What is a Troche?

With the rising popularity of Hormone Replacement Therapy in recent years, troches are becoming an important and convenient method of administering many different medications. One of the most popular uses for troches are natural hormone replacement therapies.

But what exactly is a troche and what are the benefits? 

What is a troche?

A troche is a small lozenge designed to dissolve between a person’s cheek and gum over a period of time; typically 30 minutes. As the troche dissolves in the patient’s mouth, the medication is absorbed through the oral mucosa and gradually  absorbs into the blood stream. Troches are commonly used to administer bioidentical hormones in a patient, and can be flavored to mask bitterness, if needed. Some of our most popular flavors are tangerine, vanilla, and peppermint.

What are some reasons a patient would benefit from using troches?

Better absorption
When used in hormone replacement therapy, the hormones in a slowly dissolving troche are absorbed more gradually into the blood stream, resulting in physiologically natural hormone blood levels.

Problems swallowing pills
For individuals who have difficulty swallowing pills or capsules, compounding medication into a troche is an excellent alternative to receiving your medication orally.

Difficulty with creams
Since skin types can have extreme variations in thickness, water content, and fat content, the absorption of medicated creams and lotions through a person’s skin can be very unpredictable, especially at menopause. Placing medication into a troche is a superb alternate option.

Alternative to suppositories
Vaginal suppositories can be an effective option for medication delivery in hormone replacement, especially when the hormone is meant to be exposed directly to the tissue of the vaginal wall,  but there is little convenience to utilizing these over medicated troches when the goal end result is higher levels of hormones throughout the body. Some downsides to using vaginal suppositories include exposure to a partner during intercourse, lost medication from leaking, and lack of higher dosages.
 

Due to the many advantages in convenience, effectiveness, and consistency, we recommend troches as an alternative delivery system for hormone replacement therapy for both women and men.

For additional information about troches, please give us a call or stop in the pharmacy and talk to one of our highly trained compounding pharmacists!

5 Incredible Health Benefits of Curcumin (aka Turmeric) - and 20% OFF Curcumin Supplements!

Arguably one of the most powerful herbs in existence at fighting disease, turmeric—with its renowned healing compound, curcumin—is mostly known for being the main spice used in curry. However, you may not have heard about just how incredibly beneficial this substance can be for your body and your brain.

Tumeric is a root herb that has been a huge part of Indian culture and foods for thousands of years. Curcumin is the most active of the four curcuminoids found in turmeric, and has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and anticancer activities if consumed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the curcumin content in turmeric is actually not that high—only around 3% by weight—so one of the best ways to get a higher dosage of this miraculous substance is to take a special curcumin supplement.

****For the month of May only, Central Compounding Pharmacy is offering a 20% discount on all curcumin supplements!**** Some popular curcumin supplements we carry include Designs for Health’s “C3 Curcumin Complex” and “Curcum-Evail® Chewables”, Integrative Therapeutics’ “Curcumax”, and DaVinci Laboratories “Curcumin C3 Complex”.

There are innumerable benefits that come with the consumption of turmeric and curcumin.

Here are 5 amazing health benefits of curcumin:

1. Curcumin improves memory and attention – and can greatly help people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

According to a study recently conducted by UCLA researchers, taking curcumin twice daily greatly improved the memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss. In memory tests, people who took curcumin improved by 28 percent, experienced significant improvements in their attention abilities, and also had mild improvements in their overall mood. Curcumin reduces brain inflammation, which has been linked to both Alzheimer’s disease and depression. This is why it has been suggested as a possible reason that senior citizens in India, where curcumin is a dietary staple, have a lower prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and better cognitive performance.

2. Curcumin fights inflammation in the body

Many common diseases today, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer’s, and chronic pain are all associated with inflammation in the body. Preventing and fighting chronic inflammation is extremely important in preventing and treating these diseases. Curcumin has incredible anti-inflammatory effects, fighting inflammation at the molecular level. One study evaluated several anti-inflammatory compounds and found that curcumin is among the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds in the world - and can be more effective than aspirin and ibuprofen, but without the side effects!

