Unichem Pharmacy

Cold-pressed Jamaican Black Casto oil is 💯 natural oil derived from roasted castor beans, popular for promoting hair growth, strengthening hair follicles and moisturizing skin.

It's highly effective for thickening hair, reducing breakage, treating dry scalp and boosting hair, eyebrows and eyelashes growth.

Visit our Pharmacy for the newly arrived Rosemary products. Rosemary boosts hair growth by improving scalp circulation hence protecting the hair follicles.

Unichem Pharmacy, your feeling better starts here.

Have you ever wondered why some tablets have a line in the middle?

And have you ever found a particular tablets too big to swallow that you had to split it in the middle?

The tablets with lines are called scored tablets. It is called a scoring line and it is not for decoration!

A scored tablet has a line in the middle that indicates that it is designed to be safely split, either to adjust the dose or make swallowing easier.

But dd you know that NOT ALL tablets are safe to split?

Splitting is only safe when the tablet is scored by the manufacturer or if it is not coated with an enteric layer.

Some medicines are meant to be released slowly into the body. Splitting the tablets can destroy the controlled release mechanism, leading to releasing too much medicine at once, causing toxic side effects or treatment failure.

Always consult your pharmacist before splitting any medicine.

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January to December is not the same as December to January.

Just like in medicine, "Take every 12 hours " is not the same as ," Take twice a day".

Why not?

Say you are prescribed for an antibiotic like Septrin and told to take twice a day/ daily. You take the first dose when you get up at 9am. Then you take the second dose at noon during your lunch break.

Technically, you have followed the instructions quite well. But because you took the two doses closely together, the medicine's concentration in your blood will be higher for a few hours, then drop below the effective dose for the rest of the day.
This means that the medicine won't be as effective at treating the infection.

Take every 12 hours is clearer, but requires more precision. The medicine should be taken as close to 12 hours apart as possible. That could be at 7am and at 7pm, at 8am and at 8pm or at 9am and 9pm , whichever schedule works best for you.

Always clarify with your Pharmacist how to take your medicine. Don't just take your medicine when you remember, especially antibiotics.

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If I told you 1x3 is not the same as 3x1, you will argue with me the whole year.
Mathematically you are correct, but in the dispensing process/ medicine, try this at your own peril.

Unfortunately, that's how some patients interpret how to take their medicines.

A lot of people don't think twice when the pharmacist at the Pharmacy asks them if they have any question. They just smile, shake their heads, pay their prescriptions and go.

I always endeavor to counsel my patients on how to take their medicines, whether they know or not....remind them even is they know..... you will be surprised at how many lives you save.

Your retail/ Community Pharmacy can be very valuable resources, especially when you are confused about how to take a particular medical.

# Healthiswealth #

Do you know your blood group/type?

Did you know that mosquitoes bite certain people more than others?
Mosquitoes bite people with type O blood almost twice as compared to those with Type A and B.

Female mosquitoes bite humans while male mosquitoes feed on nectar.

Female mosquitoes can smell carbon dioxide exhaled by humans. So, people who exhale more of carbon dioxide attract more mosquitoes compared to others.

Besides carbon dioxide, mosquitoes are also attracted to other scents such as lactic acid, uric acid, ammonia and other compounds released in sweating. Mosquitoes also prefer warm bodies. According to studies, dark colours attract more mosquitoes than lighter colors.

Knowing your blood type is important for blood transfusions, if you ever need a transfusion, like in serious injuries, labor difficulties, cancer fighters, premature babies. ...just to name but a few.

For those with rare blood types, the supply can be limited. It is important to know your blood type.

Most patients/ people have no idea of their blood type/ group.

Do not wait until emergency to find out your blood type.

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Do you drink enough water with your medicine or should I mind my own business?

No. I won't because your health is my business.

When it comes to medicines, most people focus on dosage and timing, and not how they swallow them.

Taking medicine with the right amount of water is often overlooked, but directly affects how well the medicine works, and how safe it is for your body. The way you take a pill can influence how effective it will be.

Tablets and capsules should be taken with a least 200ml-250ml of water. A few sips are not enough especially for larger tablets. Why?

When we swallow a tablet or a capsule, it passes through the food pipe and into the stomach, before being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Without enough water, medicines can stick to the lining of the throat, causing irritation or taking longer time to dissolve. Drinking enough water ensures better absorption, quicker dissolution, reduced irritation and protect digestive health.

Do not swallow pills/ medicines with tea, coffee or juice as these drinks can interfere with medicine absorption.

Another important factor is to never lie down immediately after taking your medicine , as the medicine could get stuck in the food pipe, causing reflux and irritation. Wait at least 30 minutes before lying down after taking your medicine.

Please stop taking your medicines while lying down on the bed. Sit upright! 45- degree angle.

Lastly, avoid very cold water when taking your medicine. Room temperature or slightly warm water works better for dissolving medicines.

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What's your favorite colour?

Mine is white.

Did you know that calling or visiting your pharmacy and describing your pill/ tablet as white and round is unhelpful and potentially unsafe?

There are thousands of medicines that are round in shape and white in colour.

Please endeavor to know the names of the medicines you are taking.

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What was the most heartbreak you experienced as a child?

Mine was the ,"Touch ear test".

"Stand straight, raise your right hand over your head and touch your ear on the other side!", said our Primary school headmaster.

