Chemistry: My Life as a DPHMI Pharmacy Student

Two years ago, in 2009, I am form six-ed ( LOL! ) and officially became a member of the Pharmily *Pharmacy family* =D. My life as a Pharmacy student began at Inti International University where I met a group of fun-loving, caring course mates there. ^^ I could still remember those days we spent sitting inside the common room, doing lab reports and sharing our moments, our thoughts with each other. 

We celebrated birthday for Ganga in 2009  *Happy 2011 Birthday also, Ganga.. Once again my wishes to you* Haha! 

Wah, I like this pic lo! ='D

Life as a pharmacy student included attending lectures and tutorials. I am thankful for all that I have learnt the past 2 years as the knowledge has proved to serve me well. I could make a difference in the lives of loved ones around me whenever they asked for advice on the medications that they are taking. However, life at pharmacy is never complete with laboratory work. From having to face chemicals to making our own mixtures and creams, laboratory work is the best way to get hands-on experience on the concepts taught during lectures. Laboratory partners are the ones who have gone through thick and thin with me through the past 2 years and I am truly grateful to all of them! :)

 * Beloved lab partners! *

My beloved Miss Grace.

The highlight of my pharmacy life thus far had to be the internship attachment programme that pharmacy student has to undertake. I was attached to a retail pharmacy, Farmasi Sri Nibong, and experienced what it was like to be a retail pharmacist. I am also attached to a hospital pharmacy as I am sure that once again, I witnessed lives change because of what we as future pharmacists can do.

My fellow staff mates at Loh Guan Lye hospital.

In conclusion, life at Inti, as a Pharmacy student is an adventure. Here, I met great and amazing friends and lecturers and learnt things that no other place could offer. And most importantly, I found myself pushed to greater heights, with the knowledge and skills acquired that I know would make me a blessing to others. 

Chemistry 'N' Me

The drug I am going to introduce is Champix, which contains 0.5mg Varenicline Tartrate. Champix is a drug for smoking cessation, to help adults stop smoking. Since I was 16, my ambition is to be a pharmacist. Why pharmacist? Hmm, my dad is a heavy smoker and he smokes everyday. Yes, EVERYDAY. Therefore, I am ambitious enough to be a pharmacist and makes my dad a better life and of cause, * Make him to quit smoking* ! 

Champix, it can help to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms that happen while you give up smoking. People giving up smoking are often affected by nicotine withdrawal. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include craving for tobacco, irritability, frustration, feeling hungry, sleep problems, depressed mood, feeling anxious, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness, decreased heart rate, increased appetite, or weight gain. Not everybody is affected by some or all of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Although it is not recommended that you smoke after the first one to two weeks of treatment, if you smoke while you are taking Champix it will reduce your enjoyment of cigarettes. 

Champix works by blocking the effects of nicotine in your body. There are receptors for nicotine in the

brain. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, nicotine attaches to these receptors. This sends a message to a different part of the brain to release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine gives a feeling of pleasure which

only lasts for a short time. The body wants to repeat this feeling reinforcing the need to keep

smoking. Based on research, it is believed that Champix works by activating these receptors and

blockinng nicotine from attaching to them. 

The usual dosage instruction: 

Days 1 - 3 Take one white tablet once a day

Days 4 - 7 Take one white tablet in the morning and one in the evening

Weeks 2 - 4 Take one light blue tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Your first box of Champix will cover your first four weeks of treatment. You will need to visit your doctor before the end of the fourth week that you take Champix for a check-up and for a new prescription. At this appointment, your doctor will check your progress and give you a new prescription for the tablets you need to complete the remaining 8 weeks of treatment.

Weeks 5 - 12 Take one light blue tablet in the morning and one in the evening. After 12 weeks of treatment, if you have stopped smoking, your doctor may recommend another 12 weeks of treatment with Champix. This may increase your chances of stopping smoking long term. For this course, take one light blue 1 mg tablet in the morning and one in the evening. If you do not stop smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment or if you start smoking again after treatment, you can make another attempt at stopping smoking. However, before you make another attempt, you should try to understand the reasons why your attempt to stop smoking failed, so that your next attempt has a better chance of success.