3. Curcumin helps in the treatment of stomach ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcerative colitis

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases will often seek pain relief from corticosteroids, but over time these medications can damage the intestinal lining, actually making the condition worse! Instead, curcumin can be used to help to heal the gut and support the growth of probiotics (good bacteria), greatly improving and relieving painful symptoms. Patients who suffer from stomach ulcers may find relief with bioavailable curcumin, as it inhibits stomach acid secretion and the activity of pepsin. Finally, curcumin has also been effective in maintaining remission in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis.

4. Curcumin fights cancer and may prevent certain cancers

It has been shown that curcumin has incredible anticancer effects, helping the body naturally treat cancers including breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and skin cancer. Curcumin has been shown to prevent the synthesis of a protein believed to play a role in the formation of tumors, reduce the growth of new blood vessels in tumors, destroy mutated cancer cells to prevent them from spreading, and induce programmed cell death in glioblastoma (malignant brain cancer), oral, T-cell lymphoma, bone, brain, and melanoma cancer cells.

5. Cucurmin can reduce depression symptoms

Curcumin may help promote emotional and psychological wellbeing and lower depression symptoms. Many common brain disorders have been linked to decreased levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), but studies have shown that curcumin can actually increase these levels! In addition, research has shows that curcumin can promote the development of new cells in the hippocampus in chronically stressed rats, reduce depressive symptoms in patients with major depression, and enhance the effects of SSRIs and SNRI antidepressants in mice.

In conclusion, there are MANY incredible health benefits associated with curcumin. If you want to buy a turmeric/curcumin supplement, we recommend Designs for Health’s “C3 Curcumin Complex” and “Curcum-Evail® Chewables”, Integrative Therapeutics’ “Curcumax” and DaVinci Laboratories “Curcumin C3 Complex”.

For the entire month of May ONLY, Central Compounding Pharmacy is offering a 20% discount on all curcumin supplements! Give us a call or stop by for more information or to purchase some of these amazing supplements!

How to Use a Topi-Click Dispenser: Step By Step Instructions

There are a variety of reasons why Topi-click is so popular with doctors, pharmacists, and patients. 

Watch our Compounding Pharmacist Marjan explain how to use a Topi-click dispenser; Our favorite measuring device for your compounds!

8 Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

Approximately 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2017 in the U.S. alone.

By Peyton Berookim MD Gastro (Patch Poster) 

Colon cancer is the third most prevalent type of cancer in the U.S., affecting both men and women at an alarming rate. Approximately 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2017 in the U.S. alone.

Fortunately, colorectal cancer is treatable and beatable. There are several methods that can reduce one’s chances of developing colorectal cancer. As such, we have compiled a list of 8 ways to prevent against colon cancer.

1. Know Your Family History

There is a genetic component to developing colorectal cancer. Thus, knowing your family history of colorectal cancer can help inform your decisions to get tested. Factors such as age of onset, closeness in familial relation and other such factors should inform your decision.

2. Don’t Smoke!

We all are aware of the negative effects smoking can have on the lungs. However, many people may not realize the harmful effects smoking can have on the colorectal organs. Smokers are approximately 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer that nonsmokers. And that number can increase depending on the length of time which you smoked.

3. Don’t Binge Drink

Binge or heavy drinking drastically increases your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Studies indicate that on average, people who have 2-3 drinks a day are at an approximately 20% higher risk for developing colorectal cancer thank nondrinkers. People that have more than 4 drinks a day are at a 50% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. And all alcohols are equally bad.

4. Keep A Thin Waste Line

There are strong correlations between obesity and colorectal cancer. The relationship is especially true for men. It has been found that men under the age of 50 with excess fat in their stomachs are just as likely as men over the age of 50 to have precancerous cells in their colorectal organs.
 

5. Eat Superfoods

There is an emerging list of superfoods that are supposed to help protect against colorectal cancer. Although the data supporting this is not as robust as the evidence against smoking and drinking, there is still strong evidence that suggests eating foods such as blackberries and walnuts and drinking green teas can protect against developing colorectal cancer.

6. Cut Back On Red Meat

Several research studies have found a strong correlation between the amount of red meat one consumes and the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Worse still is the consumption of salted, smoked, cured and processed meats.

If you simply must eat red meat, it is recommended that you should at least limit your intake to two four-ounce portions a week, eat lean cuts and avoid charring it on the grill.

