We are very happy to announce that we have a new way of helping you by preparing your medication. We have been trained in order to give you the best possible service in PDS (Personal Dosage System).

With PDS, taking medication will be simpler and more convenient. You can be assured that you are taking the correct amount, that there are no interactions, you won’t have excess medication lying around the house and it will always be ready for you when you need it.

The process is very simple: after an initial interview, we will gather all the information about your illnesses and medication and we will hold on to your medication. We will be responsible for checking that there are no mistakes and once a week you can come to collect your pillbox. It will be clearly marked with the medication it contains and when it needs to be taken. On the day you pick up your pillbox, bring back the previous one and we will check it together. When you receive your first pillbox we will teach you how to use it and if you have any doubts you can always ask us.

Even though it is possible to offer this service to everyone, there are some that it would be more beneficial for; Polymedicated patients (with 5 or more prescribed drugs), those that are dependent on drugs, those that find it difficult to remember their medication or those with complicated instructions (steroid treatments, medication for Helicobacter pylori etc.)

Why not see if this service could be of use to you? The first two weeks are free and after that there is a charge of three euros per pillbox.

We are certain that many will appreciate not having to worry about something so important.

Text: Diana Olmedilla Sanz and Encarna Gonzalvo Puchades

English translation: Nicola McGrath

We have become aware that it is not clear to everyone what the information on your prescription represents. As a result, when you come to the pharmacy, you sometimes find that the medication you need has not been included, meaning you have to go back to the doctor´s once again.

For this reason, over the next few months we will provide you with information about your prescription to help you better understand it.
Firstly, in the top right corner there is a bar code (unique to each prescription) which is what we use to dispense your medication. This changes every time you go to the doctor’s which is why we always need your latest prescription, even if you have been to casualty.
Secondly, it contains your personal information: name, surname, age, NI number (SIP) and the percentage you pay towards your medication (10%, 20%, 40% or 60%).

Thirdly, it tells you the dates for when you can come and collect your medication each month; if, for example, your prescription states that you have to pick it up on January 10th, from that date on (and not before) it will appear on our system and can therefore be dispensed. You then have 10 calendar days to collect it (in this case until the 20th). If you were to come to the pharmacy on the 21st, your prescription may no longer appear on the system. It is sometimes possible to recover the information if it has not been deleted, but not always, so we therefore ask you to adhere to the dates given on the prescription. This way you can also check that you are taking your medication according to the prescription and what’s more, avoid unnecessary trips to your G.P. to ask for a new one.
In addition to your prescription, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to print you out a daily medication plan. On the one hand, this will help us to dispense your medication more efficiently as then we are not so dependent on the computer, and on the other hand, you will have more control over your medication and can see at a glance if your doctor has prescribed all the medication necessary in case there has been a fault in their system.

Text: Victoria González de Buitrago

English translation: Nicola McGrath

Over recent year there has been an increase in the demand for human medication used on domestic animals. As such, we must make sure that special care is taken with human medication as it can have a very different reaction in cats and dogs to humans.
The following are some of the medications that are completely unrecommendable as they can seriously damage their health:
• Paracetamol: it is completely inadvisable for dogs and cats due to its liver toxicity.

• Ibuprofen and Naproxen: this medication is much more damaging to the gastrointestinal system in dogs and cats than in humans, they are not made for these species.

• Codeine: this can stimulate the central nervous system, causing muscles to become rigid and can ultimately cause death.

• Permethrine: cats are highly sensitive to permethrine and it can be lethal as its toxicity affects the central nervous system (causing convulsions, trembling, arrhythmia, hypothermia) and seriously affect vital organs.

• Aspirin is metabolised slowly by cats as they have low levels of the essential enzyme (glucuronosyltransferase) which completes the conjugate reaction. Due to this, the medication stays within its system for a long time and can result in poisoning.

It is advisable to always consult a vet before giving any medication to an animal as they can have a very different effect on an animal compared to a person.

Lastly, don’t forget that your pet is always welcome in our pharmacy (well, if you bring in your pet cobra we might start looking a bit worried) and we can source the medication and supplements that they need, just ask us.

Text: Elena Estarlik Conejero.

English translation: Nicola McGrath