6
Wednesday, July 1, 1992
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cornucopia A Restaurant & Bar
1801 Massachusetts
842-9637
West Const Saloon
Daily Lunch Specials
$3.50 Sandwich,
Side Dish &
Beer or Soda
841-BREW
2222 Iowa
20% OFF ANY PURCHASE
Albums-Cds-Tapes Posters
Sure, You Have a Choice Whether you're ready for lunch, dinner, fresh beer or coffee and dessert.
Race on down and
Enjoy the fresh tastes of the
FREE STATE BREWING CO.
Experience the unique atmosphere of the first legal brewery in Kansas since 1880 Open Mon-Sat 11-Midnight, Sun Noon-11
SAC'S SPECIALS CLOSEOUTS
99¢VIDEOS
Video Department
- Every Tape - Every Day
- Latest New Releases
- Over 2400 Tapes in Stock
COUPON - CLIP - N - SAVE
SAC'S
SPECIAL
& CLOSEOUTS
Video Department
Video Department EXPIRES 8-1-92
Rent 2
Tapes, Get
1 FREE!
25th & Iowa
Lawrence, Ks.
25th and Iowa 842-7810
(Next to Food 4-Less)
Hours: 9-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
10-6 p.m. Sun.
Patch shortage leaves few holes
By John Brothers Special to the Kansan
There is good news for Lawrence cigarette smokers who want to quit a nationwide shortage of a popular smoking-cessation aid has abated here. In fact, Lawrence never experienced the scarcity reported in some parts of the country.
However, a telephone survey conducted among Lawrence pharmacies during the week of June 12 showed that although there were some tight times earlier this year, all pharmacies had the patches in stock. Most said they had enough to accommodate new prescriptions and refills.
Time magazine reported June 8 that nicotine transdermal patch systems were in such short supply that many prospective quitters could not obtain them. Time reported long waiting lists and rationing in many areas and said that assault rifles were easier to obtain than nicotine patches.
Nicotine transdermal patch systems are not sold without a prescription. They employ an adhesive patch placed on the patient's skin and deliver a measured dose of nicotine to replace the nicotine in cigarette smoke.
The patches have been available for about six months. They are worn for six to 12 weeks, and they come in several sizes to provide the wearer a decreasing dose of nicotine, allowing gradual withdrawal from nicotine
Larry Magee, staff physician at Watkins, said the shortage was created by drug company promotions. The drug companies began promoting the product to the public before the doctors had any information, he said.
addiction. Several brands are available, but the most common are Nicoderm and Habitrol.
"The patients were coming in asking for them before the drug reps had come in to talk about them," he said. "There was a public ad campaign going on before the physicians knew anything about them."
Lawrence pharmacists reported problems obtaining both Nicoderm and Habitrol until recently, with Nicoderm being the most difficult to get. However, none of the pharmacists had to discontinue treatment for anyone although some said they had delayed starting new customers when supplies were lowest.
"We had a point where we just couldn't get either one," said Ron Ragan, staff pharmacist at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Watkins has both Nicoderm and Habitol in stock now.
Larry Michels, pharmacy manager at Wal-Mart, 277 Iowa St., said that a month ago the supply of Nicoderm was more critical than it was now and that the manufacturer had resorted to rationing.
"They're rationed the supply to the wholesalers, who in turn rationed it to the pharmacies," he said. "It's slowly catching up, but it's still definitely
"If your prescription is at a different pharmacy, talk to the pharmacist where you found what you wanted." said Marvin Brodehoft, pharmacist-in-charge at Medical Arts Pharmacy, 346 Maine St. "The pharmacist will be willing to call your physician to get a new order to get your patch."
Tom Wilcox, owner of Round Corner Drug Store, 801 Massachusetts St., said that although the shortage had eased, he still got only about two-thirds of his order.
Smokers wanting to use nicotine patches to quit smoking can take steps to ensure an adequate supply:
■ Call around to different pharmacies to find the brand you want.
"We were not getting any for a couple of weeks," he said.
"I don't remember anybody needing a refill, anybody who gave us enough time, like calling a few days ahead of time, that we couldn't fill," Ragan said. "It wasn't always a full course of therapy, but we've gotten them enough to get by."
Give the pharmacist a few day's notice when a refill is needed.
being rationed."
Pharmacists are making special efforts to ensure that customers who begin the multi-week program are able to finish their prescriptions.
Nancy Corkins, pharmacy manager at Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St., said it was important that customers were able to get their entire prescription because those forced to discontinue the program ran a greater risk of starting to smoke again.