7. Exercise Exercise Exercise

There is strong evidence that living a sedentary lifestyle increases the chances of developing colorectal cancer, while exercise and staying active reduces it. Doctors suggest at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise 5 times a week can greatly affect your chances of developing colorectal cancer.

8. Get Screened Regularly

Colorectal cancer screening is one of the few cancer screenings that can actually help prevent the disease. Follow the recommended protocol for colorectal cancer screening. The recommended age for screening is 50, however, there is evidence that that number should be lowered to mid forties.

This article was originally posted at patch.com. See original article here.

Dog Friendly Over-The-Counter Medications

Ever wonder if you can give your dog something out of your medicine cabinet? Save this photo for when you can't get to the Vet!

16 Things NOT to Feed Your Dog

Holidays are the time that our doggies LOVE to hang around a kitchen full of yummy smells! Please remember...they are dogs and not humans and they break down food differently than we do! Keep your dog feeling it's best - they would say "thanks" if they could talk!

No matter how hard your dog begs and pleads, there are simply some people foods you should never fork over. And of course, you also need to make sure potentially toxic foods aren’t left out where your dog could get at them. Read on to find out what foods dogs should not eat.

Bad Food for Dogs
You may already know not to offer chocolate to your pooch, but did you know that avocados can be bad for dogs too? Look over this list of 16 foods you should absolutely never feed your dog to see how many you knew about.

• Chocolate
• Gum and candy
• Xylitol
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Avocados
• Onions
• Garlic
• Salt
• Tea leaves
• Raw yeast dough
• Spoiled foods
• Fatty foods
• Coffee
• Alcohol

Let’s break it down with more about why these foods are bad for dogs.

1. Chocolate

While melt in your mouth chocolate makes humans happy (and if it doesn’t, I can honestly say I don’t understand you at all!), it can be very harmful to your dog. It contains caffeine and theobromine, two stimulants that can make your dog’s heart race, blood pressure skyrocket, and even cause seizures and death.

The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be for your pup because it contains even more of these substances. So baker’s chocolate and semi-sweet nibs are big no no’s. Smaller breeds can also be affected by a lesser amount of chocolate than larger breeds. You can see just how much is too much in our Dogs and Chocolate Infographic.

2. Gum and candy

Thinking about a dog chewing on a piece of gum might elicit a chuckle or two, but it’s really not a laughing matter. A dog wouldn’t have a clue what to do with this strange, chewy substance and may be likely to swallow it, which can cause choking or blockages in the digestive system. Candy can result in the same issues, especially if it’s super chewy, like caramel or taffy. Hard candies can also fracture your dog’s teeth.

Plus, if that gum or candy is sweetened with Xylitol, it can cause some serious problems for your dog. Xylitol is such a dangerous substance it has it’s own spot on the list.

3. Xylitol

Xylitol is a substitute sweetener used in many different foods, including gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, and peanut butter. Ingesting Xylitol can result in low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), seizure, and liver failure in dogs. So please check the ingredients of anything that might contain Xylitol before giving it to your dog.

4. Grapes

Grapes are highly toxic to dogs and can result in severe complications, including sudden kidney failure. Even just a single one can cause a very bad reaction in your dog, so keep those bowlfuls of grapes and fruit salads out of paws reach. If you happen to come home and find a straggly, empty grape vine on the floor near your dog, contact your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately (more on that at the end of this list).

5. Raisins

You know what raisins are, right? They’re dried and shriveled up grapes, of course! That means they’re just as harmful to your dog as their round and juicy friends. Raisins are also tricky, since they can hide in cookies and other goodies that your dog might try to gobble up.

6. Macadamia nuts

These nuts originated in Madagascar and Australia, but were brought over to Hawaii and California many years ago. They can now be found in plenty of local grocery stores and are sometimes baked into cookies. It’s not known what in these nuts causes a bad reaction in dogs, but symptoms can include a severely upset tummy, vomiting, hyperthermia, and tremors.

7. Avocados

These fruits (yes, they are a fruit!) contain a substance called persin, which can be harmful to dogs. There is more persin in the leaves and skin of avocados, and different varieties can contain more or less of this toxic substance. In any case, it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep your dog’s nose out of the guacamole bowl on game day.