Ingredients: 

1. Champix 0.5mg tablets contain the equivalent of 0.5mg of varenicline 

2. Champix 1mg tablets contain the equilavent of 1mg of varenicline 

Inactive Ingredients

Each tablet of Champix contains the

following inactive ingredients:

• Cellulose - microcrystalline

• Calcium hydrogen phosphate

anhydrous

• Croscarmellose sodium

• Silica-colloidal anhydrous

• Magnesium stearate

• Opadry Blue, Opadry White and

Opadry Clear

Champix is gluten free

Pay special attention to...

You and your family or carer need

to pay special attention to your

mood, behaviour and thinking

while you are taking Champix.

Some people have reported changes

in behaviour, thinking or mood when

they start taking Champix. These

may include depression, anxiety,

agitation, feelings of aggression,

mood swings, seeing, hearing or

sensing things that are not there,

thoughts of self-harm or self-harm.

Worsening of these symptoms has

also been reported in people who

already had mental health problems.

It is not known whether these are

related to Champix. It is known that

mood changes can be due to the

effects of stopping smoking, with or

without treatment.

Stop taking Champix and tell your

doctor immediately if you or your

family/carer notice any changes in

your behaviour or thinking, if you

become agitated or depressed, or

have thoughts of self-harm.

Chemistry For Me

- The science of matter, especially it's properties, structure, composition, behavior, reactions, interactions and the changes it undergoes. Since the day we born, chemistry play an important role in our everyday life. We find chemistry in daily life in the foods we eat, the air we breathe, our emotions and literally every object we can see or touch. For example of everyday chemistry.. 


Why ice floats:

Can you imagine how different the world around us would be if ice sank? Chemistry holds the explanation for why ice floats, while most substances sink when they freeze. Ice floats because it is about 9% less dense than a liquid water. Ice takes up about 9% more space than water, so a liter of ice weighs less than a liter water. The heavier water displaces the lighter ice, so ice floats to the top.

For me as a student now, chemistry is a MUST take subject and a MUST learn thing. Mr. Chemistry is always by my side since my age of 16 and moreover my ambition is to be a pharmacist * I'm proud ^^ * , but I found chemistry is so hard for me. ='( Seriously, I don't like chemistry! ( Sorry, miss..) 

Six years of chemistry study, instead I found ... 

• Chemistry is the CENTRAL SCIENCE. Medicine, engineering, agriculture and all other fields are dependent on chemistry. 

• All is chemistry. Everything are made of chemicals, many of the changes we observe in the world around us are caused by chemical reactions too. 

•  Chemistry contributes in Medicinal Effect. Medicines is the best example of chemistry which save us from the diseases and make us be able to live better. 

• Drug-Food Interactions. We can apply chemistry in our daily life to make sure any drugs we use aren't compromised or overly strengthened by the foods we eat. For example, many drugs are effected by alcohol. 

• Knowing some chemistry can help you and me make day to day decisions that affect our life. What are safe mosquito repellents? Will my bottled water expire? 

• Chemistry help our industry to produce more materials for us such as paints, plastics, iron or steel, cement, kerosine, and also motor oil. Chemistry help farmers to enrich the soil with chemicals like insecticides and pesticides to gain a fresh vegetables.

I define chemistry as: 

Creates Hell/heaven on Earth Mysteriously Investingly Surprisingly Through Reactions and it's Yields. 

As a conclusion, chemistry is aids in the improvement of healthcare, the conservation of natural resources, and the protection of the environment. Chemistry is the central science, central to the understanding of other sciences and technology. Unfortunately chemistry does not explain why the current generation refuse to correctly spell words, therefore making it more difficult for everyone else. 

Char Siew Pau is made of chemistry too! xD Laugh Out Loud!