Lehan Drugs Blog

Swimming pools, barbeques, baseball games, golf… summer is in full swing and for many of us that means spending more time outside in the sun.  At this point, most of us are aware of the benefits of using sunscreen. In addition to preventing painful sunburns, sunscreen also appears to decrease the risk of certain skin cancers and helps prevent sun-related aging.  Unbeknownst to many sunscreen users is that these products also prevent the body from making adequate amounts of the hormone vitamin D.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is found in a variety of plant and animal food sources, as well as vitamin supplements and fortified dairy products.  The fact is, the body most efficiently creates the majority of its vitamin D requirements through exposure to ultraviolet rays (sunlight).  Cholesterol in the skin is exposed to UV light, and it is transformed through a metabolic pathway to the hormone, vitamin D.  A mountain of research has shown the importance of vitamin D in supporting a variety of healthy processes in the body. These include maintaining healthy bones, optimizing brain function, supporting healthy pregnancies, and more.

Our modern lifestyles have moved us indoors and stressed the use of sunscreen, removing us from the most natural source of vitamin D. The resulting epidemic of low levels of vitamin D has been associated with increased risks of cancer, mental illness, and poor bone health, among other things.  One set of epidemiologists estimated that maintaining healthy vitamin D levels in Europeans would save their health care system billions at the rate of $1346 per person every year!¹

Vitamin D may also aid in cancer prevention. One study found healthy vitamin D levels reduced the risk of developing breast cancer.  Women who were exposed to the highest vitamin D levels were 50% less likely to develop breast cancer compared to those in the study who were not receiving adequate vitamin D.²  It also appeared that women who had high vitamin D exposure during the adolescent years were 25-45% less likely to develop breast cancer.³

With this in mind, it is extremely important to ensure that you are receiving enough vitamin D, especially if you are not exposed to sunlight on a regular basis.  According to the Vitamin D Council, if adults and adolescents are not exposed to sunlight regularly, research indicates supplementation with 2-5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. ⁴  To obtain this amount, one would need to consume at least 20 glasses of milk per day or take 10 standard multivitamin tablets.

The skin is capable of producing approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D in response to 20–30 minutes of full summer sun exposure (no sunscreen) — 50 times more than the US government’s recommendation of 200 IU per day!  Why the big difference?  It turns out the recommended daily allowance is what is required to prevent a disease called rickets (softening of the bones), not what is required to keep other body processes functioning properly.

Come in for a consultation with one of our pharmacists to determine if you are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.  We can help you increase your intake of vitamin D through quality, bioidentical vitamin D supplements to ensure that you are getting all that you need for optimal health. 

For more extensive information on Vitamin D, visit http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Yours in Health,

Jon Lehan, PharmD

 1. William B Grant, William B. Grant, Heide S. Cross, Cedric F. Garland, Edward D. Gorham, Johan Moan, Meinrad Peterlik, Alina C. Porojnicu, Jorg Reichrathe, Armin Zittermann, Estimated benefit of increased vitamin D status in reducing the economic burden of disease in western Europe, Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, March 4 (2009) 1–10.

2. Garland CF, et al. The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. American Journal of Public Health 2006;96:252-258.

3. Knight JA, et al.  Potential reduction in breast cancer risk associated with vitamin D.  Proceedings for the American Association for Cancer Research, Volume 47: 2006.  Abstract #4009.

4. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml

**UPDATE**
There have been recent recommendations by the Environmental Working Group on sunscreens.  To read the full report and help select a sunscreen, visit http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/

They say that when it comes to politics in Washinton D.C., if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. While this old adage may draw some laughs, it illustrates just how important it is to be politically active, especially when it comes to your healthcare. With this in mind, Tim and I recently traveled to the National Community Pharmacy Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. to ensure that when it comes to your rights as a pharmacy patient, your interests are at the table.

Overall it was a great trip and truly opened my eyes to the importance of educating our legislators and government officials about the important role that community pharmacy plays in the lives of our patients each and every day. As arguably the most accessible healthcare professionals (just stop in anytime and we’ll always be here to answer your health related questions!), pharmacists play a vital role in the healthcare industry. Yet many people see pharmacists simply as purveyors of a commodity who dispense prescriptions and do little else. As our patients know, we strive every day to do so much more than just hand them their prescriptions on the way out the door. We check drug interactions, counsel, reduce prescription costs for our patients through the use of generics, provide customized medications when taking standard medications is not possible, and so much more!

