Health Information

Compounding

Bio-Identical Hormone Seminars

Consultation Packet

Saliva Testing

Recommended Labs

Common Questions

Natural / Bio-Identical Hormone Seminar Interested In An Individual Bio-Identical Hormone Consultation? Consultations are given by our compounding pharmacist, Lori Finnick, RPh, who specializes in bio-identical hormonal balance.  Lori began her pharmacy career in 1987 and has completed extensive training in bio-identical hormones since 2001.  In addition to individual consultations, Lori teaches most of Good Day Pharmacy’s educational patient seminars, and regularly provides office training and formal seminars to area practitioners.

Good Day Pharmacist Lori Finnick RPh

Lori’s philosophy is not only discussing symptoms and history, but also teaching the patient what they can do to help themselves.  She highly recommends testing hormone levels via blood (serum) or saliva testing. This can be done through the pharmacy or at your doctor’s office.  Also, Lori will guide the patient through a nutrition plan giving their body the most benefit from their own balance.  Hormones are only part of the plan.   

If you are interested, please follow the simple steps outlined below:

1. Complete BHRT Confidential Evaluation and Contact information
   (See Consultation packet above) and return the form to:
   
   Good Day Pharmacy  x--------- -x Good Day Pharmacy
   ( Attention: Brynna )----------------------- ( Attention: Brynna )   
   2033 Boise Ave ------------- OR ---------- Fax: 970.667.1095
   Loveland, CO  80538
   
   
2. Once your form has been received, we will call you to schedule an appointment (please plan to schedule your appointment 2 – 4 weeks in advance).  If you have sent in a saliva test, please make a note at the top of the form along with the name of the test you performed (i.e. ZRT,  Diagnos-techs, ASI, etc).  This will help us to schedule your appointment for a time when test results have been received.
   
   
3. Following the appointment, the pharmacist will discuss any recommendations with the patient and the practitioner.  Also, a copy of recommendations will be faxed to the practitioner. 
   
   
4. If patient chooses to accept recommendations, the prescriptions will be individually formulated at one of our Good Day Pharmacy compounding centers (Loveland, Fort Collins or Longmont).  The pharmacy will call the patient when ready.  For refills, please contact the pharmacy at least 5 business days ahead.

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"Common BHRT Questions"

by Lori Finnick, RPh, Bio-Identical Hormone Consultant

(updated 01/31/2007)

 1. What is compounding?

Compounding is actually kind of like getting back to that "old time pharmacy" practice where a prescription is made up (or compounded) upon the order of a practitioner specifically for a particular patient. Whether this prescription is for a human or an animal, this area really relies on the expertise of the pharmacist and the practitioner both working together for the good of the patient. That is what they mean by the "triad of care"-- The patient, the practitioner, and the pharmacist.

2. What are bio-identical hormones and where do they come from?

Bio-identical hormones are always natural but natural is not always bio-identical. Bioidentical means exactly the same as the hormone made by the human body. Natural can mean herbal and/or not made by the human body yet made by something found in nature. The bio-identical hormones used for compounding or the formulation of various forms (tablets, capsules, suppositories, creams, troches, etc) come from plant sources such as soy or yam. They are processed so that the end result is absolutely no different than the human hormone. They do not need anything from the body such as certain enzymes to convert them to the actual hormone.

3. Do bio-identical hormones keep me safe from cancer?

The answer is NO!!! Any hormones when out of balance can potentiate cancer growth.

Even the body's own hormone balance before hormones are taken can be a cause for cancer growth. Recently estrogens have been classified as "carcinogenic" meaning they can cause cancer. Yes, this means any estrogens whether bio-identical (natural) or synthetic. Our bioidentical hormone consultant always recommends using the lowest doses possible and regular testing of hormone levels. She teaches in our classes that labs may show what is normal but not always optimal in many cases.

  

4. Should I do blood testing or saliva testing?

Both can be utilized along with patient symptoms to assess a plan of care. You may check our consultant's "Recommended Labs to Order" listed on our website (www.gooddaypharmacy.com) or you may check out the information she put together on"Saliva Testing Procedure" also listed on our website. Either way, if you are a cycling woman, always be prepared to be asked where you were in your cycle when tested. Generally, if you are still cycling the best time to test (whether blood or saliva) is around day 19-21 of your cycle with Day 1 always being the first day of your period.

Saliva testing will test the free hormone levels or that which is bio-available (active) and not floating around attached to certain proteins in the blood (such as sex hormone binding globulin or SHBG). Blood testing will test the total hormone level (free level plus that which is bound to carrier proteins.) Some blood testing can actually test the free hormone level (i.e. free testosterone, free T3 or free T4) but this has to be specifically ordered. Blood testing does not accurately reflect the absorption of topical hormones because topical hormones are absorbed through the skin and will increase the free hormone levels which is only a small percentage (3-5%) of the total.

