Newspaper Page Text
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
Several factors decide if
cutting pills right way to go
Dear David, cur
rently I am tak
ing 0.075 mg
levothyroxine sodium
daily for hypothyroid
ism. I noticed there is a
score line on the tablets
where one can cut them
in half.
Would it be possible
for my doctor to pre
scribe the higher dose
of 0.15 mg tablets with
instructions to cut the
tablets and take only
one half tablet per day?
Dear reader, scored levo
thyroxine tablet can be cut
in half, so your physician
could prescribe the higher
dose for you.
In fact, some insurance
companies now recom
mended just this proce
dure, for tablets that can
be halved (as a cost saving
measure for them - the
patient’s co-pay is often
exactly the same) since
fewer tablets must be pre
scribed.
However, there are a few
things to consider before
deciding if this is some
thing you want to do.
First, check with your
pharmacist to Find out
exactly what the cost sav
ings to you will be.
Since you are already
taking the generic ver
sion of this product, there
may not be that much dif
ference in price between
the strengths, even if you
receive a large quantity.
Also, if your medication
is covered by an insurance
plan, they may have a day’s
supply limitation in the
coverage that may negate
any truly significant sav
ings by limiting the num
ber of tablets that may be
dispensed.
For example, the insur
ance company may allow
only thirty of the lower
Your retirement
nest egg can fund a
franchise business
By STATE POINT MEDIA
If you’ve got that entre
preneurial spirit, but not a
lot of liquid savings, you can
start a franchise business by
harnessing your retirement
accounts.
The Employee Retirement
Income Security Act allows
potential franchisees with
limited liquid funds to
start a franchise without
outside help, according to
a new report published by
StartupJournal.com, The
Wall Street Journal’s guide
for entrepreneurs.
“ The Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974
allows investors to control
their IRA and 401(k) retire
ment savings, in contrast to
a traditional pension plan,”
said David Patton, manag
ing editor, Startup Journal.
com. “Even if you’re bor
rowing most of the money to
finance a franchise, the Small
Business Administration,
the guarantor of most small
business loans, expects you
to make a hefty down pay
ment, and you can use your
retirement accounts for that
purpose.”
Using retirement funds
to purchase franchises has
become a more popular
tThcßApcuric CD<\sst\ye
oc
O&y SpA
Massages. Facials And Much. Much More...
Caß Us To Enhance Your Pfiysical, Mental & Sprrtual Well-being!
arrcacmcATCs available
strength or fifteen of the
higher strength tablets to
be dispensed based on how
many days of therapy each
of these quantities repre
sent.
Your pharmacist will be
glad to discuss your options
based on your specific situ
ation.
Second, think about the
convenience factor.
Do you really want to
have to cut tablets in half
every day?
Some people just don’t
want the bother.
If this is not a problem
for you, then I would rec
ommend that you purchase
a pill-splitter (also called
a pill-cutter) from your
local pharmacy in order to
ensure that your tablets
are as accurately halved as
possible.
Make sure you know
the proper way to use the
splitter before leaving the
pharmacy.
Lastly, levothyroxine is
a medication that requires
individualized dosing and
frequent follow-up lab tests
to monitor therapy. Half of
the higher strength tablet
may not deliver the exact
same dose as the lower
strength tablet.
This may result in fluc
tuations (albeit probably
small) ina blood levels of
the medication.
option since 2001, when the
dot-com bubble burst and
made stocks less attractive,
says the recent report from
StartupJournal.com.
Besides investing in stocks,
bonds or mutual funds, you
can choose to put retirement
savings, which is excluded
from taxes, toward financing
your own business. When
you sell the business, the
proceeds are placed back into
a qualified retirement plan.
One alternative to using
your retirement money is
taking out a home-equity
loan, however, if your fran
chise fails, you could lose
your house.
According to
StartUpJournal.com, the
pros of financing a franchise
with retirement-plan sav
ings include:
* By using your 401(k)
instead of borrowing money,
you have no debt service and
the initial capital you gener
ate can be put right back
into the business.
* You can control your own
destiny.
* Using a hefty retirement
account allows you to buy a
more expensive franchise
than you could otherwise
afford.
What a JaLfkfJ way to tmt
jZ) <\nAc he
1010 BXLL ST.
Downtown Pefk^y
478-218-7490
Dvid Voltz
#
Pharmacy Q&A
voltzrph@hotmail.com
;jEm
188
I_.Jl ' > j
While this most likely
wouldn’t cause any prob
lems, it would be best to
discuss this with your phy
sician.
And if you do begin halv
ing tablets, it might be a
good idea to have a follow
up blood level drawn after
for to six weeks of therapy.
Of course, the expense
of the lab test may also
negate any savings in pre
scription price.
And keep in mind that
with thyroid medication, it
is a good idea to have a fol
low-up blood level done any
time there is any change in
dosage.
This ensures that you are
receiving proper therapy
and minimizes incidences
of symptoms and side
effects.
And make sure to discuss
the change with both your
pharmacist and physician
and make sure it is in your
best interest.
Because no cost saving is
worth poorer health.
Thanks to the reader for
their question and their
proactive role in their
healthcare.
If you have any ques
tions regarding medications
or pharmacy practice in
general, or comments, or
suggestions for topics you’d
like to read about in this
column, just write to me.
