Wheelock Pharmacy

Are you getting enough fiber?

2012-01-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever asked yourself, "what is fiber and why do I need it so much of it?" Fiber is the part of plants that the body cannot digest. There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber cannot be dissolved in water. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. Insoluble fiber is found in wheat bran, nuts, and many vegetables. Insoluble fiber is especially important for helping keep your digestive system "regular". Soluble fiber is common in oat bran, citrus fruits, and apples.

One of the most common recommendations I make for patients is to increase the amount of fiber that they take. A person should ingest 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day. There are a few main health benefits of increasing fiber intake:

First, fiber helps keep the intestines and colon functioning properly. Insoluble fibers create bulk in the stool and help to pass food and waste through the digestive tract. Fiber is also known as a prebiotic, which means it is food for the good bacteria in the intestines. Feeding this good bacteria is also beneficial for the intestines and colon.

Second, fiber is beneficial for reducing cholesterol. Soluble fibers found in oats, beans or in fiber supplements like psyllium, can help to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Third, dietary fiber also helps slow the absorption of foods, particularly glucose, which may be helpful in reducing blood glucose in people with diabetes. Fiber also helps you feel more full, helping you eat less. Eating less can also help reduce blood glucose and aid in weight loss.

As you can see, fiber is very important for everyone's diet. If you have questions about fiber or fiber supplements ask one of the pharmacists at Wheelock Pharmacy. We carry a variety of fiber products that can help you. Keep your body healthy and increase your fiber intake today.

What's My Copay?

2011-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

So how do pharmacies know what to charge each patient when they come to get their prescriptions filled? Well, despite the comments I've heard patients make over the years, the co-pay is not dependent on whether the pharmacist has a vacation coming up or if the pharmacist forgot his lunch and needs lunch money. The truth is, the pharmacy doesn't know what the co-pay will be until the claim is processed to a Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM).

A PBM is a company hired by the insurance company to manage and administer the prescription benefits for your insurance company. Some examples of PBMs are Express Scripts, Medco, and CVSCaremark. The pharmacy submits the prescription information to the PBM and then receives an authorization or a rejection. When the claim is authorized, the amount of the co-payment is sent electronically to the pharmacy and is printed on the receipt. The co-pay generally will be the same at every pharmacy that accepts your insurance. Occasionally, if you have an insurance that pays a flat percentage of your prescription cost, there may be a small difference from pharmacy to pharmacy, as the amount submitted by the pharmacy to insurance may be slightly different.

If you ever have discrepancies regarding the amount of your co-pay, it is best to contact your insurance company. Your co-pay amount is determined by what is loaded into the PBM's computer database by your insurance company. The pharmacy has no ability whatsoever to change an insurance co-pay, and it is not legal for the pharmacy to discount prescription co-pays.

Information on Vitamin D

2011-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

Vitamin D plays an important role in the body. It is needed for the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D produced in the skin and then converted in the liver and kidneys to its active form. Vitamin D deficiency can cause health problems such as muscle weakness, fractures, falls (in the elderly), and rickets.

Sun exposure is a natural trigger for Vitamin D production in the body. In colder climates where people do not get much sun exposure, Vitamin D supplementation may be necessary. Patients taking corticosteroids should also consider vitamin D supplementation.

The current recommendations for vitamin D according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is 600 to 800 IU per day (1.). Higher doses of vitamin D are used for treating known deficiencies. According to the IOM report the upper limit for supplementation is 4000 IU per day.

Vitamin D is found in foods such as fish and dairy products. Wheelock Pharmacy carries a variety of vitamin D supplements available in multiple vitamin preparations, vitamin D tablets or capsules, and liquids. Mention this blog post before December 27, 2011 and you will receive 15% off any vitamin D supplement purchase.

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1. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. November 2010. www.iom.edu/vitaminD

Being Prepared at the Pharmacy

2011-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had to wait 15 minutes or longer at the pharmacy? Chances are you probably have no matter what pharmacy you have visited. One of the ways you can avoid waiting in line at the pharmacy is by being prepared in a couple of areas.

First, call in refills ahead of time, 3 to 5 days before you run out of medication. This allows you to pick up your medications when it is convenient for you. It will also help ensure that you will not run out of medication. Sometimes the pharmacy may run out of a medication. Calling in refills in advance will give the pharmacy time to reorder your medication if necessary. If your pharmacy offers pre-filling of maintenance medications, try to take advantage of that program. This allows the pharmacy to fill orders during non-busy times, so you don't have to wait.

Another advantage of calling your refills in early is in case of insurance issues. Insurance plans may change what is covered at least once or twice per year. If for some reason a claim for one of your medications is rejected, it will be less stressful at the pharmacy if you are not completely out of medication. This will allow the pharmacy time to call your physician and possibly get the medication switched to one that is covered.

The second way you can help being prepared at the pharmacy is by informing the pharmacy of any changes in your name, address, phone number, or insurance coverage as soon as you are aware of the changes. Many times these changes can slow the filling process and cause you and other customers to wait unnecessarily.

Welcome to Wheelock Pharmacy

2011-12-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you for visiting the new Wheelock Pharmacy blog. This blog will provide health and drug related information, as well as information that will be helpful at the pharmacy. Look for updated posts on this blog each week.

Wheelock Pharmacy is an independently owned two store chain in Adrian, MI. Wheelock Pharmacy has been serving the area for over 65 years. We provide pharmacy services as well as durable medical equipment and sleep systems.

We look forward to this blog as being yet another way that Wheelock Pharmacy is "helping you feel better".