8. Onions

Onions contain a harmful substance that can damage your dog’s red blood cells, making them unable to carry oxygen through the body. This is as dangerous as it sounds and can be fatal. Now you might wonder what dog would eat an onion, but they’ve been known to gobble up slices dropped on the floor, snack on breaded onion rings, or nosh on sweeter tasting pearl onions. Onion powder is also a problem for dogs, so keep it safely stored away in the spice cabinet.

9. Garlic

Like onions, garlic can damage a dog’s red blood cells. Also like onions, you may be wondering what dog would want to eat garlic. But dogs don’t always shy away from strong tasting foods. They might eat up garlic cloves that fell while you were cooking or get into a jar of chopped garlic left open on the counter. Garlic powder can also be an issue, so be sure to store it safely.

10. Salt

Too much salt, whether it’s poured directly out of the shaker or on potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, or other snacks, can cause health issues for your dog. It can lead to sodium ion or salt poisoning, which can damage the kidneys. Signs include excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, and diarrhea.

11. Tea leaves

While sitting down with a nice cup of tea can be one of the most relaxing points of your day, you should certainly avoid inviting your dog for teatime. Tea leaves contain caffeine, like I mentioned in our chat about chocolate, and can be quite troublesome for dogs. Although your dog may seem uninterested in tea bags, you should store cartons of them safely and avoid leaving mugs with used tea bags around where your dog could take a taste.

12.  Raw yeast dough

If you’re baking bread or other items with raw yeast, like homemade soft pretzels, be sure to let it rise somewhere safe from curious noses. The yeast in that dough can expand in your dog’s belly and cause painful gas and bloating. Bloat can cause a dog’s stomach to twist, which can turn into a medical emergency. There is also a risk of alcohol intoxication since yeast produces alcohol during the fermenting process.

13.  Spoiled foods

There can be all sorts of harmful things lurking in your garbage, such as spoiled or moldy foods, that can upset your dog’s tummy or worse. Some molds contain mycotoxins that cause serious muscle tremors. Be sure to throw old or rotten foods out where your dog can’t get at them, like a securely closed outdoor garbage bin.

14. Fatty foods

Feeding your dog fatty foods, like hot dogs, bacon, ribs, or fried chicken, can upset your dog’s stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can also lead to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. Some breeds, like Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, may be more prone to pancreatitis. If you notice your dog is hunched over with tummy pain, contact your vet.

15. Coffee

Like tea leaves and chocolate, coffee is harmful to dogs because of the caffeine content. This goes for brewed, ground, and whole bean coffee. It’s also true of used coffee grounds, so be careful how you dispose of them.

16. Alcohol

Just like people, dogs can get buzzed from drinks or foods containing alcohol. This effect can be amplified for dogs, especially for those of smaller breeds. Alcohol can also affect your dog’s nervous system and even lead to a coma or death. There’s simply no reason to ever offer your dog an alcoholic beverage. You should also keep an eye on your dog during parties where drinks may be left around.

What Dogs are at Risk?

Dogs of any breed, shape, or size are at risk for ingesting something harmful. However, some dogs may be more prone to eating things they shouldn’t based on their personalities. While all dogs need to be protected from bad foods and toxic substances, dogs who are super curious or love to put things in their mouths may need closer supervision.

Dog Poison Emergency Tips

It’s good to know the list of bad food for dogs, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to protect your dog from getting into trouble all of the time. If you suspect your dog has ingested a harmful food or substance, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) immediately. The APCC is available 24/7 at 888-426-4435. A $65 consultation may apply.

Also, be sure to stay calm and never try to treat your dog without professional advice. You could injure your dog or get hurt yourself. Even the most loving dog can act out when in pain, scared, or upset. Depending on the situation, your vet may need to perform diagnostic tests, induce vomiting, administer fluids through an IV, or prescribe medications. Hospitalization may also be necessary in more severe cases.

While these treatments can get expensive, you can get help managing the costs with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan. Get a quote for your dog now. This way, if you ever come home to find a ripped open box of raisins and a dog with an upset tummy, you can at least rest easy knowing that you’ll have help covering the medical bills.

This is a reposted article. Original article here.