Health Matters is a weekly radio show sponsored by the Medicine Center Pharmacy on WHBC 1480 AM in Canton, Ohio. This episode pharmacists Brad White and Paul White discuss custom compounded prescriptions and the Medicine Center Pharmacy Patient Care Program today with Pharmacists Janice Marciniak and Austin Hopkins.

The role of the pharmacist has broadened, and The Medicine Center Pharmacy has become a destination for patient care.  Medicine Center Pharmacy continues to be an ideal place for health care advice, recommendations for over the counter treatments and point of care testing. But did you know that we have an accredited lab that allows us to formulate custom medications designed specifically for you or your pet.  This morning we will talk with Janice and discuss pharmacy compounding at Medicine Center Pharmacy along with opportunities to develop a relationship with your pharmacist, a valuable member of your health care team.

Topics covered in todays program:

1. How are pharmacies and compounding pharmacies regulated in Ohio?

2. How does a pharmacy earn PCAB Accreditation?*

3. How does compounding benefit a patient?

4. What kind of prescriptions can be compounded?

5. What is a bioidentical hormone replacement specialist?

6. What is BHRT?

7. Who can benefit from hormone replacement therapy?

8. What is the Medicine Center Pharmacy Patient Care Program?

9. What vaccines are administered at the Medicine Center?

10. What type of Vitamin D should I be taking?

11. How much sunscreen should I apply to be safe?

*Medicine Center Pharmacy held PCAB Accreditation from 2009 to 2026. As of March 2026, we have elevated our process to now maintain CCE Accreditation.

Health Matters is a weekly radio show sponsored by the Medicine Center Pharmacy on WHBC 1480 AM in Canton, Ohio. This episode pharmacists Brad White and Paul White discuss caring for our furry friends with Dr. Mandy Pullekins from For Paws Animal Hospital.

If you are listening to this show, you are probably a pet owner and in the United States, 70% of us are pet owners, up from 56% in 1988.  You may have heard that pet adoption spiked during the pandemic and the statistics show that was true, but primarily among households who already had a least one pet.  More of us are dog lovers than cat lovers.  The average annual spending on a pet dog is $1,200 with a little over $400 of that going towards food.  We spend significantly less on our cats for an average annual spend of $687 with $329 of that for food.

Regardless of the statistics, our pets are members of our family.  Our spending, concern and devotion to our pets is a reflection of that bond.  This morning we will talk with Dr. Pullekins about showing our pets some love and learning some tips to keep them happy and healthy!

In this edition of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy we cover:

1. Is it safe for my dog to eat chocolate and candy?

2. What should we avoid giving our pets for treats?

3. What are some good examples of healthy treats for dogs and cats?

4. If you want to treat your pet to a spa day, what are some activities you can do at home?

5. Are there any types of toys to avoid giving our pets?

6. Do you recommend puzzle feeders?

7. Can pets get car sick?

8. What are common conditions you see in your veterinary practice?

9. How are compounded medications used in your practice?

10. What are signs that my dog or cat could use a little less attention?

11. What tips can you offer for leaving pets in the care of a kennel?

12. What special precautions should pet owners take during tick season?

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Thanks for listening today! We’d like to remind our listeners, if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsors Studio Arts & Glass and Jenior Appraisals and LIquidations. As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.

A recent article published by NPR does a fantastic job of providing legitimacy to a therapy that has been very popular at our compounding pharmacy, low dose naltrexone (LDN). The volume of scientific information is expanding at an enormous pace, and as a result it is challenge to be aware of all the cutting edge therapies, so it is great when the press helps to raise awareness.

The good news is that the research is there, but often takes time to trickle into the mainstream standard of care. This NPR article relays the experience of living with chronic pain from the “other side" of the story, the non-research side, from the point of view of patients.

The article tells the history of LDN, why it's so promising, and the fact that ONLY compounding pharmacies have the ability to prepare this medication in custom dosage forms to meet patients needs.

Patients and providers can quickly read (or listen) to this news story and understand now low dose naltrexone works and it provides legitimacy in coming from a national news source such as NRP

Dr. Bruce Vrooman, an associate professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, was an author of a recent review of low-dose naltrexone research.

The full text of the NPR News story can be found here: In Tiny Doses, An Addiction Medication Moonlights As A Treatment For Chronic Pain

The compounding pharmacists can assist you with your questions about LDN, for more information contact the pharmacy here or call us at 330-339-4466.

Our next public information session on LDN will be October 3rd, 2019 at 6:30pm at the Hampton Inn Meeting Room 1299 West High Avenue New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.

Do you have experience with LDN you would like to share?

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy covers a variety of services that we offer at your local independent pharmacy. The pharmacist fills a role that covers many aspects of health care. They link the patient to the prescriber and not only check for drug interactions and make sure that your prescription order is accurate, they also help solve problems with insurance billing, manufacturer recalls, and over the counter medication recommendations. Patients visit their pharmacist on average of 12 times a year, making the pharmacist the most accessible health care professional.

In addition to providing services like home delivery and special medication packaging to simplify medication administration, the Medicine Center also offers a Free Kids Vitamin program for kids in grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade. We have convenient pharmacy locations in Canton, Louisville, Minerva, and New Philadelphia, Ohio for you to take advantage of this service.

We also talk about an upcoming informational seminar that pharmacist Brad White will be hosting on September 5th, 2019 about the uses for Low Dose Naltrexone. Low Dose Naltrexone, or LDN, can be of benefit in a variety of autoimmune disorders and chronic pain treatment. You can register here for the seminar to learn more.

What is Compounding?

Patients often find themselves in need of a medication, strength, or dosage form not currently manufactured by a large company. The latest medical knowledge and state of the art technology allow pharmacists to work with physicians, veterinarians, and other health care providers to prepare a customized medication solution to a problem not met by commercially available products.

By compounding a custom medication, we can:

• Use the most appropriate dose for the patient

• Combine multiple medications into one dosage form for patient convenience

• Create dosage forms not available such as gels, creams, suppositories, and troches (lozenges)

• Formulate specific hormone therapies not commercially made

• Prepare medications free of certain allergens or additives that may cause problems for patients

• Make a medication easier to use, or easier to administer for you, your child, or a pet

Pharmacists have studied chemical properties, medication preparation and have the ability to meet the doctors’ exact specifications to ensure a better health outcome for you. Our pharmacists, trained technicians, and state-of-the-art facility ensure a quality and effective medication solution. Our designation as a CCE Accredited pharmacy provides evidence of our adherence to quality standards and to principles of the profession of pharmacy compounding.

Learn How To Use Your Compounded Medications

You can watch training videos to assist you in proper use of your compounded prescription medications.

About Medicine Center Pharmacy in New Philadelphia

In October 2007, the Medicine Center Pharmacy in New Philadelphia earned the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board’s Seal of Accreditation, a system of standards created by some of the leading organizations in the pharmacy profession. At that time, we were the first Medicine Shoppe Franchise Pharmacy in the nation and only the second pharmacy in Ohio to receive the honor.

The accreditation confirms our commitment to providing safe, personalized solutions that meet the medical needs of our patients, and the needs of the health care providers in the community who rely on us for specialized medications.

For more information on CCE Accreditation, visit the CCE website at www.cce-team.com