Hervey Bay Local Health News

Yes it’s that time of year again … the time when the flu bug starts to cut a swathe through the community and if you want to avoid the flu this year then it’s time for your flu shot.

Of course there are a lot of myths about the flu shots that may be preventing you from having one. You’ll hear things like:

• You can catch the flu from the vaccination … you can’t!
• A good diet, vitamins and plenty of exercise will prevent you from catching the flu … they won’t!
• The flu vaccine is full of preservatives … it isn’t - it’s preservative free!

A dose of the flu can make you ill for a week or more and you’re contagious before you begin to feel any of the symptoms. Flu vaccination is both safe and effective and the vaccine will enhance your own natural immune system.

It’s recommended that everyone have a flu shot at this time of year … even very small children. So come in and talk to us today and find out just how easy it is to avoid catching the flu this year.

Dr Red’s Blueberry Punch was in the news again last week. It’s recently been undergoing some tests at the University of Sydney and preliminary results released last week show that it has some positive effects in the treatment of prostate cancer.

It seems that it’s the anti-oxidants in Blueberry Punch that provide the positive effects that have shown up in those university tests.

Blueberry Punch is made from ingredients that include turmeric, citrus and olive and the formula for Blueberry Punch combines those extracts with blueberry, red grape, white grape, elderberry, raspberry and other ingredients that are concentrated into a syrup

Now that may sound like a rather strange taste combination but the end result is a very pleasant tasting drink when diluted at a ratio of 1:6 with water, soda water or other mixer drink of your choice.

Blueberry Punch is available from both Beachside and Kawungan Pharmacies and our staff can provide you with more information about the full range of Dr Red products that can help you maintain your health.

A drug overdose can occur when more of a drug (or a combination of drugs) is taken than the body can safely handle. While this can happen with some prescription and over-the-counter medicines, the illegal drugs pose the biggest risk as you have no way of knowing their quality or strength. Read the information on this card to learn more about the drugs most commonly involved with overdose, and how overdose can be avoided and managed.

The two main types of drugs involved in over - dose are depressant drugs and stimulant drugs.

Depressant drugs - reduce activity in the nervous system examples include:
*    Heroin
*    Morphine
*    Methadone
*    Sleeping pills
*    Benzodiazepines e.g. Valium, Serepax 
*    Alcohol.

An overdose of a depressant drug slows the nervous system down to a dangerous level. This can stop a person’s breathing.

Stimulant drugs - speed up the nervous system, examples include:
*    Amphetamines
*    Designer drugs (e.g. ecstasy)
*    Caffeine
*    Nicotine.

An overdose of a stimulant drug speeds up the body, sometimes to a dangerous level. This can cause high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate and increased body temperature.

Important
If a drug overdose has been taken or you suspect someone has taken an overdose:
*     Try to stay calm.
*     Dial 000 and tell them you need the ambulance service.
*     Tell the ambulance service where the person is.
*     Tell the ambulance operator the person’s condition -are they breathing? Do they have a pulse? This will determine priority.
*     Tell the operator a drug overdose has occurred.
*     Tell the operator if you know what drugs have been taken and if possible how many.
*     Stay with the person until an ambulance arrives. You may have valuable information for the ambulance officers which could save time. This could be the difference between life and death.

If you are worried someone might have overdosed, but you don’t think they need an ambulance, watch them very closely and check on them every few minutes. Call an ambulance if you have any concerns.

Who is at risk of overdose?
An overdose can happen just as easily to an experienced drug user or an inexperienced user. In most cases of fatal overdose with drugs such as heroin, other drugs are found in the blood stream at the same time. While too much heroin can cause death, a mixture of drugs (a drug ‘cocktail’) is often more dangerous and its effects are unpredictable.

How a drug affects one person may be different to how it affects someone else. It can depend upon:
*    The tolerance of the user i.e. how sensitive their body is to the drug, and how often they’ve been using.
*    The quantity of the drug taken.
*    The mix of drugs i.e. what other drugs they have taken which would still be in their system.
*    The way the drugs are taken e.g. injected, swallowed or inhaled.