Over the course of the conference we heard from various legislators and, among other things, learned about how the recently passed national healthcare legislation will affect our patients, how current legislation has been introduced to protect patients from abuses by pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) such as CVS Caremark and how the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the practices of drug manufacturers when they ‘bribe’ generic drug companies not to produce a generic of their drug (so they can keep drug prices high).

We were also able to talk directly to our U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (see above picture) and a staff member of Senator Dick Durbin about these issues and help to ensure that they are not only aware of the pertinent legislative bills but also will support them when voting.

What this trip also illustrated is that we ALL need to become involved when it comes to healthcare related issues in Washington, especially ones that affect your right to use community pharmacies. We encourage all of our patients to visits www.Fight4Rx.org  to stay updated on important healthcare issues and to find out how to contact your legislators to voice your opinions. This is a great way to make sure you are at the table…and not on the menu.

Lehan Drugs on 1360 WLBK Radio – Listen Now

In response to news about the presence of pharmaceuticals contaminating the water supply and teenage abuse of prescription drugs, Lehan Drugs is now offering a new drug take back program to help the community safely dispose of medicines that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.

As members of the community, pharmacists are in a prime position to ensure the safe and proper handling of medications, from dispensing to disposal.  Unused or expired medications pose risks to our families, communities, and the environment. We welcome all in the community to come and talk to our pharmacists about their prescriptions and how to store, use and dispose of them properly.

Tim, Ann and Jon Lehan are members of the National Community Pharmacists Association which in April launched a new Protect Your Pharmacy Now! Prescription Drug Disposal to help its members create consumer drug disposal programs for medicines that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.

Patients of any pharmacy are invited to safely dispose of unused and expired medications at Lehan Drugs in DeKalb and Lehan Drugs @ the DeKalb Clinic in Sycamore, free of charge by bringing in the drugs in their original stock containers. The pharmacies will work to dispose of the drugs using the Sharps TakeAway™ Environmental Return System, a safe, easy method to dispose of unused patient medications in an environmentally friendly way.

The Office of National Drug Control has found that prescription drugs are the drug of choice among 12- and 13-year olds, while a third of all new abusers of prescription drugs were between the ages of 12 and 17. Though it may be argued that the presence of drugs in drinking water is negligible, more and more consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to our waters. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets, sanitation employees, or anyone who rummages through trash.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises, and chains. Together they represent an $84 billion health-care marketplace, employ over 300,000 full-time employees, and dispense nearly half of the nation’s retail prescription medicines.

For more information on the medication disposal program, contact a Lehan’s pharmacist or visit Dispose My Meds.

I believe the choice to use a community pharmacy over a mail-order pharmacy should belong to patients, not the insurance companies.  This view is also shared by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).  I will be joining NCPA and other community pharmacists in Washington D.C on May 10^th to discuss this with lawmakers.  Community pharmacies are vital partners in ensuring optimal care for our patients.  Many pharmacies, like ourselves, offer a variety of programs and services in addition to filling prescriptions, such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM), immunizations, health screenings, home medical equipment and services, and more.  Community pharmacists are just that: members of the communities we serve.  We are committed to our patients; we hope to form long-lasting relationships built on trust and the mutual desire to improve health and quality of life.  When patients are forced to fill prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies, these strong ties are severed, and the quality of care is reduced.

The now-common trend with prescription insurance coverage is the ability to fill and pay for a three month supply of medications at one time.  However, many patients are being told they can only receive this benefit through mail-order pharmacies.  Patients still have the ability to fill their medications at their local community pharmacies, but are often penalized with a higher payment.  This is not surprising.  Insurance companies and PBM’s (pharmacy benefit managers) own these mail order pharmacies and use leverage to steal patients away from local pharmacies.  The result: billions in profits for PBM’s (that’s right: billions) without regard to the effect it has on patient care and health outcomes.

Lehan Drugs wants to give you a voice in Washington to help shape the future of pharmacy in America.  I truly believe that community pharmacists are in the strongest position to ensure patients receive the attention that is needed for successful health outcomes.  I will be attending meetings in Washington in May to discuss this issue with our country’s leaders.

If you would like to join the fight to ensure your right to use the pharmacy of your choosing, visit www.Fight4Rx.org.

Tim Lehan, RPh

Here’s a little more information on NCPA’s campaign to protect your right to use your local pharmacy:

NCPA Launches Fight4Rx Online Grassroots Community

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has launched Fight4Rx.org, which is dedicated to recruiting and transforming patients into grassroots activists for community pharmacies by educating them on the vital role pharmacists play and the serious challenges they face in the delivery of health care.

