by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — The next time you pick up a bottle of Tylenol, cough suppressant or natural herb, you might want to consider any medications you are on.
The United Church Women of Grace United Church in Cobden hosted a rally Tuesday evening at the church where about 50 women heard guest speaker Leanne Thom, a pharmacist for 17 years with Conway’s Pharmacy in Cobden and Eganville.
Ms. Thom’s topic was Seniors and Non-Prescription Drugs. It was directed towards seniors, because many UCW are 50 and older.
There is the chance that self-prescribed over-the-counter medicines could interfere with the desired health outcome, she said. Adverse drug reactions are always unwanted, frequently uncomfortable and it could be dangerous, she added.
Twenty-five percent of hospital admissions are due to the misuse of medications, which accounts for one in 1,000 deaths, she said.
“If we put that in perspective, that’s only slightly lower than the death rate from all cancers,” she said. “There can be serious consequences. Think, could your next illnessor hospital admission be due to an adverse reaction from a non-prescription medication that you have chosen for self-medication?”
There is opportunity, motive and circumstances for taking non-prescription drugs, Ms. Thom said.
There is opportunity because non-prescription medications are readily available for purchase, whether in a pharmacy, grocery store or even a corner store, she noted.
The motive?
“There is not one person here who does not have the desire to feel better,” Ms. Thom said. “We live in a culture that promotes self-care.”
She noted in Ontario, eight percent of people have no access to a family doctor and 64 percent in the local health network cannot see their family doctor within a day or two of calling to make an appointment.
“So, given opportunity, given motive and give circumstances, we will self-medicate,” she said.
Ms. Thom said 78 percent of seniors have a chronic disease while 30 percent are living with three or more illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and arthritis.
“Seniors are at a higher risk than any other group to suffer consequences of medication mishaps,” she said. “They self-medicate in a way they should not.”
Ms. Thom provided examples of certain over-the-counter medicines that may cause an adverse reaction with prescription drugs. She further noted that herbs or natural remedies and vitamins should be considered medication.
While ginseng may boost energy, if it’s taken with prescriptions for blood thinners, there’s a real risk of increased bleeding, she said. If ginseng is taken by a diabetic who is on insulin, it could cause low sugar.
“For anybody who has experienced low sugar, it’s not a pleasant outcome,” she added.
In the news in recent weeks is a discussion around acetaminophen, Ms. Thom said. She noted that excess doses of acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage. Health Canada is now considering removing extra-strength Tylenol as an over-the-counter medication, she said.
“This could happen in the next six months,” she said, noting, “Because it’s a household name, people consider it to be safe. That may not be the case. You have to be very careful when you are self-medicating.”
Consider the cough and cold medicines people use, she said. The biggest problem with these medicines are the decongestants in them, she added.
“These are one of the main things people pick up themselves,” she said.
A non-prescription decongestant can “significantly raise blood pressure.” It can also affect the pressure in your eyes and negate the effects of the eye drops used for such diseases as glaucoma, she explained.
“Colds will go away in a week to 10 days,” she said. “You really may not want to run the risk of aggravating your pre-existing conditions.”
Ms. Thom said it’s also important to consider drug and food interactions.
“Be careful of what foods you mix with non-prescription medications and with prescription medications,” she said.
If you are taking certain medications for cholesterol, she said people should not eat grapefruit, because it hinders the medication going through the body’s system. Grapefruit and high blood pressure medicines also do not mix well, she added.
“The blood pressure medication builds up, your pressure is now dropping on a regular basis, and the biggest concern is the risk of falls,” she said.
Ms. Thom suggested all the women in attendance at the rally go home and prepare an action plan.
The first is to use one pharmacy/pharmacist for all of their drugs, whether prescribed or not, she said.
“Become as familiar with your pharmacist as you are with your family doctor because they will have access to your drug profile,” she said, adding, “They can help avoid interactions.”
She also suggested everyone carry a list of medications they are taking, again, prescription and non-prescription, including natural herbs and vitamins. If they are not near their pharmacy and need medications, they can show the list to the pharmacist who is filling a prescription, or discuss an over-the-counter drug, she added.
In Ontario, if you are taking two or more drugs, your local pharmacist must do a yearly, medicinal review if you ask, Ms. Thom said.
“Your pharmacist will sit down with you and go over your list,” she said. “This will help avoid some of the interactions.”
And, if there’s no pharmacist where you are, Ms. Thom stressed they should read the package.
“The warning on the packages are there for a reason,” she said. “The manufacturer wants you to be well aware of all the consequences of taking the medications.
“Make sure you read the all the precautions, make sure you read how to take the medication,” Ms. Thom said.
She stressed each person should review their medications every so often, just to ensure themselves they are not doing something harmful, and if there’s a concern, talk to your pharmacist.
“Knowledge and education is the key to safe use of medication,” she said. “You are a crucial player in managing your own health care. The safe use of medications, whether prescription, non-prescription or natural remedy, can help you to ensure you will maintain a lifestyle minimally hindered by disease or illness.”
Ms. Thom said don’t be shy in talking to your pharmacist.
“We, as pharmacists, are always available to answer your questions,” she said. “It is our goal to help you realize optimal health. We want you to have maximum benefits and minimal complications from your drug therapy. You simply have to ask the questions.”
