Ask the Pharmacist

In April’s issue of Ask The Pharmacist, Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacys’s Pat and Maria discuss several women’s and men’s general conditions for which there are a variety of options available for self treatment.

Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that can affect men of all ages. It is characterised by the failure to develop/maintain an erection that is firm enough for sex. Often there may be an underlying issue that increases the chance of this occurring-heart disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances are proven to cause issues in this regard. Sometimes it can be a side effect of certain medications eg medication for high blood pressure or depression. Previously, one had to see their GP to obtain a prescription for Viagra but this product is now available over the counter in Mounthawk Pharmacy. This medicine comes in a pack of 4 or 8 tablets and works by increasing the blood flow to the penis. If it is your first time purchasing this product, our pharmacists will go through a series of questions with you in strictest confidence and this is to ensure that this product is safe for you to use. If you suffer from angina or advanced cardiovascular disease for example then taking a medicine such as Viagra must be agreed by your GP. If we agree that it is safe for you to use this product, then we will supply you with a handy authorisation slip that means in future you can just hand this into us and we can supply it without asking you the same questions all over again. As always, a healthy lifestyle will also help to improve performance so make sure you are eating the right things and watching that waistline. Supplements such as Wellman and Centrum Men will ensure you are getting all the essential nutrients you need for optimum health. As always, if you have any questions feel free to pop into us in Mounthawk where we are always happy to help.

Haemorrhoids (often known as piles) are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels situated inside or around the anus. Extremely common , they can be caused by several conditions such as constipation, straining when going to the bathroom, pregnancy and heavy lifting. This is why the entire staff of Mounthawk Pharmacy sadly had to give up their promising careers as professional weightlifters years ago. Piles are often no more than a nuisance but they can cause severe discomfort and occasionally will require surgical removal. As always prevention is better than cure so increasing your intake of dietary fibre and increasing your water intake is a natural way to avoid them. Piles can be either internal or external and the treatment options available depend on which ones you suffer from. Suppositories are solid medications that are inserted into the rectum and work well for internal piles. There are several products available eg Anusol and Preparation H. These work to shrink the piles and also to relieve discomfort. External piles respond well to creams. Some products contain hydrocortisone which is a steroid used to help shrink the offending pile. This works great but should be avoided if your piles are bleeding. The itch associated with piles can be relieved by Preparation H wipes and it is a good idea when wiping to use a damp tissue to avoid any further trauma to the delicate anal tissue that be damaged easily by rough wiping. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, call into us where we are happy to discuss your options if you are suffering. Sometimes people are embarrassed to talk about these kind of issues but we talk about them everyday and it is no reason to be afraid or ashamed to ask for help.

Thrush is a common condition that affects women (and sometimes men). It is a yeast infection that results from an imbalance of the natural fauna found in the vaginal area. It generally tends to develop when something happens to change the Ph level of the vagina and this could be anything from diabetes, recent antibiotic use or recent sex. It can be extremely uncomfortable for the sufferer, resulting in stinging in the vaginal area and a whitish discharge. This is caused by overgrowth of the yeast Candida Albicans. Luckily there are a number of treatment options available to relieve the discomfort and treat the infection. Everybody has heard of Canesten-it is available in cream and pessary form to help kill the overgrowth of the yeast. The cream is good for controlling the external symptoms such as itching and redness but the internal pessary is the gold standard, working on the inside to restore the natural flora of the vagina. In severe cases it may be necessary to consult a GP for an oral antifungal tablet and this option should always be considered. Recurrent cases of thrush nearly always have an underlying reason and this needs to be investigated. It could be as simple as avoiding tight fitting synthetic clothing in that area as the build up of moisture that results is a breeding ground for yeast. The same goes for changing out of wet swimwear quickly and drying the area thoroughly. However it could also be a symptom of irregular blood sugars so a blood test might be needed with your GP. Talk to us in store about your options and we will endeavour to find the right product to get you back to full health.

If there are any issues you would like us to discuss in the common months,
email us at mounthawk@allcarepharmacy.ie and we will be happy to feature your query.