Healthy living
Medicines and supplements
Pharmacy news, June 2008
Ailsa Colquoun brings us news of a new pharmacy allergy service, medication education, a campaign for cervical smears for the over-65s and more
New pharmacy allergy service
Pharmacies will soon be offering a new allergy testing service that aims to make it easier to get credible and affordable specialist advice. In a link-up with allergy charity Allergy UK, pharmacists are being trained to offer screening for all known allergies.
You’ll have a 30-minute session with a pharmacist, who will ask you about your medical history (for example, if you have ever had asthma, eczema or rhinitis); this is to try and establish that an allergy rather than an infection is causing the symptoms). Then, they will ask about various aspects of life style, such as whether you have pets or spend a lot of time near grass, as this will help to identify what allergens are the likely to be triggering your symptoms. You’ll be advised how to manage the allergic reaction: what over-the-counter medication might help, what allergens to avoid and, if appropriate, they may suggest you ask your GP to refer you to an allergy specialist. Allergy UK will then send you a tailored information pack and further support. Blood tests are available for certain allergens and these may be provided at additional cost.
So far, 600 pharmacists have signed up to get specialist training, although the aim is eventually to offer the service countrywide. Accredited pharmacies will have dated certificates on display in their pharmacy and a session costs £35. A list of service providers is also available at: Allergy UK's website.
Are you taking your medicines properly?
The National Pharmacy Association, which represents the UK’s community pharmacies, believes that as many as one in two older people may not be getting optimum benefit from their medicines As many as three in 10 people over 50 may not be taking their medicines as prescribed, according to its research.
The main problem is that people do not always fully understand why they have been prescribed a particular medicine, or they simply forget. In a poll of 830 people aged over 50, 29 per cent said they sometimes forget to take their medicines. One in five said they deliberately stop taking their medicines if they start to feel better.
The Association believes that when people are first prescribed a medicine, they may be focusing on the diagnosis and may not think to ask questions until later. They also may not realise that pharmacists are qualified to answer questions on medicines and on any side effects you may be experiencing. Free one-to-one consultations with a pharmacist are widely available. A new pharmacy locator website is available at the National Pharmacy Association website
Older women need smears too
Cancer experts are calling for routine cervical screening to be extended to women over the age of 65.
After looking at the effectiveness of the national cervical cancer screening program in Sweden, they conclude that having a smear test can reduce a woman’s risk of developing the condition, whatever her age. They found that women who had not had a routine Pap smear test were more than two and a half times as likely to develop cervical cancer than those who had. They found that all age groups, including women aged over 65, could reduce their risk of developing the cancer if they had a smear test.
Experts note that almost a third of all cancers and an even greater percentage of late-stage tumours appear in women older than 65 years. In the UK, cervical smear tests are only offered routinely to women aged up to 65 years.
Medicine and product news
- Liver failure has been added to the side effects for the over the counter cholesterol-lowering treatment Zocor Heart-Pro. Simvastatin, the main ingredient in Zocor Heart-Pro, is already known to affect the liver and the risk of patients developing liver failure with the treatment is considered very rare, at less than one person in every 10,000 taking the drug.
- Senokot Hi-Fibre has been rebranded to Fybogel Hi-Fibre. The renaming aims to help customers find the product among the rest of the Fybogel constipation relief range. The formulation and flavours remain unchanged
- Menovone, from Wassen, is a slow release isoflavone nutritional supplement designed to maintain health after the menopause. As well as isoflavones, the product also contains folic acid and a range of vitamins, which together are said to offer brain, heart and bone health benefits. Packs of 30 cost £9.95.
- HiBi wash is a new pump-format antimicrobial hand and body wash designed to be effective against a wide range of micro-organisms, including hospital superbug MRSA. The range also includes a more portable gel hand rub. Prices start at £2.59.
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
