Phil, Pharmacy Manager

Did you know you can request your refills online? You will need your prescription number and your phone number. There is a link on our website or you can go to http://rxrefill4u.com/harmons/. You can view available prescriptions, see your prescription history, and even get drug information.

Ordering refills in advance can help minimize wait times and can be done online or by calling us. Our automated phone system is available 24 hours a day. If you are waiting in our stores try taking one of our pagers. Pagers put you ahead of the people who are not here and we will notify you when the prescription is ready. This helps us prioritize our work flow and take better care of you.

Jessica, Pharmacy Manager

In this age of smart phones and computer tablets, managing your diabetes is easier than ever! Thousands of apps are available to help you take better care of your illness. Here are some solutions that are available that may have not crossed your mind:

1. Tracking Blood Sugar. Download an app to help you track your blood sugar. A pen and paper isn’t always handy, but a cell phone is. These apps can provide graphs and trends in blood sugar that are easily sent to a computer to print or even to your doctor before appointments in order to better analyze your personal information.
2. Counting Carbs. There are apps available to help you with carbohydrate counting. Carb counting can be a pain! But, by entering in the food you want you eat, these apps can give you an approximation of carbs/serving. Most restaurants will have their menus with nutritional information on their websites.  If you are out to eat and not sure what is appropriate for your diet, call up their webpage. This information can be accessed on your tablet or cell phone.
3. Organizing Prescriptions. Often, especially in complicated or uncontrolled diabetes, there are so many medications involved that it can be difficult to remember to take all of them! If any of you are like me, I have a hard enough time remembering to take my multi-vitamin once a day, let alone insulin injections with meals and injections nightly and tablets once or twice daily along with testing blood sugar up to 6 times a day! Sounds confusing. There are apps that send you messages and alarms when it’s time to take your medication. This can also help you remember if you actually took your medications that day. You can also get reminders to refill your prescriptions.

Take a look in your phone or tablet’s app store to see what is available – this could be a free and easy way to help more effectively manage your diabetes. Let’s “App Up” for a better life!

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

In California in 2010 an epidemic of whooping cough infected more than 5,000 people and caused some fatalities. This disease can be prevented if we all make sure we are current on our vaccinations. In 2005, a vaccine called Tdap became available to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) in adolescents and adults.  Adults and seniors should receive the Tdap vaccine to protect themselves and also prevent the spread of the disease to others, especially if they have contact with infants less than 12 months old. Another benefit for seniors is the vaccine can be billed to Medicare part D at your local Harmons. Adolescents and teenagers are often behind on their vaccines since childhood immunizations wear off over time and require boosters. This population is also very susceptible to getting and spreading diseases that can be prevented by Tdap. All of our pharmacies have the vaccine in stock and are giving the vaccine to eligible patients 11 and older.  To learn more about the vaccine please contact your local Harmons pharmacist. Visit our locations page to find the address and phone number for the Harmons Pharmacy closest to you. For more information on the pertussis vaccine, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/.

Here is an informative video from the Utah Department of Health and the Stop Whooping Cough campaign.

Get your Tdap at Harmons and receive a cute baby onsie like the one seen in this video.

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

This can happen with over the counter nasal sprays that contain a decongestant like oxymetazoline (Afrin, Sinex) or phenylephrine (4-Way, Neo-Synephrine).  This rebound congestion happens when you use the nasal spray longer than the recommended 3 days.  With over use the congestion then comes back and can be worse.  It even has a fancy term called rhinitis medicamentosa.  The congestion can linger for several days and it can be miserable to taper yourself off of the medication.  The best thing is to take it as directed so this doesn’t happen.  In some cases with patients who have been overusing these nasal sprays, prescription nasal sprays that contain a steroid may be needed.  Pharmacists at Harmons are here to answer any questions you may have.

Jessica, Pharmacy Manager

It’s that time again. Harmons is sponsoring the American Diabetes Association Expo for the second year! Admission to the expo is FREE! There will be professionals at your fingertips to help you customize a plan to healthy living with diabetes.

• Many FREE health screenings will be available, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol.
• Harmons award winning chefs will offer cooking demonstrations and tasty, glucose-friendly recipes.
• Harmons Registered Dietitians will be on-hand to answer questions and explain how to optimize your shopping experience by making healthier choices.
• Product exhibits and presentations will provide knowledge on the most cutting-edge technology and research.
• Features a Family Fun/Healthy Kids area that focuses on information geared toward youth living with diabetes.

