You may have read about pharmacies and other companies who offer pharmacogenetic testing to determine which medications will work best for you. So what does this mean and does it really work? The first step is to understand what happens when we take medications. What happens when we take medications? While some medicines are in their active form, others require our body to metabolize or break them down into an active ingredient. Different people can Read more…
Medications can sometimes cause negative experiences for some people. But how do you know if these reactions are an allergy or an intolerance to a medication? Knowing the difference is very important for a few reasons. First it helps your health care professional manage the reaction appropriately. Secondly, if it is a true drug allergy, it would be important to not only avoid the medication you reacted to, but also avoid similar medications that can Read more…
Drug Coverage in Ontario With the recent announcement from the conservative government that they will be changing the coverage for children and young adults under the age of 25 we thought it was a good time to do a blog on drug costs in Ontario. First of all lets review the different drug plans which are available through the Ministry of Health in Ontario. Below are the main public drug programs available to residents in Read more…
E-cigarettes (or electronic cigarettes) are battery operated devices that heat a liquid into a vapour for inhaling or also known as “vaping”. The liquid used in e-cigarettes is sometimes called “e-juice” or “e-liquid” and is a mixture of chemicals that include propylene glycol, glycerol (vegetable glycerin) and combined with other ingredients such as flavouring agents. Some mixtures also contain nicotine in varying amounts. Vaping as a way to quit smoking The main health risks associated Read more…
Do you ever wonder about the storage labels that are on your prescription or medication bottles? Below we go through some of the more common storage conditions for medications. KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR Many medications have to be stored under certain conditions to ensure that you get the correct dose when you use them. Storing in the refrigerator typically means 2-8˚C. If your medication is a vaccine it is always safest to store it at Read more…
There are a variety of reasons why we might have trouble sleeping. It might be a recent issue such as a trip where you travelled across different time zones. Or it might be related to a work project or personal issue that’s causing you stress. In these scenarios, poor sleep is temporary and may resolve on its own relatively quickly. Poor sleep becomes a bigger problem if it has been at least 3 months of Read more…
Mental illness is more common than you think – 1 in 5 Canadians in any given year will personally experience a mental health problem. Unfortunately, almost half of those who feel they have symptoms of depression or anxiety do not seek medical help due to the stigma associated with mental illness and the surrounding myths with antidepressants. Here is a list of common questions we receive about antidepressants: 1) When will it start working? Antidepressants Read more…
November is Osteoporosis Month! We’ve put together some information to let you know what osteoporosis is and what you can do to treat, or prevent it. The goal of osteoporosis month is to raise awareness so that people can try to prevent problems before they arise. What is it? Osteoporosis is a condition which causes your bones to become weak, and more likely to break or fracture. This can happen from the body losing too Read more…