Parents should be aware that the most accurate way to take a temperature of a child under age 5 is rectally. After age 5, children usually can handle an oral thermometer. Ear thermometers are not accurate in children under age 3. An under-the-arm thermometer is suitable when a child has diarrhea, congestion, or nausea, or when you want to take a sleeping baby's temperature without disturbing him or her. The average child's temperature is 98.6 degrees F.; however, it fluctuates throughout the day. Readings are usually lowest in the early morning hours and peak in the late afternoon. When talking to the pediatrician about your child's fever, be sure to mention the time of day during which it was taken. HINT: While the level of a fever in adults generally reflects the severity of illness, this is not so in children because their bodies' temperature controls are still developing. For prompt service, be sure to come to us at one of the five convenient locations of MOYE'S PHARMACY. Our Stockbridge pharmacies are at 4767 North Henry Blvd. (770-474-0704), open Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-4pm and 1920 Hudson Bridge Rd. (770-507-1234), which has a drive-thru and is open Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.

A recent survey of over 3,442 physicians indicates that women who take bone-preserving prescription drugs to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis are overlooking their need for calcium supplements. Specifically, seven out of every ten women who use one of the three leading osteoporosis medications, (Fosamax, Evista, and Miacalcin Spray), do not take bone-building calcium. This oversight is likely due to the incorrect assumption on the part of many women that they only need the prescription medications to fight osteoporosis. The fact is that to get the full benefit of therapy, women also need adequate calcium and vitamin D. Package inserts for Fosamax, Evista, and Miacalcin advise taking calcium and vitamin D, but the information is often overlooked. HINT: According to a recent Gallup poll of 1,000 women with osteoporosis, some 86% indicated that they had never consulted with their physicians about the disease prior to being diagnosed with it. Whenever you need information on a prescription of over-the-counter medication, give us a call at MOYE'S PHARMACY. Visit one of our five convenient locations. Our McDonough pharmacy is located at 230 Covington St. (957-1851). For you convenience this store is open Monday thru Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.

A recent study indicates that, among asthmatics using inhaled steroids, those who took the highest doses over the longest periods were the most likely to have low bone density. The study goes on the point out that, since inhaled steroids are highly effective against asthma and the bone density changes were relatively small, the balance or risk versus benefit is still strongly weighted on the benefit side for steroids. Still, asthmatics should consult with their physicians to see that they are taking the lowest doses needed to control their symptoms. They should also consider adding a spacer device to their inhalers, which ensure that more medication reaches their lungs. That way, less medication is needed and bones will absorb less. HINT: To preserve bone density, ask you doctor about taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Moye's Pharmacy can provide you with all your medications needs. Visit one of our five convenient locations. You will find out Hampton Pharmacy at 104 Woolsey Rd. Our telephone number is 770-946-5172 and we are open Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. We are a locally owned pharmacy, offering the finest service at competitive prices.

To help them control their blood sugar on a daily basis, diabetics regularly use a glucose monitor that reads the amount of glucose in a small drop of blood typically taken from their fingers. To help make this process more comfortable, there are new lancing devices that can be set for different prick depths to accommodate skin thickness differences. Beyond that, a needle-free laser device utilizes a laser beam to break the skin on the finger by actually vaporizing a pinpoint of skin. There are also new glucose monitors with built-in sampling devices that take blood from areas other than the finger. In addition, more traditional monitors are being improved to yield faster results and require smaller blood samples. HINT: Insulin pen injectors allow for delivery of a dose of insulin with the click of a button. If you have any questions on the newest diabetes management tools, take the time to talk to our knowledgeable staff at MOYE'S PHARMACY. Visit one of our five convenient locations. Our Locust Grove pharmacy is located at 3798 Hwy 42 S (770-957-6004). We are available for full service Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.

If you have been diagnosed with an allergic reaction to penicillin in the past, you may want to find out if you are still allergic. As many as nine out of ten people who had prior allergic reactions to penicillin test negative for the allergy after avoiding the drug for ten years. If so, this would enable physicians to give simpler, safer penicillin and penicillin-related antibiotics instead of other antibiotics with greater potential toxicity and greater cost. Doctors are also concerned that substitution of more powerful drugs for simpler, yet effective, drugs is promoting development of antibiotic-resistant organisms. All are good reasons to resubmit to skin testing to see if you are still allergic to penicillin. HINT: An estimated 2% of Americans are allergic to penicillin and penicillin-related antibiotics. As part of our complete service, we keep a record of reported allergic reactions to medications. For all your prescription needs, come to us at one of the five convenient locations of MOYE'S PHARMACY. Our Stockbridge pharmacies are at 4767 North Henry Blvd. (770-474-0704), open Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-4pm and 1920 Hudson Bridge Rd. (770-507-1234), which has a drive-thru and is open Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.

Patients should be aware of the fact that many herbs and other supplements can interact dangerously with prescription medication. Take, for example, the case of warfarin, a common anti-clotting drug. A wide range of supplements, including garlic, ginkgo, dong quai, licorice root, vitamin E, and feverfew, can elevate the effect of warfarin to increase the risk of bleeding. On the other side of the coin, such supplements as co-enzyme Q-10 and ginseng reduce warfarin's effect. With the potential of such interactions in mind, it is absolutely necessary that patients inform their doctors about any such supplements (or over-the-counter medications) they are taking. This is especially important if patients are scheduled for surgery. HINT: St. John's Wort is a popular supplement that has the potential to dangerously interact with prescription medication. If you have any questions on using herbs and other supplements with a particular medications you are taking, feel free to call on our pharmacists at one of our five convenient locations of MOYE'S PHARMACY. Our McDonough pharmacy can be found at 230 Covington St. and our telephone number is 770-957-1851. We are open Monday thru Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.

Do you use a household teaspoon to administer medication, as do 73% of Americans? If so, you may be giving the wrong dose. A one-teaspoon dose is precisely 5 milliliters, while a regular teaspoon from your kitchen drawer can hold anywhere from 2 to 10 milliliters. It is easy to see, then, how using the household teaspoon can mean administering the wrong dose. A far better choice is an oral dosing syringe. It is accurate and easy to use, delivering all medications with the push of the plunger, which also prevents spills. Otherwise, use an oral dropper, which often comes packaged with liquid medications. Finally, there is the cylindrical spoon, a small plastic cylinder with a pouring lip. HINT: A one-tablespoon dose if equal to 15 milliliters. Along with fast, accurate prescription filling, you receive friendly, helpful service from use at MOYE'S PHARMACY. Visit one of our five convenient locations. Our Hampton pharmacy is located at 104 Woolsey Rd. You can reach us by calling 770-946-5172 or stopping by Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm or Saturday 9am-2pm.

While physicians and studies tend to focus on middle-aged men, new research shows that older men and women also stand to benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs. The new study pooled the results of five trials involving such cholesterol-lowering "statin" drugs such as lovastatin and pravastatin. Altogether, the trials encompassed about 31,000 patients, who were treated 5.5 years on average. It was found that, in male and female patients of all ages, the statin drugs reduced the risk of heart attacks and other major coronary complications by 30%. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that anyone who has had either a heart attack or stroke in the past should ask his or her physician if statin drugs should be prescribed. HINT: While studies have not indicated that cholesterol-lowering drugs enable people to live longer, they can improve the quality of their lives. If your treatment for lowering cholesterol includes a "statin" drug, you can be sure of prompt service by bringing your prescription to us at one of the convenient locations of MOYE'S PHARMACY. Our Locust Grove pharmacy is at 3798 Hwy 42 S (770-957-6004). We are a locally owned family pharmacy, known for personal attention given to all of our patients. Open: Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.