Note:  StretPharmacist is not a pharmacist.  He is not even in pharmacy school.  He was only an intern who knows very little about drugs and pharmacy in general.  Do not base any decisions on anything StretPharmacist writes.  You have been warned, and if you do not heed this warning, you are a fucking moron.  Seriously.  If you take any drug based off of his writings alone, and not with the recommendations of a physician or pharmacist, you deserve whatever consequences occur, because that makes you, as Dan Cole would say, "one of the seven out of ten."

With A&W/Long John Silver’s dead and gone, I needed a new job.  I didn’t want to go back into the food service industry again, but I would if I had to.  Thankfully it never came to that.

I was actually put into contact with a local pharmacy and given an internship there.  And I must say that I owe everyone who made this possible all the thanks in the world.  I love this job. 

Abilify

Used for:  Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar Disorder

This drug comes in multiple strengths, and I love them all.  I love this drug for two reasons.  First, it is the top of the alphabet for drugs.  It is the first one on the shelf and is very easy to find.  This is good, since it seems like a fairly popular drug these days.  The other reason is that this drug comes packaged in bottles of thirty (30).  This makes counting them so easy.  When I see a prescription come in for Abilify, you can just figure out how many bottles you need.  Simple and effective.

Aggrenox

Used for:  Reducing the risk of strokes in patients who have had transient ischemia of the brain or completed ischemic stroke due to thrombosis

Another easy drug to find on the shelf.  I like this drug mainly because it is shipped in the coolest bottle known to man.  Unfortunately, I cannot find a picture of this bottle.  But trust me on this, it kicks ass like a pill bottle shouldn’t.  And, as what seems to me like an overpriced combination drug, that seems to be what you are mainly paying for.  They claim that Aggrenox is not interchangeable with its two component drugs separately, and they are probably right.  I’m just not sure how that is.

Baclofen

Used for:  Alleviation of spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis; also for some other spinal cord injuries or diseases

What a great name.  Sometimes it just all comes together and the name for a drug is perfect.  Treats spinal cord problems.  Where is the spinal cord?  Why, it’s in your back!  BACLOFEN!  Oh, and the help with M.S. is rather nice, too.

Depakote

 Used for:  Seizures, Mood Stabilization (Bi-Polar Disorder)

I love Depakote.  The might be my most favorite drug ever.  Why?  Well, there are many reasons.  Under the category of "Mood Stabilization," www.rxlist.com describes Depakote as a treatment for Mania.  Here is there description:

DEPAKOTE (divalproex sodium) is indicated for the treatment of the manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. A manic episode is a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. Typical symptoms of mania include pressure of speech, motor hyperactivity, reduced need for sleep, flight of ideas, grandiosity, poor judgement, aggressiveness, and possible hostility.

Now, to me, this just sounds like being a writer for PsychoNoble, so I’m glad that there is something to treat that. 

Also, this could also be the cure for Hulkamania.  Ahahahaha.

That was lame, and I apologize.  No more mania jokes.

. . . .

WRESTLEMANIA!

These pills are very large.  I’m serious.  When you get to the higher doses, like 500 mg, these things are just massive.  We are talking about one inch long and a quarter of an inch thick.  That may not sound like much, but that is huge for a pill. 

The utter largeness of this medication makes it interesting to count.  The little device that we count pills on and then use to pour them into a bottle can only hold so many of them.  It gets very fun when you get the not-so-uncommon prescriptions for 180 or 360 pills.  That can take a while to count for any pill, but these monsters make the going slow.

However, counting these pills isn’t so bad.  They have a rather pleasant aroma about them, unlike some drugs I have to count (I’m looking at you, Amoxicillin capsules).

My favorite kind of Depakote (there are at least 8 different kinds that I know of) is the 125 mg Sprinkle Capsules.  These little pills are so cool.  They have little writing on the capsule, and at one end it says "Depakote."  At the other end, it says "This End Up."

Imagine that on a pill.  This End Up. 

It threw me for a loop the first time I saw it.  This End Up?  Does it not work when you take it the wrong way?  What the hell.  This End Up. 

It was explained to me that, because these are sprinkle capsules, you can open them up and pour the Depakote onto food or into a drink for easy delivery.  That would explain that, but still, I love how it the pill looks like something that comes in the mail.

This is only the beginning.  I have many drugs that I have grown attached to in the last two months.  Expect more in the future!

UPDATE (08/08/08):  StretPharmacist is no longer a pharmacy major.  There shall probably be no more My Favorite Drugs articles, but he doesn't rule it out.

StretPharmacist is a lot like the Undertaker:  A gimmick that should have never gotten over, but was taken to unbelievable heights.  Also, he is constantly injured.