AROUND TOWN
HEALTH & BEAUTY With expert Pharmacist Andrew Watson of Good Measure Pharmacy
You&Your health
Spring cleaning the medicine cabinet
Spring is the season of change with many people decluttering and freshening up the house. But how many of us turn our attention to cleaning out the medicine cabinet, drawer or shelf?
Now that winter ailments are (finally) starting to wane, what better time to assess and restock your self-help supplies to help spruce up your health routine for 2020.
From headaches to hayfever, having a range of over-the-counter medicines readily available at home, and being mindful not to stockpile your prescribed medication, means you can help save money for both yourself and the NHS.
CHECK EXPIRY DATES There will be lots of homes in South Yorkshire that have had the same medicines in the cupboard for years. But have you ever considered that taking out of date medication can be ineffective or even harmful?
You wouldn’t drink milk that is a week out
of date, so why take painkillers that expired in the ‘90s.
This goes for ointments, supplements and vitamins, too. Discard any item that is beyond its expiration date and any prescribed medication that is more than a year old.
Regardless of the expiration date, discard any items that have changed colour, taste or smell.
SAFE STORAGE
Medicines should be stored as per the instructions, usually in a cool, dry place. Keeping medicines in the bathroom isn’t recommended due to the humidity.
If you have small children, keep all medicines out of reach, preferably in a high cupboard or somewhere that can be locked.
Always leave your medication in the container it came in and discard items that have been removed from their original packaging. This is so you know what the medication is, who it was prescribed for, instructions for use, side effects
10
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
and the expiry date. Packaging also helps protect medicines against contamination and improve shelf life.
DISPOSE CORRECTLY Never throw medicines down the sink or toilet as they can be harmful to the environment. Similarly, don’t throw them in the bin as they could come into contact with children or animals – or into the wrong hands.
Don’t share your medication with anyone else. Even unopened medicines cannot be recycled or reused once they have left the pharmacy. You can return unwanted or unused medication to your local pharmacy for safe disposal whether they have been opened or not. This includes any previous medications you may have had if your prescription has recently changed.
All pharmacies will have a DOOP bin for pharmaceutical waste, however they cannot accept needles, syringes or finger-pricking devices which need to be put in a special sharps bin that is collected from your home by the council.
THINK BEFORE YOU TICK As much as £300million is wasted every year on unused or partially used medication. This could be used to fund 11,778 more community nurses, 19,799 more drug treatments for breast cancer, or 80,906 more hip replacements. Don’t stockpile your medication; check what you have left at home before re-ordering your repeat prescription. Don’t feel like you must tick everything on the repeat list. If you don’t require them, or don’t take them anymore, leave it till next time.
Most pharmacies offer a free Medicines Check Up Service which focuses on increasing your knowledge of the medicines you take, why you take them and how you can take them more easily.
This service is helpful if you are taking multiple medicines, particularly for long term conditions such as asthma and other lung conditions (such as COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema); diabetes; high blood pressure; and conditions where the medicine controls the way your blood clots (anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication).
You may benefit from speaking to the pharmacist if you are not sure how and when to take your medicines, i.e. before or after food, in the morning or evening. You can also gain clarity around what your medicines do, any side-effects you are experiencing and why your symptoms are not under control, particularly if you have been on the same medicines for a long period of time.
RESTOCK SUPPLIES: After you have decluttered your previous collection, try and keep an up-to-date supply of OTC remedies at home to help easily treat minor ailments without the need to see your doctor.
Some basic items include: • Painkillers
For help with everything from headaches to period pain and cheap to buy at pharmacies or supermarkets. If you have young children, keep a bottle of liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen on hand for fevers, teething pain and general pain or viral infections.
• Antihistamines
For allergies, insect bites and hayfever. Some may cause drowsiness so ask your pharmacist if you are unsure. If you are prescribed an inhaler, keep it in an accessible place.
• Indigestion relief
Antacids neutralise stomach acid and are available in chewable, liquid or dissolvable form
• Rehydration salts
Useful to replace minerals and salts lost through sickness and diarrhoea to prevent dehydration
• Anti-diarrhoea tablets Controls symptoms quickly by slowing down gut action, commonly loperamide (Imodium etc)
If you have any specific health concerns, please feel free to contact me at Good Measure or email me at
Andrew Watson
andy@thewatsons.co.uk. In future editions of Aroundtown l hope to address your concerns.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