This is a very confusing issue that can be explained further on the ZRT Lab website www.salivatest.com. The important thing to remember is that their are certain factors that will affect the amount of hormone that is bound to proteins and thus inactive. Total levels of hormone do not always reflect response.

*Important Notes: If you are a patient that is just getting off of birth control pills our bio-identical hormone consultant recommends waiting at least 6 months before doing any testing to get the most accurate results. If you are a woman on hormone therapy it is still fine to test to find how that hormone is affecting your levels. Some forms such as troches need to be stopped for 7 days prior to doing saliva testing. If you are a man wishing to test, refer to "Recommended Labs." At this time most practitioners will only look at blood levels for men so saliva testing may be a waste of your time and money.

 

5. Does my insurance cover the consultations and/or the compounded prescriptions written by my practitioner?

This question, of course, needs to be answered by your insurance company. You can ask them if they cover compounded prescriptions. You may also get an idea by actually showing your insurance card to the pharmacy. They are familiar with most plans which they are able to submit for you. Some can be processed through the pharmacy or some only by the patient submitting their own claim to their individual insurance company. Most plans will only cover a one month supply per copay. Many patients actually find that once they are stabilized on a particular dose, they are able to pay less money per month by getting more than a one month supply and paying out of pocket.

At this time, individual consultations by our bio-identical hormone consultant are usually not a covered item unless the patient has a health care spending account or flexaccount. She is actively pursuing possible ways to get her services reimbursed through insurance companies. So far this is a new field that insurance companies do not recognize. If the patient wishes to try and submit, the insurance company will require a referral to see her from a practitioner. She does work well with the practitioners and will fax any recommendations after the appointment along with notes on any testing provided to her during the appointment.

 

6. What practitioners in the area are receptive to using bio-identical hormones?

 This area is a growing field pushed by the needs of the health conscious patient. There are more and more practitioners seeking training in this field. Our bio-identical hormone consultant really stresses the importance of staying with your practitioner rather than switching. She is available for a consultation whether referred or not. As long as your practitioner is receptive to work with her to help in the triad of care there should be no need to switch to another practitioner. She has been trained many hours and has been doing consulting with bio-identical hormone compounding since 2001 and is asked regularly to share her expertise with the practitioners and is invited many times to give office presentations. She has recently revised the current dosage chart which is used in many practices.

 

7. How long does this process take before I actually get my prescription compound formulation?

The answer to that question depends on a lot of issues such as how receptive your practitioner is, how long ago it was since you were last seen, if any testing needs to be ordered, etc.

On average it usually takes about 1-3 months from start to finish until you actually get your compound and another 1-3 months to start to notice the difference. Our bio-identical hormone consultant really stresses the importance of being proactive about your health in order to increase you chances of success with any hormone treatment.

 

8. How much will the compounds cost me per month?

On average, the monthly compound expenditure can be between $30-$75 out of pocket cost. As stated before, monthly insurance copays are sometimes more expensive than getting a 3 month supply and paying out of pocket instead of submitting through insurance.  

The patient can check the cost with their pharmacy before they fill their prescription and decide which way will be cheaper by comparing it to the monthly copay through their insurance.

9. What labs do you find helpful that I may ask my doctor about?

 Please refer to the updated "Recommended Labs" section.

 

10. Any more questions?

You may attend any one of our educational classes offered by our bio-identical hormone consultant. Times and locations are posted on our website at www.gooddaypharmacy.com.  Or you may Email her directly at lfinnick@gooddaypharmacy.com.  If you would like to make an appointment with her you may print off the "consultation packet" also posted on the website. Appointments are made after the form is received.

 

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Fee Schedule for Bio-Identical Hormone Consultation and Education

$25 to attend a Bio-Identical Hormone Patient Seminar put on by the Pharmacist.  Class schedules will be posted at Good Day Pharmacies and on our website (see Educational Seminars) Each class is 2 hours and will help educate on topics pertinent to hormone balance and saliva testing, and will include various class materials for patient education.

$125/hr for a full consultation including patient history review, hormone testing review, nutritional/hormone counseling and education, a care plan and any initial recommendations to a health care practitioner. A full consultation includes a recommended book and/or pertinent articles of information. 

$50/20minutes for a brief consultation which may include a follow up patient care plan after the initial full consultation, discussion and/or information regarding saliva testing procedure and/or review of patient therapy and/or hormone lab testing.  (Note: if any recommendations are to be made to a health care practitioner regarding plan of care of the patient, a full consultation fee is required.)

* Beginning January 1, 2007, credit cards will be accepted.

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Good Day Pharmacy
offers extensive training and provides monthly classes where women can learn more about bio-identical hormones and have their questions answered. The classes will be posted at our pharmacies and at this website.

Have a good day and we wish you good health!

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