Please update the influenza vaccine situation for this season.
.AN ANNUAL VACCINATION against influenza A & B is the most effective method of preventing infection and has been shown to reduce associated complications. Both the inactivated and the live attenuated vaccine contain a new influenza A antigen plus the 2 antigens from last year. The later product is an intra nasal vaccine (not available in Canada) which may be more acceptable to children and offers a needle freeoption for healthy non-pregnant people 2-49 years old.
THE OPTIMAL TIME (October and November) is of course past but the vaccine should be employed until the end of the influenza season in April.
Most medical consultants believe that everyone above 6 months old, without a contraindication, should be vaccinated against influenza. This is especially recommended for those of us above 50 years of age, and for people of any age who are at increased risk of complications such as health care workers and people who have close contact with high risk individuals.
DEAR BILL -
My wife takes Crestor 10mgm and I take Lipitor 20mgm. How can I decrease my costs?
There are several ways to decrease these drug costs:
Try and fill your prescription in Canada and have a friend bring the meds down to you. Crestor 10 costs about $1.20 each in Canada and Lipitor 20 is about $2.00 each.
- For Lipitor, order a double strength tablet at only a slightly higher price. Then buy a pill splitter to cut the tablets neatly in half. An easy way to save substantially.
- Ask your doctor if you can do as well on an older drug such as Zocor. Zocor is now genericized and the generic is much lower in price.
- When visiting your American physician, ask him for some free samples. He may be harboring a cupboard full.
DEAR BILL -
I am experiencing pain and inflammation in my right knee. Glucosamine, chondritin and anti-inflammatory drugs have not worked. My doctor recommends that I consider an injection of Synvisc. What should be my first step?
Anti inflammatory or analgesic drugs are inadequate for many patients experiencing inflammation. Injectable intra articular agents such as Synvisc (a hyaluronic acid preparation) can be helpful along with physiotherapy and exercise programs.
The FIRST STEP is clear - medical imaging. You need x-rays of the knee and ultrasound. The results of these tests will aid your decision.
DEAR BILL,
I have gone through menopause and am concerned about calcium loss in my bones. Should I begin to take calcium supplements?
Four major studies have now shown that there can be problems for postmenopausal women who take calcium supplements. The last study, published in the British Medical Journal, examined the incidence of death, sudden death, myocardial infarction, angina and other chest pain, stroke, and transient ischemic attack in healthy postmenopausal women taking calcium supplements. Myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death were more than twice as likely in the group taking one gram of calcium citrate per day, compared to those taking a placebo. Symptoms were experienced increased between 30 and 60 months of supplementation.
Warning: do not stop taking calcium supplements without a doctor's supervision. If using calcium supplements, take vitamin D to increase absorption and to decrease serem levels.
