF AN OPTION, THERE IS A PRODUCT ON THE MARKET CALLED CHLORASEPTIC OR VICKS 44 SPRAY THAT HAS SOME PHENOL IN IT TO HELP KILL PAIN IN THE THROAT. IT KILLS THE PAIN AND NUMBS THE THROAT FOR A FEW HOURS. THE SALT GARGLE IS ALSO A GOOD WAY TO KILL PAIN, AND TYLENOL IS ALSO A GREAT IDEA.

THE MAIN GOAL IS TO KEEP THE THROAT WARM AND MOIST.

IF THE PAIN PERSISTS, GET SOME MEDICAL ATTENTION.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE

brucegreenwald@sbcglboal.net

ANTIBIOTICS AND ALCOHOL

I AM OFTEN ASKED AT THE PHARMACY COUNTER CAN I DRINK WHILE I AM ON THIS DRUG AND IN MANY CASES THESE PATIENTS ARE ON ANTIBIOTICS,

NINTY NINE PERCENT OF THE TIME THE DRINKING OF ALCOHOL WITH ANTIBIOTICS DOES HAVE A DIRECT INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS THAT YOU NEED A SET LEVEL OF DRUG IN YOUR BODY FOR THE DRUG TO WORK. IT SEEMS THAT DRINKING ALCOHOL WIPES OUT THE LEVEL OF ANITBIOTIC TO ZERO, IT IS AS IF YOU NEVER TOOK THE DRUG. SO WITH NO LEVEL YOU GET NO EFFECT!!!

IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT ALCOHOL IS A DRUG THAT UPSETS STOMACHS AND IN MANY CASES AN ANTIBIOTIC CAN ALSO UPSET YOUR TUMMY, SO TOGETHER YOU MAY GET A BIG TUMMY ACHE!!! IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO AVOID THE DRINKING TILL THE ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY IS DONE, SOMETIMES HARD TO DO DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME YOUR QUESTIONS

brucegreenwald@sbcglobal.net

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THE PHARMACIST IS A GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION, AND PASSING INFORMATION TO YOU IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

COLD SORES, AND HOW TO TREAT THEM.

COLD SORES ARE CAUSED BY A VIRUS THAT WE ALL HAVE IN OUR BODY AND FOR THE MOST PART DO NOT SHOW THEMSELVES. EITHER DO TO ILLNESS OR IF YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM GETS A LITTLE WEAK, THE VIRUS MAY SHOW IT SELF AS A SORE ON YOUR LIP OR IN YOUR MOUTH.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT PRODUCTS LIKE ABREVA OUT THERE TO HELP GET THE COLD SORE TO GO AWAY. BUT I HAVE A CURE THAT COSTS ONLY 2 CENTS AND WORKS BETTER THAN ANYTHING ON THE MARKET. I HAVE USED IT MANY TIMES AND I HAVE TOLD MANY PATIENTS ABOUT THIS CURE AND THEY LOVE IT AND HAVE NEVER COME BACK TO TELL ME IT DID NOT WORK.

TAKE ONE ASPIRIN TABLET AND PLACE IT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AND AD ABOUT 5 TO 10 DROPS OF WATER AND CRUSH THE ASPIRIN AND WATER TOGETHER TO MAKE A PASTE. THEN PLACE SOME OF THAT PASTE ON THE COLD SORE WHEN YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT. IT WILL BE A LITTLE PAINFUL FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, AND WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING THE SORE WILL BE GONE!!!

IT WORKS, AND THE REASON IS THAT THE VIRUS GROWS IN A VERY NARROW ph AND THE ASPIRIN IS VERY ACID AND KILLS OFF THE VIRUS. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO DO THIS FOR TWO EVENINGS IN A ROW BUT IT DOES WORK!!!

E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND I WILL ANSWER. brucegreenwald@sbcglobal.net. AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON

TODAY IS NOV 12TH, A MONDAY, AND I HAVE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT EYE INFECTIONS AND HOW TO TREAT THEM AND WHEN YOU SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

MOST EYES WILL LOOK WORSE THAN THEY ARE BUT IF IT HURTS OR YOUR VISION IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE YOU SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT OF WAY.

THE BIGGEST THING WE SEE IS REDNESS AND SWOLLEN AND TEARING. THE FRIST THING ANY EYE DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU IS TO PLACE WARM COMPRESSESS EVERY 15 MINUTES ONTO YOUR EYE, IT IMPROVES CIRCULATION AND IT HELPS YOUR EYE FIGHT OFF ANY INFECTION YOU MAY HAVE. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING COMEING OUT OF YOUR EYE THAT HAS COLOR TO IT, YOU NEED TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT OF WAY!!! IF YOU ARE TEARING THE PHARMACY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

WE CAN OFFER YOU TREATMENTS THAT WILL HELP TAKE OUT THE RED AND HELP SLOW DOWN THE TEARING THAT YOU MAY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE ALLERGYS.

FOR DRY EYE, WE CAN OFFER ARTIFICAIL TEARS, AND FOR CONTACT LENSES WE CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS AND ASSIT YOU WITH A CHOICE.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, YOU SHOULD TO TO THE PHARMACY COUNTER AND ASK FOR HELP, THAT IS WHAT PHARMACISTS ARE THERE FOR!!!

E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND I WILL ANSWER!!

ADVICE ON PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS
FROM PHARMACIST BRUCE GREENWALD

TODAY IS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9TH AND I SAID I WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A REALTIONSHIP WITH ONE PHARMACY AND ONE PHARMACIST WHO KNOWS YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY AND WHAT MEDICATIONS YOU TAKE AND ANY PROBLEMS YOU MAY HAVE HAD WITH THOSE MEDICATIONS.

JUST LIKE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GOOD PHARMACIST CAN REALY HELP YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH CARE. BY HAVING THAT RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN USE THAT PERSON AS A RESOURCE FOR WHAT DRUGS YOU TAKE, AND HOW OFTEN TO TAKE THEM, AND TO SAFELY STORE THOSE MEDICATIONS. YOU CAN USE THAT PHARMACIST TO CHECK WITH TO SEE IF YOU CAN OR CAN NOT TAKE SOME OTC DRUGS. IN ONE CASE I HAD A PATIENT WHO WAS GOING TO BUY SOME ASPIRIN WHO WAS ALREADY ON A BLOOD THINNING PRODUCT, I STOPPED THIS PATIENT FROMA FATAL OUTCOME BY STOPPING THE SALE.

REMEMBER THAT WE AS PHARMACISTS ARE YOUR SOURCE OF MEDICATION INFORMATION JUST AS WE ARE OFTEN THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION TO THE PHYSCIAN.

THE HOT NEWS TODAY IS THAT IF LOOKS LIKE MERCK AND CO. IS GOING TO SETTLE THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF LEGAL ACTIONS WITH REGARDS TO VIOXX. ALTHOUGH MERCK HAD WON MORE THAN 70% OF THE CASES IN COURT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS PART OF THEIR HISTORY BEHIND THEM AND MOVE ON.

ON MONDAY I WILL START TALKING ABOUT THE CONDITION THAT SOME 20 PLUS MILLION OF US HAVE, DIABETES!!! THE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, HOW WE TREAT IT AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES COULD BE AND SHOULD BE. THIS IS A SUBJECT NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AS I HAVE BEEN DIABETIC FOR YEARS!!!