Come learn more about healthy living with diabetes in a FUN way!  To pre-register or for more information visit www.diabetes.org/exposaltlakecity or call 1-888-DIABETES ext. 7072.

South Towne Expo Center
March 2, 2013
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sandy, UT

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

Neti pots have become very popular over the last couple of years partly due to Oprah. A lot of patients swear by them and are finding relief to congestion, allergies, and sinus pressure. There is however some debate over how often they should be used and if they can increase sinus infections. There is also concern over misleading and missing information from the manufactures of these products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent out a consumer update about these concerns in August of 2012 and can be viewed at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm.

Things to consider when using a sinus rinse product:

• Keep the pot clean by washing and air drying it after each use. The FDA recommends using sterile, distilled, or boiled then cooled water to do this.
• I wouldn’t share your pot with a family member or friend.
• Overuse may cause more sinus infections. I would recommend not using it more than 1 to 2 times a day when needed. I discourage using it daily for a long period of time without being monitored by your physician.
• Don’t use tap water. Sterile or distilled water is recommended by the FDA. Tap water can have organisms that the stomach can tolerate, but can cause an infection in your sinuses. Contaminated tap water used in a sinus rinse product has been linked to the death of 2 people in 2011 that developed a rare brain infection.*

*From the FDA web site: “Improper use of neti pots may have caused two deaths in 2011 in Louisiana from a rare brain infection that the state health department linked to tap water contaminated with an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.” In the United States, the disease is generally acquired while swimming and diving in freshwater lakes and ponds.

It’s not too late to get your flu shot! Flu season is hitting us hard here in Utah but you can still get a flu shot to protect yourself and your family. As of Tuesday (January 15th) ten Harmons Pharmacy locations have the flu vaccine available. More vaccine is scheduled to arrive at all Harmons Pharmacies later this week.

• Intradermal Flu Shot
• $30 – Flu shots are covered by Medicare and some other health insurance plans. Ask a Harmons Pharmacists if you have questions about your plan and flu shot coverage.
• Available for patients 18 and older.
• No appointment necessary and walk-ins are welcome. Because of high demand, please call your local Harmons Pharmacy to check on the availability of the vaccine before visiting.

*Flu shots available at these Harmons Pharmacies as of 1/14/13

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

For lots of us a new year comes with our deductibles starting over. A lot of people are shocked how much their medications are when they don’t have the set copay. We are also seeing a lot more companies move to high deductible plans. Even if you have a deductible, you still get a discount on your medications. When we bill your insurance they give you their contracted price for the medication. Pharmacists at Harmons can also talk to you about possible generics that the doctor may consider trying before going to a more expensive brand name medication. If the doctor still wants the brand name, you could ask their office about manufacture coupons or samples. We also have the Harmons Prescription Savings Club. This club gets you discounts on prescriptions you get at Harmons. At times this prescription discount program may be better than your insurance for some generics. For more information on the Harmons Prescription Savings Club please talk to your local Harmons Pharmacy.

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

A recent comment card from one of our patients asked if we could put the imprint that identifies the medication on the bottle or auxiliary sticker. You’ll now notice this unique imprint for each tablet and capsule on your prescription bottles. If we have changed manufactures for your medication that tablet or capsule can look different. This information can confirm to you that the medication listed matches what you have in the bottle. If you have questions, please call and talk to your Harmons pharmacist. We appreciate your feedback with our comment cards or online at www.harmonsgrocery.com/products/pharmacy/rxsurvey/.

Jessica, Pharmacy Manager

The American Diabetes Association is currently associated with a wonderful program that is receiving proceeds to fund their diabetic research.  They simply want a picture of what a day in the life of living with diabetes looks like. $1 gets donated for every picture that gets uploaded to Facebook for up to $25,000! What an incredible and simple opportunity for us to donate towards the search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this debilitating disease. Unfortunately, there are many in this country who still view diabetes as a minor condition. By sharing our moments and experiences with others, it will help to spread awareness and knowledge about how dangerous this disease can be.  The American Diabetes Association explains, “Send us a photo of a moment that captures what living with diabetes every day means to you.” Let us join together and share our experiences through photos. Spread the word and upload your experiences today. For more information or to upload your moments, visit – www.facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation and click on the numerous links to Share Photo – A Day in the Life of Diabetes.