So your doctor has identified your health problem and it’s one a prescription can help fix.

Off you go to fill it and start taking as prescribed. After all, the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll begin to feel better.

But wait! Before you can start taking your medicine, there are some things you should know. One of the most important is possible drug contraindications.

Not all drugs work well together. Not all drugs go well with certain foods or beverages either. Let’s take a look.

What exactly is a contraindication?

Medline defines “contraindication” as “a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person.”

Most of us are familiar with pregnancy as a contraindication for many prescriptions. That’s because some drugs can harm the developing baby when they cross the placenta. But contraindications can be a little less obvious in some cases! For instance, you might need to avoid eating dairy products, drop otherwise healthy foods out of your diet, stop taking common over-the-counter medications, or even limit your exposure to the sun.

Get informed about your contraindications!

Before your doctor prescribes a medication for you, he or she may review your medical history, your current prescriptions, if you have an ongoing medical issue, and anything else which may interfere with your taking the medication properly and safely. If your doctor doesn’t volunteer this information, there’s no harm in asking!

For example, some medications cannot be taken together. If you are on blood thinners, like warfarin for example, you should not take aspirin as that is also a blood thinner.

Your pharmacist can review any other issues with potential for contraindications. For example, your medication may come with guidelines to avoid certain foods while taking your medicine. And again, you can always ask. Watching out for contraindications, and answering your questions about them, are a key part of a pharmacist’s job.

You should also let your doctor and your pharmacist know if you’re taking any over-the-counter medications or supplements (vitamins, herbal medicines and so forth) as these may also interfere with the effectiveness of your medication or even cause additional health complications.

Here are some common contraindications you might encounter.

Contraindications are most common for people with chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease and depression, as well as people who have had or are at risk of having a stroke. 

This list gives you a baker’s dozen of frequent contraindications you may encounter!

1. Grapefruit or pomegranates can alter the effectiveness of statin-based cholesterol medications.
2. Decongestants should be avoided if you have high blood pressure.
3. Leafy greens like kale or spinach can increase levels of vitamin K, which can be a risk for people taking blood thinners for stroke prevention.
4. Vitamin supplements can disrupt the chemical balance needed in your body for certain medicines to work their best.
5. Antibiotics and common pain relievers may need to be avoided if you’re taking blood thinners.
6. Cold and allergy medications can interfere or intensify the effects of certain medications.
7. Alcohol can change the liver’s ability to filter medication from the body, and if you drink while taking certain antibiotics, the combination can make you sick.
8. Salt can increase the amount of liquid kept in your body and this can affect the way your body will process your medication.
9. Chocolate and peanut butter can affect how blood pressure medications and some antidepressants will work for you.
10. Licorice can reduce the benefits of certain medications used for congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms and alter the effectiveness of blood pressure drugs and diuretics (water pills).
11. St. John’s Wort is a popular supplement that can reduce the concentration of your medication in your blood. It is contraindicated in people who wish to use Viagra.
12. Ginseng can interfere with bleeding effects of Coumadin, Heparin, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis). Combining ginseng with antidepressants can cause headaches, sleep issues, nervousness and hyperactivity.
13. Antihistamines can cause your blood pressure to increase and may also speed up your heart rate if you’re taking medication to lower it.

 

Prevention is the best way to avoid problems with contraindications.

Become informed about how the drug will work for you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible contraindications and what you should look for.

Make them aware of your medication history. Keep a record of everything you take, including prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and dietary supplements (including herbal medicines).

Ask about food, beverages, dietary supplements and other drugs with the new drug you have been given.

Read all the labels for prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medications.

Develop a relationship with your pharmacist and make sure to inform everyone you work with about all the prescriptions you take if it can impact your ability to work at times. 

Follow these basic guidelines and you’re well on your way to having a trouble-free experience with your medication!

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

A well-organized medicine cabinet provides you with a convenient place to stow and access important medications and first-aid supplies when you need them. Although many people keep a medicine cabinet in the bathroom, you can actually install yours anywhere. If you have children, you may want to locate your medicine cabinet in an area they can’t access and place a lock on its door. When you locate medical supplies in one area, you’ll find it easier to keep track of them and order refills when needed. We’ve organized a simple list to help you organize and stock your medicine cabinet so that it supports your household’s needs.

