Ten Tips for Responsible Medication UseWritten by Barbara C. Phillips, NP
All medications, which include over-the-counter preparations, vitamin and mineral supplements, and herbal preparations, are potentially dangerous. Following some simple rules will not only reduce your chance of having a problem, but should reduce your cost as well.1. Always shop around for medications – there is a significant difference in cost from pharmacy to pharmacy. Check both online and offline sources. For example, several of my patients have realized a significant cost savings by using Costco pharmacy as well as online Canadian pharmacies. Should you choose to use a Canadian pharmacy, please keep abreast of any laws that may affect your purchase. 2. Always check to see if a generic equivalent is available. Today, there are very few medications on market where generics are not acceptable. 3. If you can, have your prescription filled for 90 days. It will cost less than if you bough 30 days worth over 3 months. One of reasons is that pharmacies charge a filling fee for each prescription filled. 4. Will you medication allow you to take a half-tab? For example, if you are taking lisinopril 20mg, you can purchase 40mg tablets and break them in half – a savings of 50%. Always check with your health care provider and/or pharmacist first…not all medications can be broken. Also, consider those nifty little pill cutters…they work wonderfully. 5. Do you really have to take all that medication in first place? The best advice I can give you is to put everything into a bag and take it with you to your appointment. Make sure that you and your provider are on same page when it comes to medications/supplements that you are taking. This is especially true when you are seeing more than one prescribing provider. You may have duplicates that you are unaware of. Always ask…”do I really need this”?
| | 5 Easy Steps to Help You Lose WeightWritten by Amie Gerlowski
When loosing weight, most of us don't have time to drastically change our lifestyles. We need a practical and convenient way to integrate effective habits into our daily lives. The following steps are easy and practical ways to get you on track to loosing weight and feeling better.1. Drink Water! Water doesn't just help quench your thirst. All metabolic processes within body utilize H2O and drinking plenty of it helps your body function optimally. It also helps you feel your best---many of common daily headaches and fatigues we experience can result from a lack of water intake. 2. Eat Breakfast! Many Americans fail to realize true value of a morning meal. It not only boosts energy for long day ahead, but keeps your metabolism regulated. Skipping a meal can put body into "survival mode" which means that it actually begins storing and saving fat as opposed to burning it. 3. Exercise! There is no easy way around it: successful and sustained weight loss requires a commitment to physical activity. The best way to be loyal to physical activity is to work it into each day. Take a small part of each day to go for a walk, do aerobics, do yoga, or whatever other type of activity you enjoy. Mix it up so that you don't get bored with it. Soon, you will not only get used to it, but you will feel better too!
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