“America’s patients and their families greatly value their community pharmacists and the personalized services they provide,” said Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of NCPA. “Fight4Rx patients will have a new forum during the health care reform debate in Washington, DC. They will be able to research issues and speak directly to their legislators about key concerns affecting their access to prescription medication and services by their local community pharmacies.”

Although the health care bill has passed, debate and changes will continue.  Fight4Rx includes issue briefs on pharmacy patient issues, Medicare and health care news updates, and a video blog on the home page (www.Fight4Rx.org) with regular updates from pharmacy industry experts. Patients will receive a monthly e-mail newsletter that will update them on key pharmacy issues and news about the latest breaking news. When necessary, Fight4Rx will encourage patients to contact their elected officials (via a 1-800 number or e-mail).

“I believe the Fight4Rx online community will lead us to fair and common-sense health care policies in the United States by empowering patients to let their voices be heard in establishing the pharmacy home of their choice,” said Holly Henry, RPh, NCPA president and Seattle, Washington pharmacy owner.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation’s retail prescription medicines. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org.

DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, affects an estimated 350,000 – 600,000 Americans each year.  DVT is a condition where a blood clot forms within the deep veins of the leg.  These clots can block the flow of blood, which in turn can cause pain, swelling, and discoloration of the legs.  In more serious cases, DVT can cause a pulmonary embolism, in which the clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs where it can cause damage from lack of oxygen to the lungs and other organs.

You may be at risk for DVT if any of the following factors apply:

• Major surgery
• Recent trauma (fall, broken bone)
• Family history of blood clots
• Sit or stand for long periods of time
• Overweight or obese
• Pregnancy
• Varicose veins
• Oral contraceptives
• Confined to a bed

To help prevent DVT, especially if you are at increased risk:

• Stretch your legs and move them as often as possible
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Wear gradient compression socks or stockings
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
• See your doctor with questions or concerns

IN SUPPORT OF DVT AWARENESS MONTH, STOP BY LEHAN DRUGS ON SOUTH 4TH ST TO RECEIVE 10% OFF A SINGLE PAIR OR 20% OFF TWO OR MORE PAIRS OF COMPRESSION SOCKS DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.  Insurance purchases excluded*

For more information on the benefits of compression stockings and the variety of styles and colors, check out our website at http://www.lehandrugs.com/home_medical/compression_stockings.html

As promised, here are some very commonly prescribed drugs, and a little about how they can affect a patient’s nutritional status and overall health.   

Acid reducing medicines (Omeprazole, Prevacid, Zantac, Nexium, etc.)

 It seems to me that acid-reducing medications are prescribed more and more often, for a variety of conditions.  They are certainly one of the most commonly prescribed medicines we dispense.  I’m sure you don’t go a day or two without being exposed to an advertisement for Prilosec or Prevacid.  These medicines can relieve discomfort, cure ulcers, and protect the stomach from other medications.

These medicines also affect the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.  The digestive system has been calibrated over the centuries to efficiently absorb nutrients from food, processes which may be dependent on the pH, or acidity in the gut.  There are several essential vitamins and minerals that might be affected.  

These include:

• Calcium

• Vitamin D

• Folic Acid

• B-12

 Of special note is vitamin D.  A mountain of recent research has shown the importance of vitamin D in supporting a variety of healthy processes in the body.  Low levels are associated with increased risks of cancer, mental illness, and poor bone health, among other things. Vitamin D is obtained in the diet, and through exposure to sunlight.

 In northern areas, such as ours, we don’t have the benefit of sun exposure many months out of the year.  If you’d like to learn more about Vitamin D, check out www.vitamindcouncil.com for more information, or contact a Lehan’s pharmacist.

 Antibiotic therapy (Levaquin, Amoxicillin, etc.)

Antibiotics have revolutionized healthcare, saved countless lives, and battled some of the most deadly diseases known to man.

 They are also quite effective in destroying the microbes in our intestines that we rely on for proper digestion, intestinal health, vaginal health, and even proper functioning of our immune systems.

Supplementing with a high-quality probiotic helps maintain the correct intestinal flora and can prevent antibiotic side effects.  Ask one of our pharmacists how to tell the difference between higher and lesser quality products to ensure you are getting optimal benefit.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs (“Statins” i.e. Lipitor, Crestor, Simvastatin, Lovastatin, etc.)

Statins, or HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, lower cholesterol.  There is evidence they can improve cardiovascular health and reduce major health events.

