Pharmacy Services

Smoking Cessation

Have you been thinking about quitting smoking? Sick of spending your hard earned money on a habit that is slowly killing you?? For some extra encouragement, why not come down and talk to us

QUIT SMOKING at Unichem Waiuku Pharmacy. Our Pharmacists are qualified smoking cessation practitioners. We offer a full consultation and quit smoking plan for over 12 weeks and it’s FREE!! ( normal prescription charge of $5 applies for any product supplied)

We have a Carbon Monoxide monitor to help you see the benefits of quiting and ridding the body of this toxin. A lot of our patients find this a very motivating factor.

Everyone's quit journey is different - some people vape, use patches, gum or lozenges, use prescription medication or some even go cold turkey. Some people quit for their whānau, some for their health or some because of finances. No matter why or how you're quitting, we are here to support you.

Being clear about your reasons to quit smoking can help you stay motivated. You might find it useful to write a list and pin it up somewhere you can see or keep it with you.

For many people, the main reasons to quit are:

Health benefits of quitting
Money benefits
Family
Quiting for your kids- If you smoke your kids are 7x more likely to as well. Make a positive change to benefit your whole family now!
Your appearance - Smoking starves your skin of oxygen making it dry and grey. You develop wrinkles around your eyes and mouth much earlier, and the tar stains your teeth and fingers.
Smell - Your hair and breath will smell cleaner. So will your house, car and clothes.
Lifestyle reasons - Being a smoker can be a nuisance, like when you are on a plane or train and can't smoke, or when you are out with friends who don't smoke.
Taking control - Quitting smoking is a challenge. Once you have set the goal to quit and succeeded, you will feel really proud of yourself. Quitting helps you take on other challenges.
Fitness - Smoking makes it harder for you to exercise and reduces the benefits to your body.
Your senses - Your sense of smell and taste will get better.

There’s no need to book an appointment, and we can supply smoking cessation products to you in the same visit.

We carry a variety of Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, most of which are fully funded, including:

Lozenges
Patches Gum
Inhalers
Mouth Sprays
Vapes

The supply of NRT products is subsidised when provided by a pharmacist.

So what are you waiting for. Come down and talk to us and see if we can help you.

Medication packs (Medico Pak)

Medico Pak makes it easy Each Medico Pak is packed by your pharmacist according to your individual prescription so you can trust that your medication dosage is accurately and correctly dispensed.

With Medico Pak... Your medication for each day is packed in one easy-tear strip if you need to take it with you. Details printed on the back of each bottle allow you to check when your medication is due.

Quickly see if you have taken your medication by the number of empty bottles used.
Instructions are clear and easy to read, avoiding confusion.
Errors are minimised with each dose correctly packed and labeled.
No bulky bottles or packets to carry around.
Pak Popper and Magnifiers are available if needed - ask your pharmacy.

How Does Medico Pak Work?

Medico Pak is a simple but very effective way of managing your medication and is able to be used by all age groups from young people to the elderly. Medico Pak has been designed to make it easy to carry your individual daily doses with you wherever you go in sturdy, blister paks. Here’s how...

Full Medical Description of your own medicines is shown on the "Pack Contents.”
Time and Dose are clearly printed on the front and back of your Medico Pak.
Contents of the bottle are printed along with your name, medication details, day, time, strength, dosage and number of tablets for that dose time.
Each dose is sealed and secure.
Days of the Week is being clearly shown on the front and back of your pack.
Perforated Bottles and Strips allow you to tear off a full day of medication, or one dosing bottle. Flexible options that are ideal for taking medication to school, work, or away from home.
Medico Pak is flexible for either weekly or monthly formats. Traveling Overseas? Medico Paks meet all customs requirements as all the details are printed on the packs.

Vaccinations

A number of vaccinations are now available at our pharmacy to keep you and your family/whanau protected. Vaccinations at our pharmacy are a convenient and easily accessible service without an appointment. Don’t assume you are immune.

Our pharmacists are trained to provide vaccinations for the following conditions:

Influenza (Flu) – free for patients over 65 years of age and women who are pregnant. This is seasonal and not available all year round.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Shingles
Meningococcal disease

Should I get a flu shot?

The short answer is Yes. The Ministry of Health suggests that almost everyone* can benefit from the protection of an annual Flu Shot. *A small number of people, such as those who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccine previously or those who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs should not be vaccinated without first consulting a doctor.

Isn’t the Flu just a bad cold?

No. A cold virus only affects the nose, throat and upper chest and lasts for a few days, whereas influenza, commonly called the flu can be a serious illness that affects the whole body and can last a week or more. Infection with the Flu virus can lead to a stay in hospital for any age group but particularly if you are elderly or have an ongoing medical condition. Flu can make an existing medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, a lot worse. Even if you do not end up in hospital, Flu can keep you in bed for a week or more, preventing you from going to work, playing sport or just about anything else that requires leaving the house

I am healthy and I had one last year, do I really need it?