You see, I had the passion to start school at about 5 years of age. Unfortunately this couldn't happen because my right or left hand couldn't touch the bottom of the opposite ear. For two good years, my visit to the school was heartbreaking! I could read most set books and recite from front to last page......but touching the ear on the other side was the only qualifying factor.

If your right or left hand couldn't touch the bottom of the opposite ear, it meant you were not old enough to start Primary education.

Did you know that at the age of 6, your arms weren't long enough to touch the bottom of the opposite ear, with your arm put over your
head?

This happened to me several times before I was formally enrolled in grade one.

At the age of 7, you could effortlessly touch the bottom of the ear. Yes, I finally made it! I started Primary education at the age of 7! Yes, no more babysitting!

It is critical always to consult your Pharmacist before giving any medicine to a child as dosing is often based on body weight (mg per kg) and not just age.

Body weight provides a more accurate and safer dose than age- based estimations, which can vary widely.

Children are not small adults , consult your pharmacist on the right doses to give them, especially with over the counter medicines like paracetamol.

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What's the meaning of your name?

I come from a tribe called Luo, Kenya.

Luo names often have specific meanings tied to birth circumstances during the child's birth such as time of the day, weather, season significant events, or even the way the baby was delivered.

Sometimes, names can be based on kinship dreams, or the birth order of twins.

Most Luo names begin with letter A or O. The prefix "A" is used for females and the prefix "O" is used for males.

"Awuor ", my middle name is a feminine name given to a baby born between midnight and 2am in the morning. The masculine/ male version of Awuor is " Owuor "

My name is connected to the time of birth and was traditionally determined by observing the position of a specific star in the night that appeared to be directly overhead at midnight.

"Odongo", my surname (Husband's name) is given by the order of birth for twins. My husband is the second twin, hence the name Odongo. Adongo is the female/ feminine version. The first twin is known as Apiyo/Opiyo, depending whether male of female.

Awino/ Owino is a baby born with the umbilical cord around their neck.

Okuku/Akuku is a baby born with the "caul" (part of amniotic sac on their head).

Ochieng/Achieng is a baby born when the sun is up.

Odhiambo/Adhiambo is a baby born in the afternoon

Otieno/Atieno is a baby born at night.

Okoth/Akoth us a baby born during the rains.

Oluoch/Aluoch is a baby born on a cloudy day.

Okech/Akech is a baby born during famine/drought.

Oyoo/ Ayoo is a child born by the roadside.

Did you know that the timing of taking your medicine is also very crucial for safety and effectiveness?

Incorrect timing can lead to medicine not working as intended, or even treatment failure.

Medicines that cause drowsiness are best taken at night, while diuretics ("water pills ") are usually taken in the morning to avoid disrupting sleep with frequent bathroom trips.

Cholesterol- lowering medicines wor best in the night, as the liver produces the most cholesterol at night.

Some medicines must be taken on an empty stomach before food for proper absorption, while others need to be taken with food/after food to improve absorption or prevent stomach upset.

For medicines to work properly as instructed by your pharmacist, patients must understand the appropriate timing of doses in relation to food intake and time of the day.

Do not walk out of the Pharmacy without knowing the timing of your medicine, and whether to take it with or without food. Always read and follow the instructions on your medicine label and most importantly, listen to the counseling/advice from your pharmacist.

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What was the proudest moment for you as a child?

Mine was when I reported mum to dad after disciplining me, and dad would scold her and warn her never to touch her only daughter again! I would stand beside dad, so proud of myself, feeling on top of the world. .....that feeling that you have made it in life......you know.

Even if the discipline took place in the morning, when dad arrived home in the evening, it would be as fresh as it just happened. Sobbing and rubbing the eyes would start, the nose, the mucous membrane would be forced to produce some mucous, and finally dad would knock at the door and tears would flow like river Nile.

So one particular day mum didn't discipline me, after what I did. Instead, she told me that I nolonger qualified to be her daughter and that she didn't know me anymore! She told me she was going to warn everyone not to call her, " Min Awuor" (Meaning Awuor's mum) anymore.

I cried like a baby that day, I was still a child anyway.....about 6 years. I begged mum if I could be her daughter once more....and the more I begged her, the more she said," No way, I don't know who you are"! She went to an extent of asking me to introduce myself whenever I called her mum. I cried, wailed, clinging to her dress, trying as much as I could to introduce myself, but she insisted that I must have lost my way, she had never heard of such a name in her life!

I finally decided to go up to grandma's house to ask her if she could come down and talk to mum to accept me once more as her daughter. Grandma held my hand and brought me down to our house.

Grandma called and knocked at the door, " Min Awuor, Min Awuor" "(meaning Awuor's mum, Awuor's mum) Mum came to the door to answer grandma's call. She told grandma that she didn't know whom she was referring to by calling out that name and that she didn't know anybody by that name!!!!She told grandma to ask other houses or other homes if they lost their child!!

Did you know that you can report any adverse effects, also called adverse reactions or side effects to your Pharmacist?

If after taking your medicines you experience severe itching, especially on the face or throat, swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing, wheezing or chest pain, blistering or peeling of skin. Report to your doctor or pharmacist immediately. These are unexpected, unpredictable reactions that are not related to the usual effects of the normal dose of the medicine, and they can range from mild discomfort to life- threatening.

Your body will tell you if all is not well. Obey. Seek help as soon as you can.

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