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Do you have questions about managing your or your partner's health and wellbeing? Ask PillTime’s pharmacist

(96 Posts)
CeriGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 18-Sept-25 12:05:53

We know that looking after our health is important as we age, and medication is a necessary part of this for many of us. However managing medication can be stressful, and it doesn’t always feel simple to know how to best support our or a loved ones long-term health.

We’ve invited Pilltime Pharmacist Peter Thnoia to answer any questions you might have about managing your medication and general health and wellbeing. Perhaps you’d like some more information or guidance on how to manage a new prescription? Or do you have a more general question about supporting your health for the future?

Everyone who posts on this thread with a question for Peter by 2 October will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 voucher. T&Cs.

About the Expert
Peter Thnoia is the Superintendent Pharmacist at PillTime, an NHS-registered online pharmacy that makes medication management easier for carers and the elderly. With over 25 years of experience as a registered pharmacist, Peter is a seasoned Prescribing Pharmacist and has dedicated his career to enhancing patient safety and access to medication through technology. Peter is particularly experienced providing pharmaceutical advice to people who are aged 50+ and who are often on 7+ daily medications on average, and can be taking as many seventeen medications a day, for common conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic pain

Nannan2 Sat 20-Sept-25 23:53:51

Advice for anyone on ANY kind of pills is- ask your G.P or consultant any questions or queries, not a forum.(or in case of any diagnosis,as in case of mabon2)not a pharmacist either- Ask a doctor.

srn63 Sun 21-Sept-25 10:46:28

So where are the replies?

NotSpaghetti Sun 21-Sept-25 11:50:56

I assumed they would be answered on 2 October...
But it doesn't say that.

123gran Sun 21-Sept-25 15:59:03

Is this just a data gathering exercise? Wasn’t initially made clear…

Luckygirl3 Mon 22-Sept-25 11:25:39

Sounds like an adult to me!

Luckygirl3 Mon 22-Sept-25 11:25:57

Ad, not adult!

Flippinheck Mon 22-Sept-25 12:12:26

Nannan2

Advice for anyone on ANY kind of pills is- ask your G.P or consultant any questions or queries, not a forum.(or in case of any diagnosis,as in case of mabon2)not a pharmacist either- Ask a doctor.

Just politely disagreeing. In my experience my surgery’s pharmacist is much more skilled than the GP when it comes to medication, which is their speciality.

CeriGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 22-Sept-25 16:03:28

Hi everyone. Thanks for your great questions so far! Stay tuned - Peter will be online in the next few weeks to share his answers to some of your questions.

123gran Mon 22-Sept-25 18:26:31

Only ‘some’?

Retread Mon 22-Sept-25 21:28:22

I agree with flippinheck - my pharmacist is excellent at advising about medication and I trust her implicitly. (My GP once prescribed incorrectly - and the pharmacist picked it up).

NotSpaghetti Tue 23-Sept-25 04:30:44

CeriGransnet

Hi everyone. Thanks for your great questions so far! Stay tuned - Peter will be online in the next few weeks to share his answers to some of your questions.

Peter will be online in the next few weeks... when please?

Mollygo Tue 23-Sept-25 21:14:22

Oh and when Peter gets here, I want to know whether the tablets DH has been prescribed are responsible for his increasingly weakened muscles and tendency to fall more frequently.

CeriGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 24-Sept-25 15:01:12

Hi! Peter is working on responses to the questions that have come in so far as we speak, and should be able to share them by the end of the week. He is keen to answer as many of your questions as possible, and give them the attention and accuracy they deserve, so your patience is appreciated.

In the meantime, please keep your questions coming! Everyone who shares a question on managing medication and general health by 2 October will be entered into the prize draw.

AmeliaLW Wed 24-Sept-25 15:14:28

Do I need to be on statins at age 75?
Total cholesterol 5.8
HDL 2.4
Triglycerides 0.9
My understanding is that HDL and triglyceride numbers are more important than total cholesterol?

Grannynannywanny Wed 24-Sept-25 16:45:43

How important is it not to take levothyroxine within 30 mins of drinking coffee?

I only read this recently. After years of washing it down with my morning cuppa 🙈

Astitchintime Wed 24-Sept-25 16:52:33

🙄🙄🙄 It would be quicker to make an appointment to see my GP……….just saying

gillyknits Wed 24-Sept-25 17:02:51

I was diagnosed with acid reflex after an endoscopy.and was prescibed 20mg omeprazol .I have read of long term side effects and tried to reduce my intake but the reflux returns. What are your thoughts on long term use of omeprazol?

Retread Wed 24-Sept-25 17:18:13

Mine is a question on general health and wellbeing - I have read that an Omega 3 is really beneficial for heart, brain and bone health. I'm not keen on salmon (too rich) - is it advisable to take a daily supplement of Omega 3 to ensure I get enough of it?

Mollygo Wed 24-Sept-25 17:20:53

Astitchintime

🙄🙄🙄 It would be quicker to make an appointment to see my GP……….just saying

If you can get an appointment to see your GP . . .

Caleo Thu 25-Sept-25 15:35:08

problem with capsules in bubble packs. Particularly Ramipril caps. They too often break and spill the Ramipril before I get it into my mouth.

I fear the prescribing person at the GP's will cavil at supplying extra capsules.

Caleo Thu 25-Sept-25 15:40:35

I mean extra Ramipril (not extra empty capsules)

Bea65 Sat 27-Sept-25 09:34:57

Hi Peter, would appreciate your advice re anxiety medication before a long haul flight in December…🙏

Grannybags Sat 27-Sept-25 09:55:51

Grannynannywanny

How important is it not to take levothyroxine within 30 mins of drinking coffee?

I only read this recently. After years of washing it down with my morning cuppa 🙈

Hi Grannynannywanny

My DH was told to take his levothyroxine 1 hour before any food or caffeine so he takes his when he wakes and then waits an hour for breakfast

Very inconvenient!

Mt61 Sat 27-Sept-25 09:58:27

mabon2

Never again will I trust a pharmacist. I had a spot below my bottom lip, asked the pharmacist for something, he said it was an ingrowing hair. A week later I visited my GP for something different. She asked about the spot, took a photograph and sent it to the local hospital max fax department, a week later I was in hospital having a cancer removed from y bottom lip. Pharmacists are good at pharmacy but they are not trained doctors.

Anything like that ask your Gp to refer you for triage photos.
I’ve been this week- didn’t take photos but looks at them with a special tool, bit like a magnifying glass.
I had a thing on my ear, asked my mums max surgeon if he thought it was anything seven years ago. He only looked, said no.
This other specialist said,he thinks it’s a bcc. Nurse told me to look up MOHS

AGAA4 Sat 27-Sept-25 10:54:38

I have arthritis in my hip. I love to go for walks but find it painful and tiring. The only time I had any relief was from taking ibuprofen before the walk. Paracetamol doesn't help.
Is it safe to take ibuprofen occasionally? The only other medication I take is lansoprozole twice a week.