Every year the flu virus changes. Scientists from the World Health Organisation find the three or four types of flu they think will be the most widespread and dangerous for the coming winter and use them to develop the Flu vaccine for that year. Being fit and healthy will not protect you from influenza. The flu spreads easily and even if you’re super healthy, your family, friends and co-workers may not be. By immunizing against influenza you can protect yourself and lessen the chance of bringing it home to a baby, older relative or someone with a medical condition who could develop serious complications from influenza.

Can the Flu Shot give me the Flu?

No. You cannot get influenza from the vaccine. The Flu vaccine is made up of dead flu viruses. Since they aren’t live, you can’t catch the flu from them. When you get the vaccine, your body learns what the flu looks like, so it can fight the illness. It takes about 2 weeks for your body to be ready to fight.

The Flu Vaccination is available most days during the week and no appointment is necessary.

We’ll ask you to stick around for 20 minutes afterwards to make sure you don’t have any unwanted reactions from the injection.

We also offers flu shots off-site for groups. Our pharmacists can take flu shots on the road to go to rest homes, offices, and schools. If you run a business, care facility or other organisation and want to minimise sick days during winter, get in touch to organise a visit from our pharmacists. Can you afford not to protect your staff this winter? The flu is highly contagious and effects unto 20% of New Zealanders every year. Companies loose millions of dollars a year due to staff illness so be proactive! .

Shingles Vaccine Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster). After your chickenpox blisters heal, the virus that caused them remains in your body and is dormant. The virus may be there for many years and not cause a problem. Sometimes however the virus may become active again. So, anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles. In fact approximately 1 in 3 people will experience shingles in their lifetime. For some people shingles is more than just a painful blistering rash. 1 in 4 people will develop complications, the most common being long-term nerve pain that can last for months, even years, after the rash has healed. If you are 50 years of age or older talk to one of our Pharmacists, who are now able to provide a vaccine that helps prevent shingles*

Meningococcal Vaccine Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes two very serious illnesses, meningitis (an infection of the membranes that cover the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Diagnosing and treating meningococcal disease is not easy. The current vaccines available do not protect against all meningococcal strains, but they do provide protection against up to half of the disease in New Zealand, for up to 3 to 5 years. It can affect anyone - but it is more common in children under the age of 5, teenagers, and young adults. Students in their first year of tertiary education living in hostel accommodation may also be at higher risk. Those traveling internationally to areas of risk are encouraged to have the vaccine. A vaccine that protects against 4 strains of meningococcal disease is now available for people 16 years of age and over from Pharmacists*.

Whooping Cough Vaccine Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that cannot only be life threatening to babies but can also cause prolonged illness in adults. It causes severe bouts of coughing and is easily transmitted. The disease is most infectious in the first couple of weeks, when symptoms are like a normal cold. Whooping cough continues to be infectious 3-4 weeks after the cough starts, unless you are treated with antibiotics. Many babies catch whooping cough from their immediate family including older siblings or parents - often before they are old enough to be fully immunised. Our Pharmacists are now able to provide the whooping cough vaccine* to adults 18 years and older.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP)

Contraceptive failure or having unprotected sex can be a stressful situation. The risk of pregnancy can be reduced by taking the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP). The ECP is most effective the sooner it is taken. As getting to the Doctor is not always possible or practical our accredited ECP pharmacists are available to provide you with a consultation and are able to dispense the ECP if it is appropriate for you. The ECP’s effectiveness The emergency contraceptive pill will be most effective if you take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Taking the ECP within 24 hours is best, but it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

The ECP has been shown to prevent: 95% of expected pregnancies when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex 85% if taken within 25 - 48 hours 58% if taken within 49 - 72 hours.

It’s important to note that the ECP does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have any concerns speak with your Unichem Pharmacist, doctor or family planning clinic.

Possible side effects You may experience the following side effects but they should resolve within a few days:

Breast tenderness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Tiredness
Vomiting If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the ECP, another dose should be taken immediately. Your next period will probably come at the expected time, but it may be early or late, and it could be heavier than usual.
You should make an appointment to see your doctor immediately if: Your next period is unusually light or heavy, more than 5 days late or if you’re taking oral contraceptives and there is no bleeding in the pill-free interval.
If you have any lower abdominal pain - Some precautions to take Contraception It’s recommended that you use a barrier contraceptive (condoms) until your next period. If you use a contraceptive pill, keep taking the hormonal pills as normal and use additional barrier protection for seven days. If you have less than seven hormonal pills left in the packet, you should continue with the next pack and omit the seven-day break or placebo (sugar) tablets. Pregnancy The emergency contraceptive pill is generally safe to take while breastfeeding, but check with your Pharmacist or doctor if you are concerned.

The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) can be taken to prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. Appointments are not required, and our accredited pharmacists can supply the ECP after private consultation. A consultation fee will apply for this service.

