You and your medications
Pharmacy offering non-prescription Prilosec OTC
In September 2003, Prilosec OTC became the first non-prescription proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug available in the United States. PPIs are the prescription drugs most commonly used and most effective drugs for treatment of heartburn and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Prilosec OTC is available in a 20 mg tablet, the same dose as the prescription strength, and was approved for the treatment of frequent heartburn occurring two or more days a week. Yale Health Plan is now using non-prescription Prilosec OTC as the preferred PPI drug. There will not be any additional cost with initial or continued use of Prilosec OTC, and you can also purchase Prilosec OTC at any store where over the counter medications are sold.
If clinically indicated, patients with GERD will also be able to obtain a prescription PPI drug at the YHP Pharmacy. A prescription PPI will be approved for use in longer-term therapy (more than four months) or in cases where Prilosec OTC is not effective. If you have questions please call the Pharmacy at 203-432-0033.
Clinical pharmacy services
The mission of the YUHS Clinical Pharmacy Team is to provide optimal pharmaceutical care. Pharmaceutical care is the responsible management of drug therapy to improve a patient's quality of life.
| The outcomes are: | |
| cure of a disease | arresting or slowing of a disease process |
| elimination or reduction of symptoms | preventing a disease or symptoms |
A pharmacist works with a patient and professional staff in designing, implementing, and monitoring a plan that will produce specific therapeutic outcomes. This in turn involves: identifying potential and actual drug related problems, resolving actual drug related problems, and preventing drug related problems.
How do our pharmacists provide optimal pharmaceutical care?
We constantly review your medication regimen to ensure that your prescriptions will not interact with each other in a way that will be harmful, do not have a duplicate role in managing their health conditions (why pay for two medications when one can do the job?) and are used properly to provide full therapeutic benefit.
Our pharmacists offer confidential counseling to patients: in person, by telephone, via Yale Health Online, a secure interactive web site available to all YHP members at www.yalehealthonline.yale.edu.
Frequently asked questions
What is a generic medication?
"Generic" describes a usually less expensive copy of a well-known and widely used brand name medication. The generic name stems from the chemical name and is chosen by the U.S. Adopted Names Council. In accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, generic drugs have the same active ingredients and should be absorbed into the body at the same rate as their parent brand named drugs.
How does a brand name medication become a generic medication?
When a medication is first developed it is protected by a patent for 17 years. However as long as 10 years may pass between the drug's development and its actual approval. This leaves the manufacturer only the remaining seven years for exclusive sale of the medication. After the patent expires, other companies may produce and sell the same medication with FDA approval. These become the generic versions and can be sold, in most cases, for less money because less research and development must be completed to reach FDA approval. Currently, over one half of all brand name products have a generic equivalent available.
Is the quality of a generic drug as good as its brand name equivalent?
Yes, and it is closely regulated by the FDA. A generic will be approved for sale only after a drug is named a brand name drug's therapeutic equivalent. This means that the generic medication produces the same clinical effect and has the same safety profile as the brand name product. The Yale University Health Services (YUHS) Pharmacy uses only generic medications that are therapeutically equivalent to the brand name product.
Follow directions to assure effectiveness of medication.
Why do some medications have to be taken on an empty stomach while others have to be taken with food?
Medications that should be taken on an empty stomach: The presence of food decreases the body s absorption of certain drugs (common example? - Fosamax, Tetracycline), leading to a lessening of the medication’s effectiveness. Also, some medications may be inactivated by gastric acid (examples? - Ampicillin, Dicloxacillin), secreted during digestion; taking these medications on an empty stomach increases their effectiveness.
Medications that should be taken with food: Some medications can be harsh on the stomach; a common example is Motrin. The presence of food helps to protect the stomach from any discomfort these medications may cause. Also, some medications (Tegretol, Ketoconazole) may require the release of gastric acids in order to be absorbed properly.
Why can't I take certain medications with dairy products or fruit juices?
Certain drugs (such as tetracycline and ciprofloxacin) bind with nutrients found in dairy products to form inactive substances. With fruit juice, the acidity of the juice may begin to break down the tablet before it has reached the site where it is meant to be absorbed. This will cause diminished effectiveness. Grapefruit juice in particular has been found to alter the effectiveness of some medications (Lipitor, Nifedipine, Alprazolam) because it inhibits the metabolism of certain chemicals. Ask your pharmacist about potential food and beverage interactions.
Do I always have to finish my medication?
You should take all medications exactly as prescribed. If the medication is an antibiotic, it is essential that you finish it, even if you start to feel better after only a couple days. You may feel better because many of the bacteria have been killed off. But if you do not finish the medication, some bacteria can survive and develop resistance to the medication, meaning that the next time you are infected by this organism, the medication may not clear the infection because the bacteria may be resistant. Or someone else might catch the disease-resistant bacteria. Other medications can sometimes be stopped before they are finished, but you should consult your clinician.
Why do I have to stay out of the sun when taking certain medications?
Some medications (examples - Tetracycline, Hydrochlorothiazide) react to sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays, causing an increased absorption of these rays. It is important that you stay out of direct sunlight when you are taking medications that cause this photosensitivity, and that you wear sun block outdoors.
Do I have to throw away my medication if it is past the expiration date?
When medications reach their expiration date, the chemical begins to degrade, meaning that that the drug will not be as effective. Some medications can become toxic after the expiration date. You should consult your pharmacist about any medication that has expired, but it is always safest to throw out expired medications.
How should I properly dispose of my medications?
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has provided the following advise for the disposal of medications: http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/p2/individual/consumerpharmdisposalfactsheet.pdf
Why do medications come in different forms?
Sometimes this has to do with the body's ability to absorb the medication. Another factor is convenience. For example, most liquids are easier to absorb than tablets, but many people would rather take a pill than have to carry and measure a liquid; some liquids also taste bad. Most medications are formulated for ease of administration. Some medications are available in more than one form: tablets, capsules, or liquids.
Do I have to take my medications at the times indicated, even if it means getting up in the middle of the night?
Not usually. You should try to take your medication as close to the schedule as possible. For example, if you have a medication that should be taken every 8 hours, take one in the morning when you get up, take one in the early to mid afternoon and one before bedtime. This will allow enough time between doses so that you won't have to get up during the night. If you have any questions, ask the pharmacist.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you don t know what to do if you miss a dose, call your pharmacist. With most medication you should take the dose as soon as you remember. However, if you remember close to the time of the next dose, just take the next dose. Do not double up the dose. The only exception to doubling up is birth control pills, which can be taken in a doubled dose to retain the contraceptive effect. The pharmacist can help you with questions about missed doses.
