Part 2: High Cholesterol - drugs & diet tips

Welcome to Part 2: High Cholesterol of our "3 high's" blog series. In this part, our pharmacist, Maggie Cheung, will discuss some common questions about cholesterol medications and our registered dietitian, Rowena Leung, is back to provide some tips on getting the best Omega-3's from our diet! 

**Come to Custom Care Pharmacy today to pick up Rowena's recipe for Banana flaxseed Bread!!**

Cholesterol Drugs: Brand name vs. Generic name

One of the most common questions regarding cholesterol medications is about brand name drugs vs. generic drugs. Many people may recognize drug names like 'Lipitor' or 'Crestor' as prescribed by their doctor for the treatment of high cholesterol. At the pharmacy, patients are sometimes surprised to see the generic versionsof these drugs being dispensed for them. Some people may wonder what a generic drug is. Others may even request to stay on 'Lipitor' or 'Crestor' (the brand name versions) instead of switching to the generic version of these drugs. 

The information below will help you better understand the difference between brand name drugs and generic drugs. We will also discuss what happens if you wish to continue on the brand name drugs.

Are generic versions of 'Lipitor' and 'Crestor' the same as the brand name versions?
Generic drugs in Canada are 'copies' of brand name drugs that have been approved and declared by Health Canada to be equivalent to a comparator brand name product. They generally have the same quality and efficacy as brand name drugs and they must meet the scientific standards set by Health Canada as part of the approval process.  

The generic version can sometimes look different than the brand name version of the same drug. Some will have a different colour, shape, markings and packaging compared to the brand name version. The generic version may also contain different flavour, preservatives, etc., however, they must have the same active ingredients as the brand name version.  

Technically speaking, generic drugs should work the same way as the brand name versions of the same drugs. Many insurance drug plans, including the senior's drug plan, will cover only the cost of the generic drugs. So if a patient chooses to take the brand name drug when a generic drug is available, the patient will usually have to pay for the cost difference. For example,  if a 1- month-supply of the brand name drug costs $100 and the generic drug costs $60, the patient will usually have to pay for the $40 cost difference out-of-pocket.  However, there are some exceptions: 

Brand name drug manufacturer insurance card

Some brand name drug manufacturers will provide pharmacists and doctors with an insurance drug card to cover part of the cost difference between the generic drug and the brand name drug. So the patient who chooses to take the brand name drug will only have to pay for a small difference i.e. $5-10 per month. Not all of the brand name drugs have this type of insurance drug card from manufacturers, but you can always ask our pharmacists at Custom Care Pharmacy to find out more.  

What if I cannot tolerate the generic versions of the drug? 

For seniors covered under the ODB, the ministry will only pay for a higher cost brand name drug if it is required for medical reasons. For example, if you had a bad reaction to a lower cost generic drug, your doctor can complete an adverse reaction form along with a "no substitution" prescription to request for the cost of the brand name drug to be covered. If you have questions about adverse reactions to a generic drug or if you need the adverse reaction form, come and speak to our pharmacist. 

Cholesterol & Diet - By Rowena Leung, Registered Dietitian, CDE

To lower your cholesterol, it’s all about making sure you get enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, lowering your saturated fat intake, increasing your fibre & increasing the level of physical activity. Within this article, we’re going to discuss the different types of omega-3 fatty acids and their relationship in helping to lower cholesterol levels.

Most individuals know that eating fish is good for you; however, did you know that not all fish have omega-3 fatty acids?  An easy way to remember what type of fish we encourage you to have is to remember that the colour of the heart is pinky-red; therefore, we’d like you to have pink fish more often.

Did you know we recommend having omega-3 rich fish a minimum of two times/week?  What are some examples of omega-3 rich fish?

·        Salmon

·        Trout

·        Arctic Char

·        Sardines

·        Tuna

·        Herring

·        Mackeral

The type of omega-3 fatty acid that you get from the fish listed above is in the form of eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both these forms of omega-3 is easily absorbed by the human body and is extremely effective in helping to lower cholesterol levels. DHA is also the type of omega-3 fatty acids that is an integral part of building the brain. 

Does this mean that eating white fish such as tilapia, black cod, catfish and/or sea bass is no good for you? White fish is still a healthier choice than red meat as it is lower in saturated fat; however, if your goal is to lower cholesterol, white fish cannot help you since these types of fish have very little omega-3 fatty acids.

What happens if you follow a vegetarian lifestyle? How can you get your omega-3?

Flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts & hemp seeds are good sources of omega-3. The type of omega-3 found in flaxseed and chia seeds is Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  Keep in mind that it is safe for someone to have anywhere between 1-2 tablespoon of flaxseed and/or chia seeds per day. What is the key difference between flaxseed and chia seeds? In order to obtain the omega-3 fats, you must grind the flaxseed; however, with chia seeds, you can eat them whole and still get the omega-3. The ALA form of omega-3 is not as absorbable by the human body This is why we would prefer if an individual eats pink fish to obtain EPA/DHA (i.e. the more absorbable form of omega-3) EPA/DHA is more effective in lowering cholesterol. 

Custom Care Pharmacy has a copy of Rowena's latest healthy-cholesterol recipe: Banana Bread with Flaxseed.  Be sure to come in to pick up a free copy!!

Where to take a walk in Markham?

For rainy days, we can still do exercise by walking at a nearby indoor facility. For example, did you know that the 2nd floor of the T&T supermarket building is open for walking as early as 7am each morning? Inside, you will often see people doing exercise between 9 -10:30am. Come to Custom Care Pharmacy to ask for more information!