 They also deplete Coenzyme Q10.  CoQ10 is a substance vital for normal functioning of the mitochondria, or the “engines,” in every cell of our body.  Healthy levels of coenzyme Q10 are critical in supporting the normal functioning of those energy pathways.  One patent application by a major drug manufacturer for their product references this depletion, and even goes so far to recommend replacement for all patients!

There are other benefits from taking taking CoQ10.  A review of clinical trials in 2007 also showed CoQ10 may help lower blood pressure..

 Note: Coenzyme Q10 is not well absorbed when taken orally.  Certain formulations can provide more efficient absorption.  Ask one of our pharmacists for recommendations.

 Beta blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, etc.)

 These medicines help control blood pressure, heart rate, and can improve survival in certain chronic heart conditions.

 They also reduce levels of coenzyme Q10, and they deplete melatonin, a hormone vital in the normal functioning of our sleep-wake cycle.

 We’ve provided you a very short list, and many other medications may cause nutritional deficiencies.  Sometimes nutritional supplementation with vitamins or minerals is an effective means to help combat drug-induced deficiencies.  Don’t hesitate to contact a Lehan’s pharmacist for more information, or for other recommendations to help you maintain optimal health and nutrition.

Until recently, I’d never really been into “vitamins.” I eat a fairly well rounded diet. OK, I eat a lot of food, and I’m well rounded. I’ve been fortunate to have good health and even better genes. So, like many healthcare professionals, to some extent I probably take for granted the nutritional status of my patients.

I attended a conference a few weeks ago on nutritional and hormone balance in healthy aging, however, and my eyes were really opened to the importance of nutrition in all aspects of health. Often times we as health care professionals give lip service to a healthy diet, or a multivitamin, but don’t spend the time emphasizing specific nutritional changes or needs that can ensure optimal health in our patients.

In all truthfulness, I didn’t learn a lot about nutrition in pharmacy school. I did, however, learn a lot of biochemistry and pharmacology. It turns out that understanding those disciplines is key in understanding the importance of nutrition.

In pharmacy school ,we were forced to memorize mountains of equations and biochemical pathways. To be honest, I figured I would never use that information again. It turns out, understanding those pathways is crucial in understanding nutrition’s role in health. So as I’ve dredged my memory remembering things like the “Kreb’s cycle” or “liver enzymes,” I’ve really gained a new appreciation for our bodies’ reliance on proper nutrition.

So, since I’m a pharmacist, the follow-up question might be as follows: do medications affect our overall nutritional health?

Simply put: Yes! Medications can cause deficiencies of nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the human body.

One estimate suggests that 25% of all adverse reactions to medications are caused by nutrient depletion!

Medications have great potential to improve our health, cure diseases, and improve our quality of life. However, medicines are rarely “magic bullets.” My high school social studies teacher, Mr. Nakonechny once said “You can figure out how to dig a perfectly square hole, but you still have to find someplace to hide the dirt.” In my next post, we’re going to examine the dirt: several commonly prescribed medications and nutritional depletions they may cause.

If you just can’t wait, feel free to contact us for more information about the importance of recognizing drug-induced nutritional deficiencies and how they can be corrected to achieve wellness.  You can e-mail me at jon@lehandrugs.com or give us a call at 815-758-0911 or 815-217-3890 for more information!

This article ran in the DeKalb Daily Chronicle on Saturday, February 6th.  Hope you can take a look!

Lehan family mixes up a recipe for healthcare…

Once a staple of every corner drugstore, pharmacy compounding is once again gaining popularity in the healthcare world. When Jim and Emory Lehan opened their drugstore in downtown DeKalb in 1946, compounding was considered an essential skill. “In the early days of the pharmacy, almost all of our drugs were compounded,” says Jim Lehan, whose father, Jim Sr. opened that first location. For Tim Lehan, current owner of Lehan Drugs, the return of interest in compounding comes as no surprise.

“Simply put, prescription compounding is when a pharmacist is able to work with a patient’s physician to provide customized medication solutions to ensure the patient is getting the best possible care he or she needs. Rather than using a one-size fits all medication, the compounding pharmacist has the potential to help so many people by working with patients’ physicians to customize a medication to the patients’ specific needs. We see many patients with a wide array of needs benefit from compounding; children with autism, hormone therapy for women, veterinarian compounding, chronic pain patients, dental problems such as canker sores and the list just continues. We really felt the need in our community for a strong voice advocating great medication solutions for patients.”

