Do you have a question to ask the pharmacist?
This Ask-a-Pharmacist section allows you to direct questions to a patient care pharmacist regarding your medications or any drug-related concerns or issues that may be of interest to you.
Note that our reply may reach you later if you are residing in a different time zone as Singapore. Please allow up to 3 working days for our reply.
If you need an advice immediately, please consult a Doctor or call our Pharmacist via our NHGP contact centre at 6355 3000 or NUP contact center at 6663 6847.
While we will strive to answer as many questions as possible, we would like to seek your understanding that we are unable to answer all questions posted or questions which are not related to medicines. Please include as much details as possible. Accurate and complete information will help our Pharmacist provide the appropriate advice. Rest assured that all personal information provided will be kept confidential by NHG Pharmacy.
Q
Can I know what kind of calcium is in Lynae D ? Is it calcium carbonate ?
A
Lynae MD3 contains 517mg Dicalcium phosphate which is equivalent to 149mg of elemental Calcium. Do note that the new formulation of Lynae sold in Singapore no longer contains calcium.
Vitamins/Herbal Supplements
06 Jul 2020
Q
What is the difference between elemental calcium, Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Lactate? When you say our body need 1200mg calcium for age between 51 and older, what type of calcium are they referring to? Should it be elemental calcium, calcium carbonate or calcium lactate.
For vitamin K2 (MK-7), what is the daily requirement dosage for age 57 and older years? What happened if we consume over the daily requirement for our age?
A
Elemental calcium refers to the actual amount of calcium in the supplement. There are several types of calcium compounds such as calcium carbonate and calcium lactate that are used in calcium supplements. Each compound contains varying amounts of elemental calcium.
Calcium carbonate contains 40% of elemental calcium, while calcium lactate contains 13% of elemental calcium.
The daily recommended dietary allowance for women above 51 years old is 1200mg. It refers to the elemental calcium.
Vitamin K2 is one of the forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K2 has several forms, MK-4 through MK-13. MK-7 (Menaquinone-7) is one of them. The recommended daily intake of Vitamin K for women 57 years old and above is 90mcg.
As I am not aware of the contents of the supplement that you are taking and your dietary intake, I would not be able to advise you on the dosage required. Please refer to the product packaging for the recommended dosage of the supplement.
Excess Vitamin K can lead to Vitamin K toxicity. The effects of Vitamin K toxicity can include
jaundice like symptoms such as dark colored urine or change in skin color, or anemia (a condition with low levels of red blood cells). Although the occurrence of Vitamin K toxicity with oral Vitamin K is rare, it is advisable to follow the recommended daily intake of Vitamin K.
Q
May I know if your Pharmacy sells oral chewing gum?
I have a blocked left ear and need the gum for chewing before on set or relapse of vertigo.
A
Oral chewing gums are not available in NHG Pharmacy. You may wish to contact the hospital or retail pharmacies to enquire on its availability.
There may be many causes of vertigo such as
- Fluid build-up or pressure change in the ear
- Inflammation in the inner ear that is caused by infections
- Shingles in or around the ear area
- Certain medications that causes ear damage
Thus, I would advise you to consult a doctor to find out the underlying cause and for appropriate treatment and advice.
Q
I like to buy DANEURON, is this available?
A
Daneuron is the brand name of a supplement that contains Vitamin B1, B6 and B12. It is available in NHG Pharmacy. It is a pharmacy-only medicine and may be purchased without a prescription after a consultation with a pharmacist.
Vitamins/Herbal Supplements
17 Jun 2020
Q
What medicine do you have in relieving itch at viginal place and eyebrows?
A
There are many causes of vaginal itching.
1. Irritants such as soap, feminine sprays, douches, detergents and fabric softener may trigger an allergic reaction that creates an itchy rash over various areas of the body including the vagina.
2. Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can cause redness and itching in the vagina area.
3. Infections such as bacteria or yeast can result in symptoms such as itching as well.
4. Skin parasites such as lice can be found in genital area which may result in itching.
There are many causes of itchy eyebrows.
1. Skin parasites such as lice can live in the eyebrow area and cause itching.
2. Beauty treatment such as waxing and threading can irritate the skin around the eyebrow, causing itch.
3. Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can cause itchy eyebrows too.
As I would not be able to assess the severity and extent of your condition, I would advise you to consult a doctor to find out the underlying cause and for appropriate treatment and advice.
Q
Hello,
I was prescribed both the Omeprazol (20mg) and the Mefenamic Acid (250mg) for menstrual pain. May i ask what is the doses/pill amount i should consume together?
A
The usual dose of Mefenamic Acid (250mg) is 1 to 2 capsules three times a day for pain associated with menses. It should be taken after food.
Omeprazole is a gastric protectant given together with Mefenamic acid to reduce the risk of gastric discomfort. The usual dose of Omeprazole (20mg) is 1 capsule once a day as stated in the product packaging. It should be taken at least half an hour before food.
However, the dose you should consume for both the medications might be different based on the severity and extent of your condition. Please do check the label indicated on the medication for the correct dosing.
If there is no label, please do contact your prescribing doctor or the clinic where the medications were dispensed for more information.
If you are an existing patient as NHG or NUP polyclinics, you may contact
· National Healthcare Group Polyclinics – Ang Mo Kio, Geylang, Hougang, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun (Tel: 6355 3000)
· National University Polyclinics – Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Jurong, Pioneer, Queenstown (Tel: 6663 6847)
Drug Information
16 Jun 2020
Q
Can i use lignocaine/chlohexidìne gel for piles? I am 38 weeks pregnant.
A
Lignocaine gel is a topical anesthesia used for temporary relief of pain associated with piles. It can be used during pregnancy.
Chlorhexidine gel is a topical antiseptic. It can be applied on wounds, cuts or other broken skin, however, it may not help to relieve the pain associated with piles. There is a lack of data on the safe use in pregnancy, hence it should be used with caution.
You may try other dietary and lifestyle modification to ease the discomfort of piles during pregnancy such as
- Avoid sitting for long period of time. When you can, lie on your side or stand up. If you have to sit for a prolonged period, do remember to take breaks in between.
- Use gentle wipes when you use the toilet
Constipation may contribute or worsen piles. Do include dietary fibers in your diet to relieve or prevent constipation. The use of mild laxatives such as lactulose can be used to prevent constipation as well.
Do consult a doctor if the symptoms worsen or if heavy bleeding occurs.
Drug Information
15 Jun 2020
Q
Hi,
Am I able to order 0.025% tretinoin gel/cream online?
Thank you
A
Do note that online purchase is not available for this medicine as a valid prescription from a Singapore-registered doctor must be presented for purchase of this medicine.
Q
how much is recommended folic acid dosage per day for a 30-year-old lady?
A
For women of reproductive age, it is recommended to take 400mcg of folic acid each day.
Women's Health
02 Jun 2020
Q
Hi staff, my eyes is getting tired especially too long to use computers. My eyes sometimes itchy for no known reasons. No redness so far. No affected any vision. I am not wearing any specs. Would you recommend any eye drop for the above complaints.
Thanks.
A
Prolonged computer use may result in eye discomfort and vision problems such as eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes and headache. You may consider the use of lubricating eye drops to relieve or prevent dry eyes. You may click here for the eye drops available in NHG Pharmacy.
You may also wish to consider the tips covered in this article (click here) to reduce or prevent eyestrain
However, please be advised to consult a doctor for further assessment if your condition does not improve or worsen after trying out the above suggestions.