1. Gather All of Your Medications in One Spot

According to Consumer Reports, consumers take more pills today than at any other time in recent history. And that relates primarily to prescription drugs. What about all the over-the-counter medicines people take for headaches, scrapes, mild burns, rashes, allergies, etc.? When all of your medications are present and accounted for, you won’t have to search high and low when you need them. When all the items you want to stow in your medicine cabinet are present, you can more easily find the ideal space to keep and organize them.

2. Clean the Space

It’s essential to store your medications and related supplies in a clean space. You may be keeping items like bandages, gauze, and cotton swabs with your medical supplies, and you want to ensure that these items remain clean. Sometimes liquid medications like cough syrups leak, so be sure to clean your cabinets shelving thoroughly before placing any of your supplies inside. If you’re concerned about future messages, you can line your shelves with easy-to-wipe shelf paper, which may provide a more sterile surface than wood.

3. Declutter and Remove Expired Medications

It’s amazing how many items wind up in a medicine cabinet that don’t really belong there. You might find any number of misplaced items like an earring back, toothpaste cap, or buttons. To ensure that your medicine cabinet remains a functional space, be sure to remove any unnecessary items and get rid of expired medications. Before you add any medications to your cabinet, review their expiration dates. If you’re running low on prescription medicines, refill them so that you stock your cupboard with your essentials.

4. Find the Ideal Spot

When searching for a spot for your medications and supplies, it’s crucial to choose a space that’s cool and dry. This is one reason why some people opt not to keep their medicines in a full bathroom because of the heat and moisture that fill the room when someone showers. Some people opt to designate one shelf of their linen closet or pantry for medical supplies. However, if children are present, you might purchase a special locking chest to keep your medications safe and secure.

5. Shop Around

The classic mirrored medicine cabinet hung in the bathroom for many households doesn’t provide enough space for their household medications. The problem with stowing some items in this type of cabinet and other items elsewhere is that when someone needs them, they have to search for them in different places, defeating the purpose of a well-organized medicine cabinet. To accommodate your household’s medical supplies storage needs, you might want to shop around for a medicine chest or stand-alone cabinet that can accommodate everything. That way, you can keep all the shared supplies for your home in one convenient space.

6. Organization

How you choose to organize your medicine cabinet is a personal choice. For instance, if you take daily medications, you may want to group these even though they may be different types of drugs. Some people organize their medicines by class (i.e., allergy medications, cold remedies, anti-fungal creams, etc.) just as a pharmacy does. Suppose you don’t wish to organize your pills by categories or your schedule. In that case, you can manage them alphabetically so that you or anyone else in your household can easily retrieve them when needed.

7. Pill Organizers

Pill organizers are ideal for people who take daily/weekly medications. You can organize your weekly doses in one convenient organizer and then place them in your cabinet. Pill organizers are labeled by day, which is especially helpful for people who might forget whether or not they took their medication that day. It’s surprisingly easy to forget when you take medications daily. You can find pill organizers in many different sizes. If more than one individual in your household uses them, be sure to label your pill organizers with the names of the people they belong to.

8. Storage Features

Many items may be loose and require some storage receptacle like glass jars, small baskets, or plastic containers. Glass jars are ideal because you can see exactly what’s inside of them (i.e., cotton balls, cotton swabs, or bandages). If you don’t use clear boxes, be sure to label your storage bins so that there’s no need to rummage through several when you’re searching for dental floss or antibiotic ointment. Remember that some items are best stowed in protective containers. For instance, you’ll want to keep things like gauze free from dirt, so be sure to store it in a jar or covered basket where it won’t be contaminated.

9. Use the Cabinet Door

The cabinet door of your medicine cabinet may be lined with shelves to help you organize items. You can use these shelves for stowing the items you reach for daily or regularly. These items might be vitamins, daily prescription medications, tweezers, or nail clippers. You definitely don’t want to overload these shelves with too much clutter, or it will prove cumbersome to retrieve your must-have items.

