July/August Canadian Pharmacy News

News Issue July/August 2005

Trusting Generic Drugs
You can trust any
generic drug as much
as you trust its
brand name equivalent.


July / August 2005 Health Tips: How to Stay Cool This Summer
Protect yourself this summer from heat-related illnesses. See below for some prevention tips, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Your Comments

MediSave Customer Feedback
We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of our customers who responded to our request for feedback! Based on your responses, we will be launching a referral program on August 1, 2005 and for every friend you refer, you will receive FREE SHIPPING on your next order.

Trusting Generic Drugs

As published in Medical News Today, I-Newswire and the EGA

You can trust any generic drug as much as you trust its brand name equivalent.

But are they really the same - and should people be willing to bet their health on the answer? James Adams, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular pharmacology and toxicology for the USC School of Pharmacy, says absolutely - at least in the United States and Canada.

“You can trust any generic drug as much as you trust its brand name equivalent,” Adams says. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is very strict about quality guidelines in the production of medicines and rarely makes mistakes on that issue. If they find a difference in how the drug is made or works, they pull it immediately.”

In the European Union, a generic medicine provides the same quality, safety and efficacy as the original brand name product and undergoes strict scrutiny before it is licensed and given market approval by the European or national medicines authorities, saving European patients and healthcare systems an estimated 13 billion pounds each year.

Generics' lower cost stems from economics, not from second-rate production of the plain-wrap version. Generics may not be made or sold until the manufacturer's patent on the brand-name version expires, giving the company time to recoup its investment in the development and testing of the drug. Once the patent expires, different companies can produce generic versions, and the competition drives down the price. Because of trademark laws, generic drugs are not allowed to resemble brand-name drugs too closely, but Adams emphasizes that there is no difference in quality or effectiveness.

MediSave.ca offers many generic drugs at extreme low pricing to further increase your savings including generic substitutes for Fosamax, Asacol, Lamisil, Lamictal, Zocor, Neurontin, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Pravachol and more! Look up your medications on our website to find out if we offer a generic substitute for you.

For more information feel free to visit the following websites:

USA Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
European Generic Pharmaceutical Association

July/August 2005 Health Tips: How to Stay Cool This Summer

Protect yourself this summer from heat-related illnesses. Below are some prevention tips, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

* Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.

* Don't drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar -- these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
* Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library - even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.

* Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.

* Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

* Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.

* Check regularly for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke on those at highest risk, including infants and young children, people aged 65 or older, people who have a mental illness, those who are physically ill, and especially with heart disease or high blood pressure.

Your Comments

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J.V.

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C.B.

I used MediSave.ca for the first time recently and will continue to do so. It was easy, efficient, and saved me so much money it was astounding! I have paid the high price for prescription drugs for years, and was fed up. Your phone staff was helpful and my order came to my door in less than a week. I can't tell you how happy we are to have found you!”
S.G.

MediSave Customer Feedback

We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of our customers who responded to our request for feedback! Based on your responses, we will be launching a referral program on August 1, 2005 and for every friend you refer, you will receive FREE SHIPPING on your next order. Here’s how it will work:

For every friend who processes an order with us, we will credit your account with free shipping for your next order. All they need to do is mention your name to us (when asked how they found out about us) and we’ll take care of the rest!

The best part is…there’s no limit to sharing, giving you an enormous potential for savings. More information will be available on our website after August 1!

As always, we love to hear your comments on this issue of the newsletter plus if you have any additional feedback or suggestions in regards to our service or for upcoming MediSave.ca newsletters please let us know via e-mail at:

CustomerService@MediSave.ca

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