FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THE PILL BOX PHARMACY'S REGULAR HOURS ARE:

• MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 AM TO 6 PM
• SATURDAY, 9 AM TO 2 PM.

This website and the "ask the pharmacist" response service is provided as a service of the Warsaw Pillbox, Inc for the residents of Kosciusko and surrounding counties in Indiana. In accordance with Indiana State Law and the limitations of our pharmacy license, we will not:

• Provide pricing information over the internet
• Supply drug products to patients over the internet (we are NOT a mail-order pharmacy)
• Supply drug products to patients without a prescription from a licensed physician.

If you have a question or concern about a medication or medical condition and live in this area, please feel free to submit your questions to us. If you only want to know if we can supply you with prescription drugs, the answer is NO.

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Pill Box Staff

1. Why do some medications have to be taken with food and other medications do not?

Some medications depend on having food in the stomach to increase the amount of medication that is absorbed. If there is food present in the stomach when the medication is taken, it will travel more slowly through the gut and as a result, more medication will be absorbed.
Other medications cause stomach irritation when taken on an empty stomach. The Pharmacist may recommend that you take these medications with food so that you will be more comfortable. The best way to know what medications need to be take with food is to ask your Pharmacist.

2. I've heard alot about Drug Interactions on the evening news. How do I know if the medications I take interact with each other?

Pharmacists go to school for six years to learn about drugs. In addition to the formal schooling, the computer system that is used by the pharmacy reminds the pharmacist of what medications you are taking each time you have a prescription filled, which helps him or her detect potential drug interactions. The most important thing that you as a patient can do is to use only ONE pharmacy to get your prescriptions filled. This assures that the pharmacist has a complete medication history available when they fill your prescription. It is also important to tell the pharmacist what over the counter medications you use routinely, including vitamins and natural products. If you do your best to keep your pharmacist informed of ALL of the medications you are taking, you won't have to worry about drug interactions, because your pharmacist will be watching for them.

3. I have some prescription drugs in my medicine cabinet that my physician prescribed for me that were never used up. How long are those medications good to take?

As a rule of thumb, medications will have an expiration date of one year from the day they leave the pharmacy, unless the pharmacist tells you that it is less than that. However, your doctor prescribes medication to treat a specific problem that you are having and it is not a good idea to start a medication on your own without first consulting your physician.

4. I have heard a lot about the benefits of taking herbal products. Are they really beneficial?

Herbal products have been around for hundreds of years. The ancient physicians of the Middle East relied on herbal products to treat their patients because they were all that was available. The current resurgence in the popularity of natural products has largely been boosted by companies interested in selling their products. Several natural products have been found to have some activity in controlled scientific studies. Products such as melatonin, gingko biloba and St. John's Wort really do have some activity in the body.
The down-side of natural products is that they are not regulated like prescription and over the counter drug products are. Because they claim to be a "dietary supplement" the FDA does not have the authority to inspect or to control their production. Therefore, the manufacturers of natural products are left to decide how to make their goods with no organization watching to insure that they are producing a quality product. The studies that have been done to show that these products have some activity in the body have all used a pure substance. Since no one is regulating the natural product industry, a manufacturer could literally fill capsules with powdered sugar and claim that it is the real thing. It is therefore important to buy natural products from a reputable company. This can be difficult to find. Using the 800 numbers on the side of containers, you can call companies and ask what type of quality assurance testing they do on the products. Most will simply tell you that they check for molds and bacteria.
It is also important to remember that natural products are not intended to replace drug therapy that your doctor has started. If you decide to try natural products, talk it over with your doctor or your pharmacist and make an informed decision. Remember that even though they make great claims and are purported to be natural, they haven't been through the rigorous testing that prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been through so their safety can't be assured.

5. I have started a new medication and I don't know much about it. How can I get information on the new drug my doctor started?

Your pharmacist is your best source of drug information. They have gone to school for six years to become drug experts. If you have any questions about anything, ask to speak to your pharmacist. Even though they often appear busy, they would be more than happy to take time with you to help explain your medications.
In Indiana, it is required that the pharmacist counsel you on new prescriptions or at least offer to counsel. If that offer is not made, find a new pharmacy that will counsel you. Your health is too important to not be completely informed in the medications that you and your family are taking.

Please do not mail prescriptions or prescription renewals to this address! Remember, we are NOT a mail-order pharmacy!