10. Call MedChoice Digital Pharmacy to Clarify

If you have medications that you have been hanging onto, you may not remember details about their use. Be sure to contact your pharmacy to clarify what these drugs do and when you should take them. If you no longer need them, you may wish to dispose of them. If you aren’t sure if you may need them in the future, call your healthcare provider. Having too many miscellaneous drugs in your cabinet will unnecessarily add clutter to your space, especially if you no longer use these items.

11. Add a First Aid Kit

Every home should have a first aid kit. These are basic medical emergency items that you hope never to need. However, minor accidents around the house are often inevitable.Some first aid kit essentials include:

• Disposable non-latex gloves (the kind that healthcare providers wear)
• Bandages of different sizes
• Adhesive tape for fastening bandages
• Roller gauze
• Antibiotic ointment
• Tweezers
• Antiseptic solution
• Eyewash solution
• Hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting
• Thermometer
• Finger splints
• Cotton balls
• Instant cold pack

When putting together your first aid kit for home, be sure to make a travel first aid kit to take with you when you go on long drives. If you have kids, you may want to bring your first aid kit along to sporting events or even the park to contend with any small medical issues that may arise.

12. Stock It

When stocking your medicine cabinet or chest, you’ll want to include your prescription medications. Still, many over-the-counter items may prove useful for you or members of your household. We’ve mentioned several items in the course of the article, but here’s a handy list with a few helpful additions that will round out your supplies, ensuring that you have essential OTC items that most people need at one time or another:

• Aloe vera gel
• Antifungal cream
• Calamine lotion
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antacids
• Pain relievers
• Cough syrups/cough drops
• Petroleum jelly
• Antihistamines
• Sunscreen

These are just a few ideas. Naturally, you’ll want to customize your medicine cabinet to suit your household needs. Plus, if you have children, you’ll want to have children’s cold/fever medications on hand.

Keep Track of It

Be sure that you keep track of all the supplies in your medicine cabinet. It helps to check it every 3-6 months to discard any expired medications and order refills as needed. Make a list of items you’re running low on, like aspirin or ibuprofen, to ensure that your medicine cabinet is always well-stocked and able to supply your household’s needs.

When you have a well-organized and maintained medicine cabinet, you’ll appreciate the hard work you put into creating it. The items stored in your cabinet are likely going to be extremely useful and vital. When you need them, you’ll probably need them right away. An organized cabinet ensures that you can access these items immediately.

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

To prevent pregnancy, estrogen and progestins work together to regulate monthly bleeding and determine whether an individual conceives or not. Natural sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, play a vital role in regulating bodily function, and the use of birth control changes the level of these hormones which can also result in affecting other body organ functionalities and cause certain side-effects.

Common side effects associated with birth control include changes to the menstrual period, resulting in heavier or lighter monthly bleeding, spotting or no bleeding at all. Headaches, breast tenderness/pain and nausea are most frequent side-effects associated with common birth control pills whereas some side-effects are more specific to the form of birth control taken. Birth control taken in the form of a skin patch can cause skin irritation and itchiness depending on where the patch is applied, whereas for vaginal rings may cause vaginal irritation/discomfort and cause in vaginal discharge. And as for IUDs, they can cause discomfort and pain in the lower abdominal area.

Less known birth control side-effects are changes in vaginal discharge, with vaginal secretions being thicker making it difficult for sperm to move, or change in colour. Hair loss, dry eyes, changes in sex drive, and changes in mood are also side-effects that may result due to the intake of birth control. Some of the long-term risks are linked to birth control, but low risks are breast cancer or the rise in risk of developing blood clots.

Individuals that are more prone to experiencing risks associated with birth control include individuals with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) experiencing hair loss, and dry eyes for those who have diabetes, thyroid problems or certain autoimmune conditions. To lower side-effects of dry eyes, over-the-counter artificial tears can be taken along with drinking lots of water. For vaginal dryness, over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers and lubricants may be used to relieve the dryness associated with birth control intake.

Although there is nothing in particular to lower the risks of these side-effects mentioned, there are plenty of ways to help relieve these symptoms, and trying out different birth control products to see which best suits your body can help lessen the side effects you experience, along with the consultation of your healthcare provider.