Corkins said her store had had trouble getting enough Nicodern to handle refills and had for a time discontinued starting anybody new on that brand.
Supplies have improved, however, and the Dillons pharmacy now fills new prescriptions and refills, she said.
the brand in shortest supply, to another brand. A brand switch requires a doctor's authorization because the various brands are not equivalent in nicotine dosage, Corkins said.
"It's by no means over, but they're sending a little better supply," she
A person starting the program should try to buy the full supply at the beginning, he said.
Michels said he also had to discontinue taking new patients for a while.
"I think basically they all work," he said, "although they vary in their delivery systems."
However, the most common measure to ensure that a customer gets a complete prescription has been to switch customers from Nicoerdem,
■ Be willing to settle for substitutes. Although the different brands do not work exactly the same, their differences are minor. Magee said he had prescribed several different brands.
The prices are comparable as well. Ragan said that Watkinsins a 14-day supply of Nicoderm for $48.60 and a 14-day supply of Habitol for $47.90.
Concerned, Confidential & Personal Health Care For Women
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE ABORTION SERVICES
GYN CARE -- FREE PREGNANCY TESTING
BIRTH CONTROL -- INCLUDING NORPLANT
IMPLANTS
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH FOR WOMEN
4401 West 109th (I-1435 & Roe)
Overland Park, Kansas
Toll Free 1-800-227-1918
Providing quality health care to women since 1974
VISA, Mastercard and Insurance plans accepte
Buying A Used Car?
Check out consumer warranty laws first.
Make An Appointment For Free Legal Advice
Your KU Student Activity Fee Funds This Law
Office On Campus
Legal Services For Students
148 Burge Union
Call 864-5665
A
SHORT
30-MINUTE
DRIVE
FROM K.C.
AUDIO/VIDEO
HI-FI
GRAND PRIX
AWARDS
AWARD WINNING DEALER
Straight Talk...is a result of 32 years of straight thinking!
SYSTEMS ON SALE NOW!
FOR 32 YEARS ONE OF AMERICA'S FEW REAL AUDIO/VIDEO STORES!
Acurus-Adcom-a/dfs-Alpine-audio-Prism-Audio-Quest-Audio Control B&K-BW-K Boston-Acoustics-Chicago-Skp-Denon-Esateric Audio-Forte Fineline-Kef-Kimber Kable-Klipsch-Martian/Login-Lexicon-Mitsubishi Monster Cable-NAD-Niles-Nakamichi-Oryke-Some-Paradigm-Parsec Phase Tech-Phillips-Snell-Revox-Sennheiser-Sony-Sony ES-Stax Sumiko-Target Threshold-Tara Labs-Velodine-Yamaha
Quality manufacturers carefully select their dealers. It is no accident that virtually very credible audio producer has chosen Kief's AV as its authorized dealer.
THESE AND (62) MORE!
DOING BUSINESS WITH KIEF'S AUDIO/VIDEO
THE EOUIPMENT
THE COMPANY
The audio components we stock are all "A" Stock units selected from our 106 "Award Winning" brands. Only a few audio stores in America can make this statement and virtually all of us are located in hi-tech college campuses. Our customers buy units in their price class. Our prices range from modest value units (aprox $175) to world class State-of-Art systems in excess of $50,000.
We are 34 people who try to make honest commercial sense. We sell what we modestly think are the best audio/video products, speakers, amplifiers, tape decks, cables, and compact disc players currently propped up on our campus. Our tape and CD selection is in fact "awesome", We own and occupy one of America's finest and largest specialty audio/video facilities, adjacent to the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Ks. We are not aware of any one facility that has the unique combination of hardware and number of quality lines to complement our innovative approach to display, demonstration and sales.
Tens of thousands of our customers over the past 32 years have graduated, and become professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, etc. from all walks of life, yet are still engaging in their own and social relationship with our people, our store, and the university.
Many of our current clientele are now second generation and referral friends of our past satisfied customers. We always buy direct at maximum volume rebates and, yes, we pass on any savings to our customers. We spend a lot of time building an environmentally and social causes, not because it's fashionable, but because we started doing so 32 years ago.
PURCHASING
Ask us if you have questions. Our people are knowledgeable, friendly and the students tell us our prices are nationally competitive. We have a tremendous array of accurate information and can be helpful in describing audio in a way that photographs and specification sheets can not.
OUR GUARANTEE
Straight talk... Fair treatment...
KIEF'S TAPES CDs RECORDS AUDIO/VIDEO
24th and IOWA LAWRENCE, KANSAS (913) 842-1811