The Outpatient Pharmacy is committed to providing excellent patient care and customer service.
Special thanks to Ana Zimmerman for her efforts and initiatives in editing and making this newsletter possible. We also thank Donna Reed for the Calcium update. The KURX Automated Prescription System is fully operational. The system, which is very user friendly, is available 24 hours a day. The system will not only tell you if your prescription may be refilled but will also tell you when it will be available for pickup. If you did not yet tried the system please try it by calling (913) 588–2361. From the Rx Files: We are approaching allergy season. Antihistamines are widely used to relieve allergy symptoms. Antihistamines can also be used for hives and insect bites. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is the most commonly used antihistamine. Remember that these medications may cause drowsiness and should be used with caution. Be sure to read the label directions. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. The Outpatient Pharmacy stocks several allergy products and our pharmacists can assist you in making the proper choice. From our Mailroom: Please remember to allow 4-5 days for the mail service to deliver your medications. There is a charge of $2.00 per order for this service. Are you getting enough Calcium? Probably not. As high as 90% of American women don’t! Calcium is necessary for strong bones, as well as a healthy heart, muscles, and nervous system. Your bones are like a "bank" of calcium. When you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body starts making "withdrawals" from bones, eventually "robbing" the bank, resulting in decreased bone mass, weaker bones and risk of fracture. With age, more bone is broken down than is reformed, resulting in osteoporosis, a debilitating and painful disease (men are also at risk). There may be no symptoms until a fracture occurs. |
Risk factors include: being female, Caucasian, Asian and small-boned, sedentary lifestyle and smoking. Calcium supplements can help maintain strong bones. Some factors to consider when selecting a supplement is price and convenience (how many tablets do I need to take every day?). It is important to read the label. Different formulations contain different amounts of elemental calcium. For example, 1250mg calcium carbonate contains 500mg of elemental calcium (40%), compared to calcium lactate 650mg which contains 84.5 mg elemental calcium. More tablets are required to achieve the same dose. Calcium supplement # of tablets to provide 1000mg of calcium Calcium carbonate, 1250mg 2 Calcium carbonate is the most commonly use calcium supplement; it is inexpensive and available in many forms. It has the highest percentage of elemental calcium, therefore, fewer doses are needed. Many generic products are available. Some available brands are Os-cal, Tums (a chewable, pleasant tasting antacid), Caltrate, and Viactiv (a soft, flavored chewable, somewhat more expensive). Calcium carbonate must be soluble to be absorbed by the body. Solubility is increased by acidity in the stomach. Solubility and absorption are enhanced when taken with meals. Calcium citrate (21% elemental calcium) requires larger, or more tablets per day. It is more expensive that calcium carbonate, but does not need to be taken with meals. Calcium phosphate, dibasic (Posture) contains 39% elemental calcium but is more expensive than calcium carbonate. |