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

“Eeeewww! Gross! I don’t wanna!” If you’re a parent or caretaker of a small child, you’re probably familiar with these reactions to taking medication. Often too young to know how to swallow tablets or capsules, most toddlers and young children strongly resist taking medicine – and parents or caretakers may end up wearing the rejected medicine.

Why is taking medicine such an issue for little kids? Small children don’t usually tolerate strong tastes well, and most medicine isn’t tasty. Some young children may become afraid of taking medicine because of unpleasant or scary associations; or they may sense a parent’s concern, which can contribute to increased tension and anxiety. While older children can (sometimes) be reasoned with, younger children may simply not understand what is happening and why they need to take the medicine. Unfortunately, kids’ poor experiences early on can impact all their future encounters with medication.

So what can you do to help the medicine go down? Julie Andrews may have sung about using a spoonful of sugar, but we know that’s not a wise approach. Most kids already ingest too many sugary drinks and treats. It may be tempting to tell your child the medicine tastes good—when it doesn’t—just to get it down the hatch, but this can create confusion and distrust. However, there are quite a number of things you can do to help make the situation easier for you and your child.

1. Shift your attitude. Children pick up on a parent’s vibes very quickly. If you’re anxious about giving them their medicine, your children will become anxious too. It may be hard to put on a happy face, since no parent likes to see their child sick, but a positive attitude will help. Routines like bath time, clean-up time, or story time create familiarity and foster a sense of comfort. You may find “medicine time” allows you to create a space in the day where taking their medicine is the focus for your child.
2. Empower your children. Give children age-appropriate information they can process. Help them understand why medicine will help them get better. Use role play to get them used to the idea of taking medicine when they’re ill. Give them a choice in how they take their medicine (a spoon, a dropper or a cup), when they take it (before or after daycare or school), and where (in the kitchen or while watching their favourite program).
3. Ask for help. These days, pharmacists are able to access a variety of compounds and forms of medication. Your doctor and pharmacist can help you navigate the available choices. For instance, perhaps the medicine your child needs can be given in a single dose daily instead of two or four times each day, to minimize occasions for conflict.
4. Improve the taste. If the medicine children must take comes in different flavours, let them pick out what they like most. Most pharmacists can use specially formulated products to increase the range of flavour options available to your child. Just be careful not to describe the medicine as candy or a treat so as to avoid creating confusion for your child about what they’re taking.

1. Numb the tongue. Eating a popsicle, sucking on ice chips, or nibbling on some frozen fruit before taking the medicine can help chill the taste buds sufficiently so strong flavours are muted. Offering a stronger-flavoured food item or a preferred treat after can help wash away unpleasant tastes. You may also find keeping some medicines chilled in the refrigerator can soften their bitterness.
2. Bypass the tongue. Rather than using a spoon to deliver the medicine, try using an eyedropper or a needleless syringe. Keep your child upright and slowly squirt the medicine along the sides of your child’s mouth avoiding their tongue entirely. It may also help to gently stroke your child underneath their chin to get them to swallow.
3. Redirect their attention. Some parents find playing a game like peek-a-boo helps distract the child. Singing a song that includes actions can deflect your child’s attention.
4. Reward positive behaviour. Older children often respond well to incentives like stickers or tokens they can collect to trade up for a special item like a new storybook or small toy. You can use the stickers to count down the days as well so your child can anticipate when they will finish their medication.
5. Teach kids to swallow pills. If your child is eating whole foods well on their own, you can teach them to swallow pills. Offer your child the pill in a spoonful of yogurt or applesauce. The slippery texture of the food will help the pill go down more easily.

Beware of Pill-Taking Pitfalls

Watch out for these four pill-taking pitfalls. Some techniques might seem helpful, but can come with hidden dangers. Or they may simply not be as effective as you would hope. Here are a few cautions to keep in mind when giving your child medicine.

