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Ask the Pharmacist

• Q: I am on a fixed income. Are there cheaper generic drugs that can be substituted for my brand-name medications?
• A: In many cases, yes. Many brand-name drugs are now available in generic forms. Currently, about 42 percent of prescriptions are generic drugs, and almost always, the generics are cheaper. In most cases, generics cost 30 to 60 percent less than their brand-name counterparts.
• Q: I am on new medication and worried about how it will interact with my other prescriptions. What do I need to know?

• A: Drugs can interact with other drugs, and foods and beverages too. Interactions can lessen or magnify the desired therapeutic effect of a drug, or may cause undesirable side effects. There are thousands of possible drug-to-drug and drug-to-food interactions, and many medications and supplements are contraindicated (not recommended) under certain conditions or in patients with specific diseases and disorders.

  It is imperative that patients always keep their pharmacist and physician fully informed about all drugs and dietary supplements (including herbal remedies) they are taking. One way to ensure that all of your prescriptions are checked for interactions is to have them all filled at the same pharmacy. This ensures they'll be checked anytime new medications are entered into the pharmacy computer system.

• Q: I get a strange taste in my mouth after using my asthma inhaler. Should I drink water right after taking it?

• A: You are encouraged to rinse your mouth right after using an asthma inhaler—not only to remove the aftertaste, but more important, to avoid developing an oral fungal infection. Rinse your mouth with water, or drink milk or a soft drink, for example, to remove the taste of the inhaler.

  If you can taste your inhaled medication, it can be an indication of poor inhaler technique. Proper inhaler technique ensures the delivery of the desirable amount of medicine to your lungs and less medicine residue in your mouth.

  It is important to rinse your mouth when taking certain drugs called inhaled corticosteroids (ICs)—for example, Flovent® (fluticasone) or Azmacort® (triamcinolone). The residue these medications can leave in your mouth increases your chance of developing an oral fungal infection such as thrush (oral candidiasis). Review inhaler use with your doctor or pharmacist to minimize your chances of developing an oral fungal infection, and be sure to read all the patient information supplied with your medication. If you are not certain if your inhaled medication requires rinsing your mouth afterward, ask your pharmacist.

• Q:What is skin adhesive?
• A: A new way to close small wounds, skin adhesive is a liquid film that your doctor will apply to the wound and let dry. The film holds the edges of the wound together and remains on your skin until it falls off, which takes about 5 to 10 days. If you have skin adhesive on your wound, don't scratch or pick at it; if your doctor puts a bandage over it, keep it dry. Avoid putting any ointment on or near the skin adhesive, as it may loosen and fall off.
• Q: Can I take my blood pressure at home?
• A: Yes you can, by using a home blood pressure monitor. But keep these guidelines in mind:
  • Demonstrate your technique to a health care provider, such as your pharmacist, to make sure that you are using the proper technique
  • Avoid caffeine and cigarettes for at least 30 minutes before taking a measurement
  • Rest quietly for five minutes before testing.
  • Sit in an upright position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported.
  • Wait at least two minutes before repeating measurement.
• Q: I don’t have diabetes, but I’ve always wondered how patients handle monitoring their blood glucose. Isn’t it painful to prick your finger over and over?
• A: Many diabetes patients would describe the blood monitoring experience as a pinprick or pinch with very slight pain. A lancet (a special needle) is used to produce a very small amount of blood for testing the person’s blood glucose level. These lancets are usually spring loaded and/or adjustable to reduce pain. In addition, some newer models of blood glucose monitors allow testing on alternate areas of the body, to allow for sensitivities.