A CAPSULAR MOMENT

Question and Answer with Your Pharmacist

Lactose intolerance, Generic vs. Name Brand Meds and Fertility Questions are answered this week

By David Bodunde Rph

Q – I usually suffer from diarrhoea and pass smelly gas when I drink milk. My doctor says I am lactose intolerant. What does that mean?

A – Milk contains a type of sugar called lactose which cannot be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. The body normally produces an enzyme called lactase which breaks down the lactose into a more digestible form. If you are lactose-intolerant it means that your body is not producing any or enough lactase to digest the lactose. When undigested milk sugar finds its way into the colon, intestinal bacteria starts to work on it and ferments the sugar. Unfortunately, this bacterial breakdown of lactose results in production of very smelly hydrogen gas, diarrhoea, and stomach cramping. 

Unfortunately there is no cure for lactose intolerance, the focus is either on eliminating lactose containing foods from the diet, or adding the enzyme lactase to the system. Plant based milk like Soy or rice milk may provide a tasty substitute for lactose containing milk products. Some over the counter products like Lactaid contain the enzyme lactase, and can help the body digest and process lactose. The lactose enzymehas to be added directly to milk products, or taken before drinking a glass of milk.

 Q –  Are generic drugs the same as their brand name counterpart? I have heard that generics contain less of the active ingredient.

A – This is a fallacy, that unfortunately keeps being perpetrated by lay men and some so called medical “experts” For generics to get approved by the FDA or Health Canada for use in the states or Canada, they must be the same strength and dosage form as its brand and must pass various stringent quality control tests .

 The actual difference between most brands and generics is only 3.3% for AUC or amount of drug absorbed, and generic equivalent in nearly all cases, will produce the same therapeutic result as a brand name drug. It is important to note that 50% of generics are made by brand name manufacturing companies and because they are cheaper than brand name they help in cost saving for patients.

Q – I have been using birth control pills for 15years, can it harm my future fertility?

 A – Many women fear that oral contraceptives may delay or impair their ability to get pregnant after they go off the pill. Some believe that they need to take periodic breaks from the pill to let their body “recover” in order to preserve future fertility.  

On the contrary, women who try to get pregnant after stopping the pill succeed just as quickly as women who have not taken oral contraceptives.

In fact, women who take oral contraceptives for long periods of time may find it EASIER to get pregnant once they get off of the pill than other women. This is probably because hormonal contraception protects against pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy, both of which can impair fertility.

It is a fact that fertility resumes promptly after discontinuation of most oral hormonal contraceptives, regardless of duration of use. Any delay in contraception is likely related to older age or an underlying ovulation problem. Irregularity in menses that was present before going on the pill will likely resume once the pill is stopped.

In women who use the injectable form of contraception, fertility can be delayed because it takes anywhere between 2 months to a year to completely clear progestin from the body.

To speak with Pharmacist David Bodunde, Rph in person, visit him at the Manitouwadge Pharmacy in the Hallmark Square or call 826-3888 during regular business hours.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed on OntarioNewsNorth.com and by David Bodunde,Rph  are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Please consult a local physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns.

Neither OntarioNewsNorth.com nor David Bodunde,Rph  endorse or recommend any commercial products, medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, brand names, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and education of the viewing public, and the mention of any of the above on OntarioNewsNorth.com does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by OntarioNewsNorth.com or David Bodunde, Rph.