MEDICINE
Mixing medication & food can be deadly
M
ore than one-third of adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Yet many of those treated for these conditions don’t realize they are putting themselves at risk by not understanding the basics about their medications. Many commonly prescribed drugs have potentially fatal side-effects when mixed with other medications, overthe-counter drugs, supplements and even foods. This is true for the widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, which can be deadly when mixed with grapefruit juice. These medications include atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin and fluvastatin. “Most people don’t know that something as common as drinking grapefruit juice when taking statins can increase the risk of muscle pain and have serious adverse side effects that can be life-threatening,” says Ed Dannemiller, specialist pharmacist in the Express Scripts Cardiovascular Therapeutic Resource Center (TRC). “The juice can substantially raise the concentration of statins in the body and make them much more potent.” As a specialist pharmacist, Dannemiller is one of a team of experts who are specifically trained to help patients with heart disease understand everything they need to know about their medications, including how their diet and other medications they take may affect their health. They also work closely with physicians to prevent TAXES continued from Page 24
at higher income levels based on filing status. Individuals and heads of household with an AGI of $200,000 plus, married couples filing separately with an AGI of $125,000 plus, and couples filing jointly with an AGI of $250,000 plus must pay the tax. Answer a few questions about investment income and your tax program will do the rest. • Taxpayers in those same AGI ranges will also pay an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on wages and compensation in excess of $200,000. The tax is automatically withheld from employee wages, with the total
26 • Health & Wellness
potential problems that medications may pose to their patients. “Another popular drug, warfarin, which is a blood thinner that helps prevent heart attack and stroke, can react harmfully with a number of commonly used products,” he says. “When warfarin is mixed with antidepressants, alcohol, ibuprofen or aspirin, and even herbal products like gingko biloba or garlic, patients may be at risk of internal bleeding.”
If you are one of the millions of Americans being treated for one of these common conditions, Dannemiller offers these tips to help prevent medication interactions. • Ask before you use: Check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out what foods, medications and supplements should be avoided when taking a medication. Some combinations cause bad reactions by making the drug more potent, while others can make the
medication less effective. • Read the fine print: Always read the caution information provided in the medication package and make sure you understand how and when to take your medications. Instructions such as taking your dose with food or on an empty stomach should not be overlooked. Also, taking too much or too little of a drug can significantly impact how well the drug works. • Look beyond prescriptions: Make sure your physicians know all the other medications and supplements you’re taking, such as herbal remedies and over-the-counter products, including vitamins since some interactions can cause life threatening side-effects. • Follow doctor’s orders: Taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor is essential for ensuring that they’ll effectively treat your condition. Don’t ever stop taking your medications or simply use them “when needed” without talking to your physician or specialist pharmacist. Even if you have no apparent symptoms, you may still be at risk. For example, blood pressure can reach dangerous levels, yet a patient may not be aware of any of the warning signs. Remember, just because you don’t notice any symptoms doesn’t mean that your disease is under control. For more information and additional ways you can avoid harmful drug interactions, visit Express Scripts’ Healthcare Insights blog at lab.expressscripts.com.
amount provided in Box 6 of your Form W-2. If you’re a business owner or self-employed, the tax is calculated using figures on your Schedule SE. The health insurance requirement doesn’t have tax implications for another year. If you have health insurance, your online tax solution will guide you through the simple process of reporting it on your 2014 tax return due April 2015. If you don’t have health insurance for a total of three or more months in 2014, you may pay a penalty that’s reported and calculated on your tax return. Tax programs will calculate the amount based on number of uninsured individuals in your household and household income.
Uninsured individuals can shop and apply for health insurance through online “marketplaces,” also called “exchanges,” starting Oct. 1. States will have their own marketplaces, use the federal government’s Health Insurance Marketplace or a hybrid of the two. Enrollment closes March 31, 2014. If you don’t have access to minimum required employer-provided insurance and purchase insurance through a marketplace, you may qualify for an advanced premium tax credit applied directly to your monthly premiums. Eligibility and amount are based on the cost of marketplace premiums and your household size and income.-If
you do not take advantage of the advanced premium tax credit, you can still claim the refundable credit on your 2014 tax return. Cost-sharing subsidies may also be available for other health care expenses such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. Whether you have a simple or complex situation, TaxACT makes it easy to navigate the tax implications of the Affordable Care Act anytime, anywhere. Prepare, print and e-file your federal taxes free at www.taxact.com/ affordable-care-act. Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace for information about insurance options at www. healthcare.gov.
Photo contributed
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins can be deadly when mixed with grapefruit juice.
Fall-Winter 2013