Here are a list of commonly asked questions with answers.

Disclaimer: This is for information only and is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you need personal treatment options or have any questions that affect you directly.

• Question: Why does the insurance price of my prescription differ for the same exact prescription at different pharmacies.
  • Answer: In general some insurance companies have contracts with a particular provider or pharmacy chain called a preferred provider to provide services to you at a discount. If you use a non-preferred provider you may have to pay more.

• Question: What are compression socks used for?
  • Answer: Compression socks are typically used to apply pressure to the legs and ankles to improve blood flow from the legs back up to the heart. They reduce pain and swelling. There are different types available in different lengths and tightness. The different types are used for different symptoms or treatments.

A few different reasons to use compression socks are:

• To boost circulation
• To prevent deep vein thrombosis – also known as blood clots
• To help with pain from varicose veins
• To reduce swelling in the ankles and legs
• To improve drainage in the lymphatic system
• To prevent ulcers 

They are available over the counter but your doctor can also write out a prescription for it.

• Question: Why is aspirin not safe for children?
  • Answer: It has been linked to Reye’s syndrome in children and young adults when used to treat viral infections like chicken pox, flu, etc.
    • It is therefore generally recommended not to give aspirin to children under the age of 16, for the treatment of fever or pain unless directed by the doctor.
    • It should NOT be used in children under the age of 16 who have flu-like symptoms, respiratory infections or chicken pox.

Note:

• Reye’s syndrome is a rare condition that can occur in both children and adults. The exact cause of Reye’s syndrome is unknown. It can seriously affect the brain and liver if untreated by causing swelling and pressure in the brain, and a build up of fats in the liver and other organs in the body.
  • Some symptoms of Reye’s Syndrome are:
    • Behavioral changes like irritability or aggression
    • Confusion
    • Convulsions
    • Lack of energy
    • Loss of consciousness
    • Persistent vomiting
    • Seizures

• Question: Why should I not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products, vitamins or antacids?
  • Answer: In general antacids affect the absorption of ciprofloxacin in the body, so do some vitamins and minerals that are also found in dairy products. This significantly reduces the effect of ciprofloxacin. It is therefore advised to take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after any dairy product, antacids, or vitamins.

• Question: Why does the prescription label for doxycycline say to take it in an empty stomach, and then say to take it with or just after food.
  • Answer: Doxycycline works best when taken on an empty stomach, so it is best taken 1 hour before food or 2 hours after food; but it can cause an stomach upset in some people. In this scenario it is advised to take it with or just after food in order to benefit form taking the medication and minimize the upset stomach.

• Question: Is it safe to go over the maximum recommended dose for a medication?
  • Answer: No, it is not for so many reasons.
    • You are at an increased risk of have one or more of the stated side effects of the medication.
    • You are at risk of having an exaggerated drug effect or side effect that may be dangerous eg. excessive sedation, excessive dizziness, etc.
    • You may have toxic levels of the drug in question which may cause effects like kidney damage, liver damage, respiratory depression, irregular heart beat, etc.
  • Accidentally taking more than the recommended dose of a medication as an isolated incident is probably not going to harm you. If that should occur, call your pharmacist immediately and they can let you know what to do, or call POISON CONTROL at 1-800-222-1222 or online at https://www.poison.org/. If the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can’t be awakened CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

• Question: Is it safe to use expired medication?
  • Answer: No, it is not okay to use or take expired medication. The expired medication may be ineffective, it may be unsafe because of chemical decomposition or it may have increased bacterial activity because of the failure of the preservative in it.

• Question: Can Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen be used together?
  • Answer: Yes, it is safe to use acetaminophen and ibuprofen. They are both used to treat headaches, pain, and fever. In some instances, one or the other does not help with the pain or fever sufficiently, in that case, they can be taken at the same time or they can be alternated. Remember that ibuprofen MUST be taken with or just after food while acetaminophen does not have to be.

• Question: Sometimes I get heartburn or indigestion and resort to taking Tums. Is it dangerous to take too many of those in a day?
  • Answer: It can be, if you take too many over a long period, it can cause confusion, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and a feeling of weakness. It can also cause kidney stones and can affect your heartbeat. It is therefore very important not to take more than the maximum dose stated on the bottle.
  • It should not be taken continuously for more than 2 weeks unless directed by your doctor.
  • If your medication does not help with your symptoms contact your doctor so they can help you.

Note: Tums is an antacid containing calcium carbonate as its active ingredient. Antacids neutralize the acid in the stomach and therefore reduces the acidity of the refluxed contents making it less irritating to the esophagus and thus less painful.

• Question: What does it mean for a drug to be photosensitizing?
  • Answer: This means that the drug in question can make your skin sensitive to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or from artificial light. Some of the photosensitive effects are rashes, scaling skin, itching, allergic reactions and aging of the skin.
    • It is therefore important if you are taking a photosensitizing drug to make sure you are putting on sun block regularly if you are going to be exposed to the sun and light.
    • It is important to wear protective clothing.