WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18,1979, PAGE 19 Wise words are ofered to seniors on use ofdrugs "The law says the name of the prescription drug has to go on the label of the medica- tion," Roy Wilson, pharm- acist with Jury and Lovell's, Whitby, told the members and public at the Whitby Senior Activities Centre recently. "But," he said, "some people are blindly taking medication. That is, they are taking a medication and they do not know what it.can do or not do for them. The Senior Citizens represent a big por- tion of the drug husiness." He pointed out that appro- ximately 50 percent of the people over 60 years of age have "some type of a chronic condition." Mr. Wilson ex- plained that a chronic condi- tion is "an on going condi- tion" as conipared to an acute condition which can be treated right away. There are approximatelylo percent of the populatiois of Canada over 60 years of age who "have some chronic condition and they are an economic concern." He des- cribed a chronic condition as being High Blood pressufe, diabetes and one who suffers from a condition which makes the body retain water in the muscles which results in a form of overweight. The maintenance medication for these people comes under the heading of Blood Pres- sure tablets, Insulin and Water pills, (diuretics). "Many people are on con- tinuing medication at some time as the blood level of a drug must be kept at a certain level," Mr. Wilson said. A person who is on a continuing medication can't neglect to tell the doctor what medication he is on as it can be very dangerous if the doctor is not aware of the type of medication the per- son is on and prescribes another form of medication. For example people on a maintenance medication must be extremely careful of most all common cold medi- cines. Anyone who is on a blood pressure medication should not take cold medi- cines that have deconges- tants in them, as this type of cold medication can prove very harmful to the person suffering from high blood pressure. Mr.. Wilson pointed out another lethal combination as he concluded his talk on prescription and non-prescr- iption drugs. fie said another very po- tent combination is that of alcohol and medicine.• Mr. Wilson said that "alco- hol can destroy 25 percent of the drugs' benefit". Some medications can cancel each other out if and when more than one form of medication is taken by a person. The alcohol taken with a sedative or a tranquillizer medication can triple the affect of the medication as each enhances the other. Antacids and iron products are another form of medica- tion that should not be taken at the same time as the antacids stop the absorbtion of the iron product by the body. If a person is on one or more medications, Mr. Wilson advised that the person take a longer time between the taking of the medicatioris. He advised the people on medication of any form not to take alcoholic beverages as the taking of the medica- tion and the alcoholic beve- rage could "give and present some very disastrous results." He pointed out that the pharmacists have a library of 20 fixed stickers telling how to take the medication. That is whether the medica- tion should be taken an hour before food or with food, milk or fruit juices. When some medications are taken with food or liquids the affcet of the medication for that particular condition can be cancelled out and the person will not receive any benefit from the prescribed medication. Also there are antibioties that should be. taken with water. The sulpha drugs which form a big part of the antibiotics should be taken with a lot of water, said Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson, referring to the specific affect a drug can have on a person, used the water pill as an example. A water pill causes a loss of the necessary mineral potassi- uni from the body but; potassium can be replaced by diet such as oranges and bananas which are rich sources of potassium. The reference about anti- biotics brought questions from the floor about the shelf Author is at library April 25 To celebrate Canadian Literature Week, Joyce Marshall. the author of "A Private Place," wiýl speak at the Whitby Public Library April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Marshall's book of short stories follows three earlier novels and consider- able translation work, parti- cularly with Gabrielle Roy. She will talk on Canadian writing, how she became a writer, women as writers, and herself as a woman writer.. date limits of drugs. Mr. Wilson. replied that antibio- 1ies should be used up as prescribed and not left on the shelf. - A person should use the prescribed antibiotics up and not leave them on the shelf in the cupboard as the symp- toms being treated became lateht and when the antibio- tic isn't used the sypmtoms can flare up again. He also commented, there are a lot of cases where people are taking the. wrong medication and taking medi- cation when they shouldn't be. Be sure to ask your.doctor for information about drugs, Mr. Wilson emphasized. "A lot of people don't know what drugs can be obtained through the Drug Plan. Doc- tors and druggists have a book giving a list of drugs that can be obtained through the Government drug plan." Mr. Wilson was asked if the use of Vitamins could be harmful and what are the reactions to a drug. Fie replied that Doctors are giving Vitamin B Com- plex to persons recovering from an operation and the symptom of tiredness. "A person usually shows a reaction to a drug first as a JOHN BANDURCHIN CIartered Accountant 111 BROCK STREET NORTH WH ITBY, ONTAR10 TELEPHONES: BUS: 668-4341 RES: 655-4045 skin rash and/or itching of the skin. The second form of a reaction .is difficulty in breathing. Those who are very sensitive to penicilin can suffer from a very severe reaction." Mr. Wilson said, "there is no need for any one to suffer discomfort when a little knowledge can help. A true allergy is something one can not predict a person has. But when a druggist knows that a person suffers an allergy the person's name is put on a record list, warning that the particular person suffers an allergy. He said that the Pharmacy people a'e governed by two laws. Narcotics and sedative drugs are governed by the Federal Narcotics Law and all other forms of drugs are. governed by Provincial laws. Druggists and doctors can only practice in the Province in which they are registered. They have to be registered in each Province. "Can drugs cause brain damage?" a pre-teenager asked. Mr. Wilson replied that any drug used to control central nervous system disease can do harm. The end result of central nervous stimulation is a coma or, Oven Baked death. "One always has to suffer from the misuse of a drug. The kids are getting a hold of artane, a Parkinson's disease drug and getting a high on this drug." He pointed out that "the kids are getting their highs" from some types of cough syrup. About two months ago his drug store was broken into Collision Specialists and Spray Paint ALL WORK GUARANTEED IN WRITING Free Courtesy Car Available Specialists in ACRYLICS, ENAMEL, and ACRYLIC ENAMEL Expert service on all makes - Domestic and Foreign 405 Mary St. E. Whitby, Ont. L1N 2P9 MOBiLEREADY MIX CONCRETE ON-SITE H EFOR .oecmE686HOME-OWNERS 686-2220 ries 686-2220 and about $700 worth of narcotics were stolen. "Most of the narcotics were a cough- syrup. They must have had a shopping list as everything they wanted they took. They didn't take anything . at they didn't want from he shelves," he said. "Just this particular cough syrup that can give a high, when It is not used in the prescribed manner." ALJOAN; FOR'ALL REASONS There are any number of good reasons toborrow.W'loffer advice, andthe money to see you through. AND GREY TRUSi Since 1844 Contact our office: 308 Dundas Street West Whitby 668-9324 (Toronto Line) 683-7189 Member: Canada Deposit Insurancé Corporation COLIN BALL MOTORS.LUM TED HWY. 7A WEST - PORT PERRY 95-8411 1976 FORD LTD UIRE WAGON Automatic, P/S, P/B, defiuster, luggage rack, vinyl roof. Lic. KOZ019 1976 F100 PrO UP 6 cylinder standard, radio, step bumper, 37,000 miles. Lic. T64 821 668-6446 A i AUTO BODY THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY CONTRACT W79-20 TENDER FOR ONE TWO-TON STAKE TRUCK Tenders will be received by the undersigned until 2:00 p.m., WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1979, for the supply and delivery of one two-ton stake truck. Specifications and tender forms are available at the Town of Whitby Treasury Department, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario. Telephone 668-5803, extension 37. Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. R.A. CLARINGBOLD, Deputy Treasurer and Purchasing Agent, Town of Whitby.