1. If you hide medicine in food, choose a small amount of food to make sure the child eats all of it. Otherwise you run the risk that they may only get a partial or incomplete dose, thus reducing the effectiveness of the medicine.
2. If your child spits out or vomits up the medicine despite your best technique, check with your pharmacist or doctor before repeating the dose. Some medicines can be given again without harm, while others may require you to wait a while to avoid giving your child too strong a dose.
3. If you want to use your child’s favourite spoon, that might work well to help them take their medicine, but you should always use the dosing tool provided (syringe, cup or special spoon) to measure the dose accurately first. Do not use regular dinnerware spoons to measure with, as size may vary and you could give your child too much or too little medicine.
4. If you’re tempted to crush or split a pill to make it smaller or easier for your little one to swallow, check with your pharmacist first. With some medications this is fine, but with others it can affect the way the medication is absorbed. For instance, the pill may feature a protective coating for a timed release or to prevent the stomach’s acids from reducing the medication’s effectiveness. If you expose the inside of the pill in a way it’s not designed to be, it may not work as well. Also, while crushing or splitting can make the pill smaller, it may increase the bad taste or leave sharp or rough edges that are difficult to swallow, so the trade-off may not be worth it in the end.

With a little trial and error, you can find the medication method that works best for your child.

There’s no one perfect way to get a child to take their medicine, but we hope that if you follow these basic tips and ideas, you’ll find something that works for your little one! Being sick is no fun, but when you find an approach to medication that works for your child, you can set the stage for a lifetime of good healthcare.

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

Medication adherence or compliance refers to the extent to which a person’s medication-taking behavior corresponds with those prescribed by a healthcare provider. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that adherence to medications in developed countries averages 50% among patients with chronic diseases, although it can vary substantially by patient population, age and location.

As expected, non-adherence or non-compliance to medications leads to waste, disease progression, reduced functional abilities, lower quality of life, increased use of medical resources, hospitalizations and premature death. Medication non-adherence can arise from taking more or less of a prescribed product, taking it at the wrong times, discontinuing prematurely, or not filling a prescription. It can be an intentional decision or passive unintentional process.

Intentional non-adherence arises when a patient actively decides to not adhere to medication regimen. Commonly cited reasons include adverse effects, lack of expected benefit or stigma, unresolved concerns about diagnosis, lack of symptoms or the time it takes to observe or experience an effect from medication.

Unintentional nonadherence results from factors such as forgetfulness. Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to unintentional nonadherence resulting from physical and/or cognitive limitations in their capacity to manage medications, as well as polypharmacy and complex medication regimens.

Given the impact of non-adherence on hospitalization, morality and healthcare costs, extensive interest lies in developing technological solutions to address unintentional non-adherence, especially in older adults. Smart electronic medication reminders and AI monitoring using mobile devices serves as a convenient economic solution to improve drug non-adherence in older patients.

Pharmacists play a key role in being able to identify patients who may be non adherent or non compliant to medications, guide the choice and use of appropriate adherence technologies, guide the choice and use of appropriate adherence tools, and provide real-time monitoring of adherence. Once unintentional non adherence has been detected in an older adult, pharmacists can be an excellent resource for patients and their care-givers.

MedChoice is continually looking for ways to help patients take their medications. We offer text message and mobile app reminders along with ExactDose Prefilled packages that make it easier to remember when to take your medications. Talk to our pharmacist to learn more about how we can help you remember to take your medications as prescribed so you can enjoy a hopefully longer and healthier life.

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

So antibiotics are medications that oppose the life of certain types of germs. But not all germs. Antibiotics actually only work against bacteria — not parasites, fungi, or viruses. And since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics don’t treat the flu. Instead, they treat infections caused by bacteria like:

• Strep throat
• Whooping cough
• Tuberculosis
• Anthrax
• Bacterial pneumonia

If you have a bacterial infection that requires treatment, your healthcare provider might prescribe antibiotics such as:

• Amoxicillin with clavulanate (Augmentin)
• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• Metronidazole (Flagyl)

But none of these popular antibiotics, or any others, are suitable for flu treatment. In fact, using antibiotics when you don’t need them can make them less effective for you later on. If you actually do need the medication, it may not work as well as it should because of antibiotic resistance. Plus, like all drugs, antibiotics can cause side effects. Taking them when you don’t need them puts you at risk for side effects unnecessarily.