Tim Lehan had been looking into compounding for a long time. However, it was never something he and his wife Ann, also a pharmacist, had time to work into their very busy practice. In 2008, their son, Dr. Jon Lehan came to work at the pharmacy after earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa and a 3 ½ year stint in the Air Force. With Jon back, Tim and Ann felt it was time to reevaluate, and decided to send Jon to complete an advanced training course in compounding. The family, however, was in for a little surprise.

“Grandpa Jim heard us talking about it, and asked if he could get trained as well”, Tim noted. “Considering his experience over the years as a pharmacist, we really thought this was a perfect fit.”

“I only really retired because my hearing had been deteriorating. I still loved that part of pharmacy.” Jim noted. “In the early days of the pharmacy, almost all of our drugs were compounded. There weren’t so many products available in tablet form. We even made something called artificial earwax.”

In July, Jim and Jon traveled to Houston to the Professional Compounding Centers of America to complete the hands-on training. PCCA is the country’s leading organization supporting the art of compounding in the country. PCCA was surprised to have their first-ever grandfather-grandson tandem as students since its inception in the early 1980s.

Jon said the folks at PCCA were quite impressed. “This was very intense training, and Grandpa really hung in there. He was making a lot of these younger pharmacists just stand there scratching their heads that this 82 year old guy could put in 5 hours of lecture and 5 hours of hands on compounding practice a day. He is just so amazing. PCCA even featured him in their monthly newsletter, going to to a few thousand compounding pharmacies internationally.”

“I just think it’s great how we’re really returning to the roots of pharmacy.” Jon said.  “Pharmacies were centerpieces of communities, where the pharmacists knew their patients. I think so often medication is treated like a commodity, like a gallon of milk or pair of socks. Compounding is a great way to connect with patients. The compounding pharmacist helps to evaluate what they need from their medication and works with the physician to ensure the best treatment .”

“Today we are able to ensure the products we make are of highest quality, with great technology and equipment, and we have ability to test what we do for potency and stability.”

“What my grandpa really helped instill in us was a commitment to our patients as members of our community. Every patient is unique, and being able to spend time with our patients, and customize their medicines when necessary truly allows us to affect patients’ health and achieve positive health solutions.”

“We want to be there for our community and our area’s physicians. I feel like we know our patients so well, almost like they are part of our family. The better we know people the more we can help by providing custom medication solutions.”

Jim also points out that compounding can be, well…fun.

“I really enjoyed making different flavored animal treats that are used to mask flavors of medications for pets. I also enjoyed learning to make medicated lollipops. I decided to combine the two, and make a fish-flavored lollipop.” Jon had a good laugh from that. “We had to trade our lollipops with other students. I feel bad for the one who got Grandpa’s fish-pop.” Grandpa Jim is now back in the business. “I’m really proud how our family business has been able to continue to evolve, providing care to the community through the pharmacy, immunizations, home medical equipment, and compounding. They’re really at forefront of community pharmacy in Illinois.”

And the rest of the family is very proud of Grandpa.

The founders of Lehan Drugs, brothers Jim Lehan, Sr. and Emory Lehan are both set to be inducted as inaugural members of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.  As the great grandson of James and the great-great nephew of Emory, it is amazing to hear the stories and see the pictures of the business they created in Lehan Drugs more than 60 years ago (http://www.lehandrugs.com/about/history.html).  They laid the foundation for what Lehan Drugs has been able to accomplish over that time and all of us here are honored to see them inducted.

Jim Sr. served the DeKalb Community for over 30 years and throughout his professional life, he was always very active in helping to promote the downtown DeKalb area.  Under his leadership, during the 1950’s and 60’s Lehan Drugs was the meeting place of the community with daily customer counts over 1000 people. With a food counter and soda fountain, Lehan Drugs was one of the most popular eating destinations in DeKalb, not to mention a busy pharmacy. His customers loved him and his commitment to customer service is still our trademark today.

Emory also served the DeKalb Community for the majority of his adult life.  After serving his country in the United States Army he joined his brother in opening Lehan Drugs in downtown DeKalb. Emory was a consummate businessman and entrepreneur and was extremely active in the running of Lehan Drugs. He could often be found in the store office going over figures and handing out notes to employees for projects he wanted accomplished. Emory was also instrumental in opening Kampus Korner on the campus of NIU, a state of the art 2 floor business that catered to the NIU students. He was also on the Chamber of Commerce Board of directors and served as its president.

Although they are no longer with us, we hope that both of them would be proud of the business that we run today.

-Jim