"I only take a few prescriptions, but I'm concerned about my herbals and supplements..."

Diana was in to the pharmacy where I work this week to check out our services, and she decided to make an appointment for a review of her medicines. When she dropped off her collection of prescriptions, herbals, and "over-the-counter" non-prescription medicines, it all looked pretty benign. Some calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, heartburn medicine, hormone therapies, and sinus allergy preparations. Wow--I couldn't believe what we determined just from an hour spent investigating her use of these products and potential adverse drug effects!

By reviewing her main complaints (gastrointestinal problems) and her herbals for issues related, we're hoping to save this patient from a colonoscopy, upper GI series, and future years of agony with her digestive system. It turns out capsicum is one of the ingredients in her favorite sinus/allergy medicine. Well, it reportedly causes every single one of her digestive complaints. Until now, she has been to multiple doctors, and she had just made an appointment for further tests with a specialist.

Although her vitamins were all USP rated and of good quality, there were still some issues. We were able to update her knowledge about potential harms associated with vitamin E supplementation. Her calcium+vitamin D supplement was expired. We recommended a new calcium citrate supplement that has a better chance of being absorbed. Assessed her regimen for her heartburn medicine and explained how it is to be taken for maximum benefit (omeprazole/Prilosec OTC won't do any good if you don't take it every day, best on an empty stomach).

This isn't everything we were able to uncover that could be optimized with her regimen, but I can tell you, assuredly, that the "few" things she was taking were in dire need of a qualified pharmacist review. Glad I could help :)