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I often get asked, "Hey Doc, what do I do with my unused or expired medications?"

My answer is usually the following:

If the medications are unused and NOT expired, keep them in a safe room temperature place clearly labeled and away from children and pets. Putting medications in a bathroom vanity or kitchen is not the best storage place as the extremes in temperature and humidity can affect the potency of the medications.

If the medications are expired, well, that has conflicting answers. The expiration date on medications is the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the safety and full potency of the medication. However, if stored properly, medications can remain effective (biologically active) for months or even years after the expiration date. If I decide to be a conspiracy theorist, I would say that the expiration dates are put on most medications for two reasons. First to prevent lawsuits on potential adverse reactions. Second and more important for our capitalistic society, to sell more prescriptions, earning the pharmaceutical manufacturer an increased revenue.

However, if you have old medications that you do not want or need, do not throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. The trash is not safe from children, nor safe from scavengers, whether human or our four legged friends. Flushing them down the drain puts the medications into our water treatment plants which are not up to the task of removing all these chemicals.

So what can I do with my expired or unused medications?

Keep reading!!!

Moorestown is participating in an expired, unused medicine turn in on 11/13/10 at the Police Department from 10am-2pm

Moorestown Township in conjunction with the Burlington County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a collection site for the American Medicine Chest Challenge on Saturday 11/13/2010 from 10am - 2pm in the front parking lot of the Police Department, 1245 N. Church St. The American Medicine Chest Challenge encourages residents to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines at the collection site. For more information on the program, visit www.americanmedicinechestchallenge.com

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/3965501/?sub_id=128008.

Telomeres are sections of genetic material at the end of each chromosome whose primary function is to prevent chromosomal fraying when a cell replicates. As a cell ages, its telomeres become shorter. Eventually, the telomeres become too short to allow cell replication, the cell stops dividing and will ultimately die - a normal biological process. The telomere test as performed by Spectracell Labs can determine the length of an individuals telomeres in relation to their age.

The Patient Telomere Score is calculated based on the individuals telomere length on white blood cells (T-lymphocytes). This is the average compared to telomere length on lymphocytes from a sample of the American population in the same age range. The higher the telomere score, the "younger" the cells. A Telomere Score that is above the average line is desirable.

Serial evaluation of telomere length is an indicator of how rapidly one ages relative to a normal population. Therapies directed at slowing the loss of telomere length may slow aging and age-related diseases.

When I founded the Institute For Medical Wellness, I never thought that I would be involved in as much cutting edge preventive testing as I now offer. The research and technological advances at specialized labs across the country have allowed me to feel confident that I can offer the newest, latest and best preventive testing in the area.

I have started a new web page where you can get more information on all of these tests, and it can be accessed by clicking here.

For extra special savings on all of the above tests, as well as our new Ultimate Wellness Plan, please click here. The special discounts are only available for testing completed by December 24, 2010.

FLU SHOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

It seems that every year when we start giving flu shots, a nasty, what I like to call, the pre-flu flu starts "going around." While I do not believe it is the "true flu" or influenza, it can feel like it. Last week I evaluated about a half dozen cases, with most all of them resolving on their own within 3-4 days, other than a lingering annoying cough.

So whenever this preflu starts hitting, I like to remind anyone who believes in flu shots to come in and get theirs. The flu shot takes about 2 full weeks to build up its effectiveness, and can last anywhere from 3-6 months. As the true flu rarely hits before December, getting a flu shot in early to mid November should cover you through the end of the normal flu season, which lasts through March 2011.

Flushots are fully covered by Medicare.

Flushots, while supplies last, are included as part of a Traditional Wellness Plan.

For everyone else, Flushots will be available for $30.

There are other ways to prevent the flu.

My favorite is to supplement with Vitamin D, which is now available as our supplement of the month for October and November. Our Vitamin D supplement has been shown to increase your blood level of Vitamin D, increasing the ability of your immune system to fight off infections such as the flu. Some studies have shown that Vitamin D3 levels above 40 decrease the incidence of influenza infection.

If you are unsure of your Vitamin D level, testing is also available at our office.

Institute For Medical Wellness Supplement of the Month:

Our supplement of the month for October and November 2010 is Vitamin D3. I believe that Vitamin D3 aids our immune systems, which helps protect us from the flu, or "influenza".

Our Vitamin D3 supplement, contains Vitamin D3, 2000iu per drop, and contains approximately 900 drops per bottle. The average dosage is between 1 and 4 drops daily, best taken at night.

Vitamin D3 can now be purchased for $15, $5 off the regular price. Vitamin D works great with or without a flu shot.

Click here for a list of other supplements available at The Institute For Medical Wellness

To Good Health!

Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness

128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two

Moorestown, NJ 08057

Phone 856-231-0590

Fax 856-294-0311

www.drhorvitz.com

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/

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I would like to thank everyone for their confidence in my professional abilities and referrals of new patients to the practice as well as to the Wellness Plans. If you are presently in the Traditional Wellness Plan, and refer a new patient to this plan, you will receive 1 month added on to your plan for the first referral, and two months added on for every other new patient you refer. Just my way of saying Thank You for your confidence!!

It is always nice to get good feedback. Good feedback tells me that I am definitely moving in the right direction! So please check out our patient testimonials.