How do you treat the flu?

Antivirals treat the flu — specifically, a class of antivirals called neuraminidase inhibitors:

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
• Zanamivir (Relenza)
• Peramivir (Rapivab)
• Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza)

These drugs work by blocking the neuraminidase protein in flu viruses. This prevents the virus from being able to copy itself, spread to healthy cells, and cause widespread infection throughout the body. While you may still experience symptoms, taking one of these medications can make symptoms milder and speed up your recovery time.

What to do if you think you may have the flu

This year especially, it’s important to get a flu vaccine. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, you want to keep your immune system as healthy as possible. If you think you might have the flu:

• Stay away from others as much as possible.
• Visit a healthcare provider for testing.
• Take any antivirals you’re prescribed as instructed.

If you are diagnosed with the flu, your healthcare provider may or may not prescribe antivirals. Here are a few other ways you can manage your flu symptoms:

• Get lots of rest: Many people who get the flu feel extremely tired. Get as much rest as possible to help your body recover.
• Drink lots of fluids: Keeping your body hydrated can help your immune system stay strong and fight off the flu more effectively.
• Consider over-the-counter medications to manage your symptoms: If your symptoms are bothersome, you might consider over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help. If you have chronic conditions, always check with your healthcare provider before taking any OTC meds.
• For fever, body aches, or a sore throat: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve)
• For a runny nose: decongestant medications such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• For a cough with mucus: guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• For a dry cough: dextromethorphan (Delsym)

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.

So antibiotics are medications that oppose the life of certain types of germs. But not all germs. Antibiotics actually only work against bacteria — not parasites, fungi, or viruses. And since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics don’t treat the flu. Instead, they treat infections caused by bacteria like:

• Strep throat
• Whooping cough
• Tuberculosis
• Anthrax
• Bacterial pneumonia

If you have a bacterial infection that requires treatment, your healthcare provider might prescribe antibiotics such as:

• Amoxicillin with clavulanate (Augmentin)
• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• Metronidazole (Flagyl)

But none of these popular antibiotics, or any others, are suitable for flu treatment. In fact, using antibiotics when you don’t need them can make them less effective for you later on. If you actually do need the medication, it may not work as well as it should because of antibiotic resistance. Plus, like all drugs, antibiotics can cause side effects. Taking them when you don’t need them puts you at risk for side effects unnecessarily.

How do you treat the flu?

Antivirals treat the flu — specifically, a class of antivirals called neuraminidase inhibitors:

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
• Zanamivir (Relenza)
• Peramivir (Rapivab)
• Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza)

These drugs work by blocking the neuraminidase protein in flu viruses. This prevents the virus from being able to copy itself, spread to healthy cells, and cause widespread infection throughout the body. While you may still experience symptoms, taking one of these medications can make symptoms milder and speed up your recovery time.

What to do if you think you may have the flu

This year especially, it’s important to get a flu vaccine. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, you want to keep your immune system as healthy as possible. If you think you might have the flu:

• Stay away from others as much as possible.
• Visit a healthcare provider for testing.
• Take any antivirals you’re prescribed as instructed.

If you are diagnosed with the flu, your healthcare provider may or may not prescribe antivirals. Here are a few other ways you can manage your flu symptoms:

• Get lots of rest: Many people who get the flu feel extremely tired. Get as much rest as possible to help your body recover.
• Drink lots of fluids: Keeping your body hydrated can help your immune system stay strong and fight off the flu more effectively.
• Consider over-the-counter medications to manage your symptoms: If your symptoms are bothersome, you might consider over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help. If you have chronic conditions, always check with your healthcare provider before taking any OTC meds.
• For fever, body aches, or a sore throat: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve)
• For a runny nose: decongestant medications such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• For a cough with mucus: guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• For a dry cough: dextromethorphan (Delsym)

Talk to a MedChoice Pharmacist

Do you have any questions about the above article or want to learn more? Feel free to schedule a call or video chat with one of the highly experienced pharmacists at MedChoice Digital Pharmacy who can answer any of your questions. We are here to help you without you having to leave the comfort of your home.