1 www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com I
www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com <
WAYNE MOflfllS
23 ND ANNIVERSARY
Ip
NEW 1006 FORD
F 350 CRfWCAB DUALLY
Huge Selection of Powerstroke Diesels
including Lariat, FX4, and King Ranch
YOU PAY ZERO APR
NEW 2006 FORD
E x PEDm° N
Every new 'O6 Expedition
is 0% APR for « FULL YEARS
TOU PAT ZERO APR
UNBELIEVABLE SAVINGS ON FORD PROGRAM CARS
2005 TAURUS SE
Full Power,
$23,700
&§ w $ 10,995
WAYNE MOflfllS
1608 SAM NUNN BLVD.
PERRY, GEORGIA
Monday-Friday B:3oam-Bpm
Saturday 9am-6pm
19003526 1
www.wayneworrisford.com » www.wayneinorrisford.com « vmw.waynemorjjsford : con^_www : waynemornsford I conJ
LOCAL
Locals attend Georgia State Boys
* & f -r - t "7
Special to the IIIM
Four rising seniors from Houston County schools traveled to Georgia Southern
University in Statesboro to take part in the American Legion's annual Georgia Boys
State. The weeklong event was held June 11-17 at the southeast Georgia campus,
where American Legion volunteers from across the state provided instruction in city,
county, and state government. The University’s Division of Continuing Education and
Public Service arranged the facilities and food necessary to serve more than 350
who attended. The four were: Greg Pearson and Tom Cleveland from The Westfield
Schools and Sam Johnson and Reginald Whitehead from Perry High School. They were
sponsored by American Legion Post 24. From left: Brent Tharp, director of Continuing
Education at Georgia Southern, Pearson, Johnson, Cleveland, Whitehead and Keith
Harden, state-wide director of Boys State.
iCMjWviH leuaTiDlst l!g^
MU 987-1823 TO PLACE YOBB ADI
ALMOST EVERY NEW'O6 °
ZERO APR!
NEW 2006 FORD
F-250 CREWfAR FX4
Tsiooo
V GAS
A CARD
Huge Selection of Powerstroke Diesels
including Lariat and FX4 Offßoad Pkg
YOU PAY ZERO APR
NEW 2006 FORD
EXPLORER
rsrooo
GAS
l CARD
Every new 06 Explorer
is 0% APR for 5 FUU YEARS
YOU PAY ZERO APR
2006 FREESTAR
a iiiim 4-Door,
fa Captain's
H i
lg«Kfcw»S34.»9S
r$ 16.995
478-987-2411
OR CALL TOLL FREE 1 -800-741-5422
10 DAYS. 4 LINES - *50.00
$2 Each Additional Line
OR
4 WEEKS. 4 LINES - *90.00
$2 Each Additional Line
BUY A NEW.TRUCK
GET A NEVry|g
4-WHEELEP^^^y
NEW 2006 FORD
IF-150 SUPfIfREW
T > fl.
Every new Regular, Super, and CrewC.ah
truck is 0% APR for 5 FULL YEARS
YOU PAY ZERO APR
NEW 2006 FORD
FREESTYLE
Fsioool
[ GAS I
i CARD A
Every new 06 Freestar &I Freestyle
is 0% APR for 5 FUU YEARS
TOU MT 810 VI
2006 FORD 500 SI
-wmmk\ Fun
Power,
Alloy
te. .aMNWHaEB wheels
PA WA
$27.2601
17.995
FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2006 ♦
GREAT
USED CARS
LOW AS 4.9% APR FINANCING
1992 FORD FISO
61064 A Auto, Reg Cab. Cl MC
( .1, al \Soik h.uk
1988 MAIM R 2200 LOW RIDCR
611121 U .old At Air Suspension, Cl 245
( lisinni I',lllll ej Wlieef- **9 *
1994 FORD F 250
612018 7 3L Diesel, SS 90S
-■u:s m ,e- \■ i' ■ ''.l 1
2000 FORD FOCUS Sf
Auto, Black CA 995
i Ml’' ■
2004 FORD RANGER EDGE RFC CAE
V 6, S-Speed, AC, CD, Edge Pkg, $9,995
iAM In.- [ . v Mile--, I,sal li.ule * r l
2002 CHIVY Z7HS 4X4
61071 A Extended Cab, $11,995
1 i ,il il.’i I i M.ii ■: '-I '' I'i '
2002 FORO Fl5O XIT SURK CAR
VB. Auto, HD Tow Pkg, I’W, PL, C| 1 095
lilt.l rinse, t lean, I oral > >wnei T '
2004 FORD HPIORaXITSWRT
P3392A leather, 3rd Seal, $16,995
2003 FORO FISO LARIAT . _
4X2 Supercrew Leather $18,795
)w Pkg. Lx>w Miles. Loaded
2004 FOtD SOO UMTTB)
62036 A DVD. 18 Inch Wheels, $20,995
2004 FORO nun«o ST CORVtRTOU .
P3272A Bnght Red, loaded, $22,995
1 Owner, C.emhed Prc Owned
2004 FORD F-2SOCRFWCAI4X4
ol 121 A Automatic, XLT trim, $25,995
Diesel,'low Package
2004 FORO F2SOCRfWCAI4X4
612038 Diesel, Unei, $27,995
Got it All! * '
Financing available wilh approved credit.
I EXIT 136 • JUST OFF 1-75,
Half-Mile West on HWY 341
5A