Urinary Tract Infections
(UTI’s)

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s)

Urinary Tract Infections are a common condition which typically affects women. Symptoms may include pain and a burning sensation when urinating, nausea and vomiting, pain in the lower back or sides, and even blood in the urine. If left untreated, UTIs can lead to serious complications, so it’s important to discuss any concerns with us once they arise.

Urinary Tract Infections are often referred to as cystitis or bladder infections. Urinary Tract Infections cause women considerable discomfort and we have pharmacists on staff who have undertaken appropriate training and are able to offer effective treatment where appropriate. They will work through a thorough checklist to ensure certain criteria are met before supplying the medicine. The treatment, a three-day course of trimethoprim 300mg tablets, is available to women between the ages of 16 and 65 who are not pregnant and who have not taken a course of antibiotics within the previous six months.

Appointments are not required. A consultation fee applies for this service.

Erectile Dysfunction

New Confidential Service

Our trained Pharmacists can now offer a new confidential service for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) in males aged 35 to 70 years. Erectile Dysfunction is a common issue that affects many men over the age of 40. It can present itself as either a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. ED is a very common problem in men and can be treated with Sildenafil (little blue pill).

Some men should not take Sildenafil eg men on certain medicines or men who have had a recent heart attack or stroke, so we will ask questions about your health to ensure the drug is appropriate for you. We will also check your heart health, including taking your blood-pressure. The first consultation will take about 20 minutes, and repeat supplies will take about 5 minutes.

If you're concerned about ED, talk to one of our qualified Pharmacists who have completed the approved training pro-gramme, and ask about our loyalty pro-gramme.

In a private area, the pharmacist will advise you about Sildenafil and treat the sale as if it were prescribed by your doctor.

Appointments are not required. A consultation fee applies for this service.

Weight Management

We offer a wide range of weight management products to help kick start you into action. Come in and see us and we can work out which one is best for you.

Blood Pressure Testing

You don't have to go to your doctors to get your blood pressure done - pop in and see one of our friendly team and we can do it for you. A small charge does apply.

Aseptic Dispensing

We can dispense and manufacture syringe drivers for the Niki Pump. Used in hospices, hospitals, and general practice.

Bowel Screening

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of Cancer in New Zealand and affects thousands of families. Don't become a statistic, have a regular bowel screening to reduce the risk. At the pharmacy, we offer a take-home bowel screening test kit which you then directly sent to the lab. A testing fee applies.

Zinc Test

This test is free! Zinc is a key nutrient for our bodies and one that builds the immune system and protects us from colds and coughs. Zinc is found in every tissue in our body, so even a small deficiency can cause health problems such as decreased immunity and wound healing. A simple taste test will give you an indication of your zinc levels. A simple taste test to determine if you have a zinc deficiency. The test involves holding a zinc solution in your mouth for 10 seconds and assessing your taste response.

Long Term Condition (LTC) Services

We offer LTC services for patients who take multiple medicines for more than one chronic health condition, including:

Reconciliation of prescriptions, to ensure your medication is always up to date
Synchronisation of prescriptions to keep them aligned
The disposal of unused or expired medicine
Regular contact with LTC patients
Medicine management solutions such as compliance packaging of medicine
Adjusting the collection of your medication to suit your needs
Providing a medication card every time your prescription changes

Speak to one of our pharmacists today for more information about our LTC services and if you qualify for the funded LTC service.

Medical Consultations for Common Ailments

Our pharmacists can provide personalised advice and suggest products to care for common health needs, including:

Acid reflux disease
Allergic rhinitis
Calluses and corns
Cold sores
Contact allergic dermatitis (skin reaction from coming into contact with an allergen)
Coughs and colds
Cuts, grazes and minor wounds
Impetigo/sores
Indigestion
Menstrual cramps
Minor joint pain
Non-infectious diarrhea

Dandruff
Dry eyes
Eye irritations
First aid
Fungal infections of the skin (such as Athlete’s Foot)
Hemorrhoids
Hay fever
Mild hives (including bites and stings)
Mild to moderate eczema
Minor burns
Oral ulcers
Thread-worms and pin-worms

Mild acne
Mild headache
Minor muscle pain
Minor sleep disorders
Nasal congestion
Nausea
Pain relief
Sore throat
Sunburns
Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection)
Warts (excluding facial and genital)
Oral fungal infection (thrush)

Oral Contraceptive

Service coming soon. Not available in store yet.

We can renew your oral contraceptive prescription in the pharmacy, saving you a trip to the GP if you’ve received an oral contraceptive prescription from your GP in the past three years. Note: Only selected oral contraceptive medicines can be supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription from the GP. Other criteria may apply. Speak to one of our pharmacists for more information or enquire below.

Medical Equipment

We hire out crutches and wheelchairs at your convenience on a weekly basis. The cost is $10 per week all we need form you is a $50 bond. Please call to reserve.