Showing posts with label Dietary supplements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dietary supplements. Show all posts

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Is this a good one?

CVS brands are routinely tested and proven high-quality according to the research I have done at consumerlabs.com and their own "satisfaction guarantee." So when the elderly lady in front of me asked if this multivitamin was a "good one," I felt confident indicating that all CVS brand supplements are tested and high-quality with a money-back satisfaction guarantee. However, was this supplement the right one for her?

Actually, since the lady was in a later stage of life, she didn't really need or stand to benefit from the iron in each tablet. Instead, I was able to direct her to a great supplement with even more vitamin D and no iron; since post-menopausal women are no longer losing blood during menstruation, iron replacement is not needed and can actually be harmful. We didn't stop there however, we also assessed the value of the 260 count bottle for $15.89 instead of the 100 count for $8.99 or the 150 count for $11.29. Which one would you have picked? $0.061/tablet (250) or $0.075/tablet (150) or $0.09/tablet (100). We decided on the 260 count and saved her about $7.28 [(0.089-0.061)*260]! Now that's real pharmaceutical care :)

The difference between supplements with glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM...?

This was the question. However, just because that's the product you're asking about, doesn't mean that's really what you need. "Achy legs" are not likely to benefit from any of these, unless there's actual pain in the joints from some degenerative process. Turns out the young lady was in need of support hose, not glucosamine. The average person really does need a good pharmacist to help them understand these things. Another life improved with pharmaceutical care!