What NOT to buy at the drug store

In continuing my series on what NOT to buy we are going to discuss the drug store.  Many things are sold that don't work and they are just on the shelf because people spend money on them.

Let's start with lotions.  The best moisturizer is petroleum jelly (vasoline).  All the ones with fragrance don't work very well.  Baby lotion in particular doesn't work at all and often times the baby gets a rash from the perfumes.  If petroleum jelly is too greasy for your taste you might want to try Eucerin cream. 

Moving on to medications.  Cough and cold medications don't work in kids.  The most useful medication is pseudoephedrine for kids over age 5 for nasal congestion.  This is the Sudafed that you have to ask the pharmacist for.  Don't buy the one off the shelf (it is a different ingredient).  Also, there is no need to buy Vapo Rub.  It doesn't help and makes many young kids more congested. 

Have you ever read a Qtip box?  It says on the package that it is not to be used in ears.  We find that it pushes the wax further into the ear.  We also sometimes see kids who have scratched the inside of their ear canal with the Qtip and then it bleeds and is painful.  So unless you plan to use the Qtips for something else you can just leave them on the shelf.

Baby powder is also not a necessary purchase.  A thick diaper ointment such as petroleum jelly works best to treat and prevent diaper rash.  Also when you use baby powder it commonly gets into the air and you and your baby can breathe it into your lungs.

Lastly I would not buy the teething remedies.  This includes Orajel and Teething Tablets.  They don't work and often are used any time an infant is fussy so are significantly overused.  Try giving your child a teething ring to chew on or a wet washcloth.  Infants love to put things in their mouths.

I hope this helps you save your money!

Synthetic Pot

I didn't know that there was such a thing as synthetic pot until I read this information from DrugFreeAZ.org.  It is sold legally and can have horrible health effects.  So, I"m passing the information on.  Please discuss with your teens and preteens

ALERT: Synthetic Marijuana - Spice (K2) Fact Sheet

Marketed as incense.

use as incense. However, people are smoking the incense because it produces a high similar to

marijuana, but of longer duration. The incense is sprayed with JWH-018, a synthetic THC, before it is

packaged for sale. This spray is reportedly an "analgesic chemical which acts as a cannabinoid."

Spice/K2 is a legal substance marketed since 2006 as a dried, herbal blend for

More potent than marijuana.

brand, it can be more potent than marijuana.

Depending on the synthetic compound in the specific commercial

Not for human consumption.

colors/flavors-usually sold in foil packaging or in small glass containers. It is sold as incense and marked

Spice is sold in smoke shops and head shops in a variety of

“not for human consumption”. The

average cost is $30.00 a gram, more expensive than marijuana.

Most likely users:

14-27 yr. olds

Prisoners/probationers

Military (use now banned by all military branches)

Significant health risks.

unidentified toxic substances which contribute to various adverse health effects (also cause

hallucinogenic effects similar to effects of PCP. Symptoms/side-effects may include:

Spice is causing a significant health risk. Spice/K2 is often contaminated with

mimics marijuana “high” (often induced more quickly/more intense than “real” marijuana)

hallucinations

seizures/tremors

coma/unconsciousness

vomiting

numbness/tingling

increased respiration rate

elevated blood pressure (reported up to 200/100-medically dangerous)

elevated heart rate (reported up to rate of 150-medically dangerous)

increased level of anxiety/agitation leading to panic attacks (possible suicide attempts)

All effects of K2/Spice drugs may not be known for a very long time because of long time period that

body stores them.

Developed for research, never tested on humans.

Huffman, a Clemson University professor, as part of research for the National Institute for Drug Abuse

(NIDA) on endogenous cannabinoid receptors-but never tested on humans nor approved by the FDA. Dr.

Spice/K2 was developed by Dr. John W.

Huffman said in an interview to WebMD, “It is like Russian roulette to use these drugs. We don’t know a

darn thing about them for real. It shouldn’t be out there.”

Marketed under various names.

Spice, Spice Silver, Spice Gold, Spice Diamond, Smoke, Skunk, Yucatan Fire, Genie & Zohai Orange

Dragon Smoke, Black Mamba,Blaze, Red X, and Dawn.

It is marketed under a variety of names including K2, Spice, PepNot just smoked.

http://www.drugfreeaz.org/Spice is most often smoked but can be mixed in with food or drink.