T.J. Samson | Destination Health | October 2018

2 DESTINATION HEALTH Q&A: Your pharmacists talk medication safety M edications are a vital part of your treatment, but only if they’re used safely. David Marr, PharmD, Director of T.J. Samson’s pharmacy, and Megan Brown, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Manager, teamed up to answer questions on the safe use, storage and disposal of medications. HOW CAN I BE SURE I’M TAKING MY MEDICINES CORRECTLY? When your doctor prescribes a new medication, ask him or her how to take it—and don’t deviate from those instructions. Review the instructions when you get the medicine from your pharmacist. Be sure you ask: ●  ● What’s the name of the medication? ●  ● What is it for? ●  ● How much should you take and when should you take it? ●  ● Are there side effects or special precautions? ●  ● If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, is this medicine OK to take? ●  ● Are there other medicines or foods you should avoid? HOW SHOULD I STORE MY MEDICATIONS? Not all medicines should be stored in the same manner. For example, many should not be stored in your refrigerator or in a bathroom cabinet because the moisture in those areas can affect the medicine’s potency. And some medications are sensitive to light and air. So they shouldn’t be removed from their original packing and stored in a pill planner box. Ask your pharmacist how a medicine should be stored. In most cases, it’s best to store medications in a locked cabinet at room temperature. Be sure they’re kept out of reach of small children. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MEDICINES I NO LONGER NEED? First, don’t keep them around. Get rid of them—safely. Many communities hold “medicine take-back” days where you can take your old medicines to a certain location for safe disposal. And sometimes your local law enforcement will have locked boxes where people can dispose of medicines. You can also dispose of medicines yourself: 1 . Mix the medications—without crushing—with something yucky. Used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter work well. 2 . Put the mixture in a sealed plastic bag. 3 .Throw the bag in your trash. 4 . Scratch out all the personal information on the container and toss it in the trash too. Never give your medications to someone else. And don’t hoard antibiotics to use the next time you get sick.They probably won’t work for a different illness, and you’ll be contributing to antibiotic resistance. That’s when bacteria—not people—become resistant to antibiotics. WHAT SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE FOR OPIOIDS OR OTHER STRONG PAINKILLERS? While you’re using them, keep them in a locked box or cabinet. Research shows that when the wrong peo- ple get ahold of opioids, it’s most often through taking them from friends and family. When you’re done with them, bring the leftovers to a take-back event. If one of these events is too far in the future, do not throw these medicines in the trash. Flush them down the toilet instead. Opioids are one of the few medicines that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says are OK to flush. Save the date! Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the Community Center at the T.J. Health Pavilion. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; program begins at noon. Donated items are needed for the silent auction benefiting the T.J. Mission Fund. From spring’s first asparagus to fall’s butternut squash, farmers markets and backyard gardens are chock-full of nutritious food. Doctors have long recommended plenty of produce in a variety of colors as a key part of a healthy diet. One way to achieve that goal: Eat what’s in season. With seasonal produce, you’ll get more than great-tasting meals. Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables may help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. Produce can also help you main- tain a healthy weight, because fruits and vegetables are often high in fiber and low in calories. IMAGINE A RAINBOW The American Cancer Society rec- ommends eating at least 2½ cups of fruits and veggies each day. To get a healthy variety, choose produce in a rainbow of colors— such as orange carrots, green kale and red beets—and don’t be afraid to try new items. Different kinds of produce also offer different vitamins and min- erals. For example, the following foods are good sources of nutrients: ●  ● Artichokes, beans and lentils— fiber. ●  ● Spinach and asparagus—folate. ●  ● Sweet potatoes, white potatoes and bananas—potassium. ●  ● Apricots, carrots, grapefruit and tomatoes—vitamin A. ●  ● Broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower and cantaloupe—vitamin C. When possible, foods, not supple- ments, are the best sources of these nutrients.That’s because produce is packed with other naturally occur- ring substances that are good for you too. Additional sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Produce for Better Health Foundation Seasonal goodness for your health For more information on the silent auction or to buy tickets, please contact Michelle Copass at the Glasgow Daily Times at 270-678-5171 . Tickets to the event will go on sale Oct. 15.