CanDrug February 2006 Newsletter

February 2006 Issue of the CanDrug.com Newsletter

Issue 17 February 2006

CanDrug Health Solutions Inc.,

Are you frustrated by the Medicare Plan “D”?  What other alternatives do you have?

     How can I save money for my medications if the Medicare Plan “D” does not help me?   

     What happens in the middle of the year if my physician changes my prescription(s) and my Medicare Plan “D” does not cover the new drug?

     After the deductibles and co-payment – the Medicare plan D does not give me enough savings to join? What are my alternatives?

     CanDrug.com is your alternative choice!  We are here to help if your Medicare Plan D fails to save you money.  Our mission is to provide convenient and affordable discount prescription drugs to those that need them most.  If you are interested in learning the effective ways of minimizing your medication bills, please give us a call at 1-888-488-3784 Mon – Fri 9-5 Pacific Time and see how much you can save.

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Find a doctor?  Score your doctor?

www.drscore.com is a website that allows patient to rate their satisfaction with their doctors and view the ratings of other doctors too.  It also offers help to locate a doctor in your area. Please feel free to visit their site – there is no charge for this service.

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First Aid Guide

Important: this is a brief guide to the emergency help that can be given in the event of a heart attack or cardiac arrest before the arrival of emergency services. It is not intended as a replacement for a first aid or resuscitation course.

Heart attack: First aid

A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying your heart with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. This loss of blood flow injures your heart muscle. A heart attack generally causes chest pain for more than 15 minutes, but it can also be "silent" and have no symptoms at all.

Many people who suffer a heart attack have warning symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor of an attack may be recurrent chest pain that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest.

Someone having an attack may experience any or all of the following:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of the chest. The pain might last several minutes or come and go. It may be triggered by exertion and relieved by rest.
• Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
• Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest to the shoulders, neck, jaw, teeth, one or both arms
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
• Sweating
• Nausea

How can you tell if someone is having a heart attack?

If the person is unconscious:

• are they breathing? Look at the patient's chest to see if it is rising and falling.
• do they have a pulse? Place two fingers on one or other side of the person's voice box in their throat to feel if they have a carotid pulse.

If the patient has a pulse but is not breathing:

• could it be because of suffocation? Feel inside the mouth with a finger to see if there is anything blocking it or the windpipe and remove any food or other objects. Provided that dentures are not broken, it is better not to remove them.
• call for help immediately, stating that the casualty is not breathing, and provide resuscitation (see below) until the patient begins to breathe or the ambulance arrives.

If there is no breathing or pulse, the patient has had a cardiac arrest.

What help is needed?

• If possible, raise the legs up 12 to 18 inches to allow more blood to flow towards the heart
• Immediately place the palm of your hand flat on the patient's chest just over the lower part of the sternum (breast bone) and press your hand in a pumping motion once or twice by using the other hand. This may make the heart beat again.

If these actions do not restore a pulse or if the subject doesn't begin to breathe again:

• call for help, stating that the casualty is having a cardiac arrest but stay with the patient.
• find out if any one else present knows CPR.
• provide artificial respiration immediately (see below).
• begin CPR immediately (see below).

How to give artificial respiration

• Tilt the head back and lift up the chin.
• Pinch the nostrils shut with two fingers to prevent leakage of air.
• Take a deep breath and seal your own mouth over the person's mouth.
• Breathe slowly into the person's mouth - it should take about two seconds to adequately inflate the chest.
• Do this twice.
• Check to see if the chest rises as you breathe into the patient.
• If it does, enough air is being blown in.
• If there is resistance, try to hold the head back further and lift the chin again.
• Repeat this procedure until help arrives or the person starts breathing again.

How do I perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)?

See if there is breathing. If not, start artificial respiration as described above. Checking for a pulse in the neck (carotid artery) may waste valuable time if the rescuer is inexperienced in this check. The procedure is:

• place your fingers in the groove between the windpipe and the muscles of the side of the neck. Press backwards here to check for a pulse.

If there is no pulse, or if you are unsure, then proceed without delay thus:

• look at the person's chest and find the 'upside-down V' shaped notch that is made by the lower edge of the ribcage. Place your middle finger in this notch and then place your index finger beside it, resting on the breastbone. Take the heel of your other hand and slide it down the breastbone until it is touching this index finger. The heel of your hand should now be positioned on the middle of the lower half of the breastbone.
• now place the heel of your other hand on top of the first. Keep your fingers off the chest, by locking them together. Your pressure should be applied through the heels of the hands only.
• keep your elbows straight, and bring your body weight over your hands to make it easier to press down.
• press down firmly and quickly to achieve a downwards movement of 4 to 5cm, then relax and repeat the compression.
• do this 15 times, then give artificial respiration twice, and continue this 15:2 procedure until help arrives.
• aim for a rate of compression of about 100 per minute. You can help your timing and counting by saying out loud 'one and two and three and four ...' etc.

Artificial respiration and CPR should both be performed at the same time

• If possible, get someone else to help - one person to perform artificial respiration and the other to perform CPR. (This is not easily done without prior practice and it is well worth attending sessions on CPR training to become familiar with the technique.)
• The ratio of chest compressions to breaths is 15:2 for both one-person and two-person CPR.
• Continue until the ambulance arrives or the patient gets a pulse and starts to breathe again.
• If the pulse returns and breathing begins but the person remains unconscious, roll them gently onto their side into the recovery position. This way mucus or vomit can get out of the mouth and will not obstruct the patient's breathing. It also prevents the tongue from falling back and blocking the air passage.

Make sure the patient continues breathing and has a pulse until the ambulance arrives

• If you succeed in resuscitating the person who has been taken ill, he or she may be confused and alarmed by all the commotion. Keep the patient warm and calm by quietly, but clearly, telling them what has happened.

Again, it needs to be emphasized that the only way to provide proper first aid and resuscitation is through learning the technique, then regular practice and guidance.

Based on a text by Dr Henrik Omark Petersen/netdoctor.co.uk and extracted from www.mayoclinic.com

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Zocor Generics  – (Simvastatin) – What a deal!

Zocor (Simvastatin) - GENERIC Information : Zocor Canada (Generic) is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood or to raise HDL levels.Zocor Canada (Generic) may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.Zocor Canada (Generic) may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. IF YOU ARE TAKING 1 DOSE of Canadian Zocor A DAY, take your dose in the evening or at bedtime as directed by your doctor. AVOID DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE while taking Canadian Zocor. STORE Canadian Zocor at room temperature, away from heat and light. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Zocor from Canada. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE Zocor from Canada if you are also taking mibefradil, HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir), macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin), or nefazodone. Use caution if the following drugs are combined with simvastatin because serious side effects (such as myopathy) infrequently could occur: fibrates (e.g., gemfibrozil, fenofibrate). ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE of Canadian Zocor OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking amiodarone, colestipol, cholestyramine, niacin, cyclosporine, dalfopristin, digoxin, verapamil, blood thinners (e.g., warfarin), diltiazem, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), or azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole).

Zocor (Simvastatin) - GENERIC Side Effects: NO COMMON Zocor side effects have been reported with the proper use of this medicine. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience Zocor side effects like muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if associated with fever and a general feeling of discomfort; rash; yellow skin or eyes; or unusual bleeding or bruising. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience the following Zocor side effects or symptoms of toxicity: swelling of hands, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing; or hoarseness. If you notice other Zocor side effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Zocor Generics

*Price subjects to change without further notifications.

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