Greetings Bristol!

I hope everyone who went enjoyed the fair and that all the rest of you are staying cool! My August aim is to protect you from fraudulent activities where your medication is concerned.
One area of pharmacy that is ripe for scams is the natural products/vitamin industry. One thing most people don’t know is that the FDA does not evaluate or approve any vitamin or herbal product for use. Even though the companies still have to follow manufacturing guidelines for cleanliness, they do not have to standardize their products or conduct tests to prove they even work. Be wary of any natural products which claim to treat, cure, or lessen the effects of a disease. These claims are completely illegal and any company making them is likely to be operating outside healthful guidelines.

Occasionally I am willing to recommend natural products, usually basic vitamins, but I will likely ask questions about your current prescriptions and disease conditions. Just because a vitamin/herbal is offered does not mean it is safe for everyone to use. An example which is in the news quite a bit lately is fish oil. Fish oil can be beneficial, but if you are taking any type of blood thinner or other cholesterol medication, it is not likely a good choice for you just because the ads say so.

With nearly everyone struggling in this economy, it makes sense to try to find your medications cheaper online. The thing you need to be aware of is there are very few sites which are properly licensed as pharmacies. If you order online, please be sure you see a seal on the homepage that says VIPPS, or Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site. This means the company has the same licensing as a brick-and-mortar type pharmacy like mine. These pharmacies are required to ensure the drugs are not counterfeit or damaged. There are no guarantees if you use a non-certified online pharmacy and that could be dangerous.

In conclusion, please be careful and come to me if you encounter any questionable products or websites and I’d be happy to check them out for you. Have a wonderful August and I wish all the kids a safe and exciting return to school!

JOKE OF THE MONTH:
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,
“Where’s the self-help section?”
She answered “If I tell you, it would defeat the purpose.”

Katrina, Pharmacist
Mor for Less/Bristol Pharmacy 848-0660