Treating heroin/opiate overdose
If a person has overdosed with heroin or other opiates, the drug Narcan can reverse the effects of the drug immediately. Once the Narcan wears off, it is possible to slip back to the original overdose condition, especially if heroin is used again soon after.

Narcan is the brand name for naloxone.
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Generic brand medicines are copies of the original brand medicines. They contain the same active ingredient and are as safe and effective. You can save money by using a lower-cost brand. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor to see whether there is more than one brand of a medicine available and, if so, which might best suit you.

When companies develop a new medicine, the active ingredient is named (often referred to as the ‘generic drug’ name), and it is also given an original brand name. As an example, amoxycillin is an active ingredient (generic drug) name; Amoxil is one brand name.

The first company to make the new medicine has exclusive rights to market its product (a patent or copyright) for a number of years. Other companies cannot market a copy of the original brand medicine until the patent expires.

Generic brand medicines - contain the same active ingredients, are of the same dosage form (e.g. tablets or liquid) and are the same strength as the original brand medicine. This means that different brands work in the same way in the body, with potentially the same risks and benefits.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - is responsible for assessing and registering all medicines in Australia. This is important for public health and safety.

Before a prescription medicine can be put on the market in Australia or listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), an expert team of doctors, scientists and pharmacists make sure that it is:
*    Of good quality
*    Safe
*    Effective, including cost effective
*    Correctly labelled and packaged.

Companies which produce generic medicines must adhere to the same quality standardsand have the same tight manufacturing controls as companies making original brand medicines. In fact, original and generic brand medicines are sometimes made by the same company.

Different brands - of a medicine may contain different inactive ingredients. They may be a different colour, shape, or size, or may taste different. The type of container or packaging may be different, for example, a bottle or blister foil pack. Differences in formulation or outer packaging do not affect how the medicine works.

Medicines also contain other inactive ingredients such as preservatives, flavourings, colourings or fillers, and there is a rare possibility that an allergic reaction could occur to one of these inactive ingredients.

Important
*    Consumer Medicine Information leaflets provide helpful information on the ingredients in a medicine. It is important to read the leaflet carefully when starting a new medicine or using a different brand.
*    If you know you are allergic to a particular inactive ingredient, for example lactose or gluten, check with the pharmacist before using a new medicine.
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Some medicines can affect your ability to drive, cycle or use machinery. You need to be alert and able to respond quickly to changes in your environment when doing these tasks. Not everyone is affected to the same extent and different people are affected by medicines in different ways.

The danger is you may not notice the effect a medicine has until it is too late. When starting a new medicine, always ask your pharmacist if it is safe to drive, cycle or use machinery and what the warning signs are to look for.

If it is not safe, DO NOT DRIVE.

Reactions to medicines
Some medicines can make you:
*    Drowsy or tired
*    Dizzy, light-headed or faint
*    Not think clearly
*    Shaky, unsteady
*    Angry, aggressive
*    Feel sick
*    Have blurred or double vision.

This can make it unsafe to drive, cycle or use machinery.

Risks
If you drive when affected by medicines you may cause an accident. You risk:
*    Killing, injuring or disabling other people or yourself
*    Damaging property
*    Losing your licence
*    Losing your insurance cover.

The effect of a medicine on your driving may be greater:
*    If you drink alcohol at the same time
*    If you take two (or more) medicines that have similar effects on driving
*    When you start using a new medicine
*    If you take more than the prescribed dose of your medicine
*    As you get older
*    If you are tired.

Important
*    If your medicine affects your driving, stop your driving, not your medicine, and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
*    Ask your pharmacist or doctor if the medicine you are taking (prescription or non-prescription) may affect your driving. Some medicines may affect your driving only until your body gets used to them. Other medicines may affect your driving all the time you are taking them.
*    Read the labels on ALL medicines you take. Check with your pharmacist when your medicines have the following labels:

This medicine may cause drowsiness and may increase the effects of alcohol.

If affected, do not drive a motor vehicle or use machinery.
OR
This medicine may affect mental alertness and/or coordination.

If affected, do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery.

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