CVS First to Launch Program to Assist Customers Who Use Herbal Products.Business Editors WOONSOCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2000 -New CVS (1) (Concurrent Versions System) A version control system for Unix that was initially developed as a series of shell scripts in the mid-1980s. CVS maintains the changes between one source code version and another and stores all the changes in one file. Plan to Protect Patients from Dangerous Drug Interactions Between Prescriptions and Non-Prescription Health Remedies- CVS Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :CVS), the nation's largest pharmacy, today announced an innovative resource that provides customers with information on the effects of combining prescription medicine with nutritional supplements Nutritional Supplements Definition Nutritional supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, meal supplements, sports nutrition products, natural food supplements, and other related products used to boost the nutritional content of the diet. and non-prescription health remedies including herbal herbal, early botanical book containing descriptions and illustrations of herbs and plants with their properties, chiefly those qualities that made them useful as medicines or condiments. Most of the herbals were written between c.1470 and c. products. CVS is the first pharmacy in the nation to offer this program to consumers. The central part of this program is the CVS/pharmacy computer, which is now able to assist a pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. in identifying when a nutritional supplement or non-prescription medication being used by a consumer might create a potential dangerous interaction when used with a prescription medication. CVS also will be able to provide its customers with confidential consumer monographs containing information on herbs, vitamins, neutraceuticals and minerals that are being taken by the customer. This innovative service will be available at all CVS pharmacies and on CVS.com. &uot;Our goal at CVS is to provide total healthcare solutions to our customers,&uot; says Chris Bodine, senior vice president for Pharmacy at CVS. &uot;Consumers today are taking a more proactive approach to healthcare, and we feel it's critical to give our customers every possible piece of information to help them achieve wellness. We are also deeply concerned that an increased use of vitamin and herbal therapies can lead to an increased chance of potentially dangerous drug interactions.&uot; Bodine cites an example where patients taking medications for heart conditions should not be taking the herb St. John's Wort St. John’s wort indicates animosity. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 177] See : Hatred St. John’s wort defense against fairies, evil spirits, the Devil. [Br. . &uot;Studies show that St. John's Wort can result in decreased levels of the effectiveness of certain heart medication. Until now, consumers might not have known this and could have been negatively impacting their health. By providing information on drug and herb interaction, consumers know right away what they should and should not be taking,&uot; explains Bodine. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. research conducted by CVS, nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population who are taking some form of nutritional supplement do not inform their doctor what they are taking. CVS encourages all customers to inform their physicians and pharmacists This is a list of notable pharmacists.
Additionally, CVS pharmacists are being asked more frequently for information on nutritional supplements and possible interactions between prescription medicines, herbs or over-the-counter medications. By providing information on how these natural health remedies interact with prescription medications, consumers will be even more educated about their health. How it works: CVS/pharmacy customers simply complete a form asking what nutritional supplements and vitamin supplements they may be taking or what non-prescription medications they may use. The information is entered into the CVS/pharmacy computer system's personal, confidential patient profile. When the patient has a prescription filled, the monograph mon·o·graph n. A scholarly piece of writing of essay or book length on a specific, often limited subject. tr.v. mon·o·graphed, mon·o·graph·ing, mon·o·graphs To write a monograph on. printed with precautions precautions Infectious disease The constellation of activities intended to minimize exposure to an infectious agent; precautions imply that the isolation of an infected Pt is optional, but not mandatory. on the medicine also will list any possible drug interactions and reactions that may result from the medicine and a particular vitamin or nutritional supplement. All information remains confidential. Recently, CVS embarked on a nationwide television and print advertising campaign to inform consumers about the new service. Adds Bodine, &uot;We are the only major pharmacy in America to offer this service, and thus far, the program has been very well received by our customers.&uot; CVS is the largest retail provider of prescriptions in the nation. The Company is the #1 drugstore chain in the U.S., with approximately 4,100 stores in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest regions of the country. General information about CVS, including corporate background and press releases, is available at CVS' web site at http://www.CVS.com. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion