Zephrex-D: Meth Busting Allergy Drug Now Available at Walgreens

Zephrex-D, a new decongestant touted to fight meth labs, is now available at Walgreens. It's coming to two more major St. Louis area pharmacies in coming weeks.

As previously reported by Patch, Zephrex D was expected to be available in St. Louis area pharmacies in November.  (For instant news updates connect with Florissant Patch on Facebook.) It is now rolling out in Walgreens stores and available at select Walgreens at this time.  Local Ties Zephrex-D is manufactured by Maryland Heights-based Highland Pharmaceuticals. Westport Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of Highland. Paul Hemings, with Westport Pharmaceuticals, tells Patch that in addition to Walgreens, Zephrex-D will be in two more major pharmacies in the St. Louis areas in the next week or two.   Hemings is holding off on making the two additional pharmacies public citing privacy agreements with the companies. Overall, Zephrex-D is only …

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Walgreens Says Many Express Scripts Customers Are Staying Put

The pharmacy chain announced Tuesday that Express Scripts members in metro St. Louis and nationwide are opting to keep their prescriptions at Walgreens.

The Walgreens Prescription Savings Club (PSC) allows eligible patients who have pharmacy benefit plans managed by Express Scripts to avoid switching pharmacies, according to a Walgreens press release. During the month of January, Walgreens is lowering the enrollment fee for the PSC in an effort to encourage Express Scripts members continue to use Walgreens pharmacies when possible, or to make a smoother transition to another local pharmacy. In June, Walgreens announced it was parting ways with Express Scripts, a metro-St. Louis based pharmacy benefit manager.  Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of Pharmacy, Health and Wellness Solutions and Services, expressed frustration with Express Scripts and the company's "decision to reject our …

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Prescription for Change: Walgreens and Express Scripts Will End Relationship

Both companies are working to keep Florissant customers in the loop and maintain good relations with the public.

Barring a last-minute agreement, the long-standing relationship between Walgreens and metro St. Louis-based Express Scripts ended on Jan. 1. The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) has been battling with Walgreens over contract issues for months. The dispute became public in June when Walgreens said it could not comply with the terms of Express Scripts’ contract requirements. Express Scripts said in a release that it is “receiving strong support from clients and expects greater than 95 percent of its clients' prescription volume will move forward into 2012 without Walgreens as a network provider.” The company also said in October that it is working support Express Scripts clients and members as they transfer prescriptions away from Walgreens. …

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Frugal Family

A Fun and Frugal Fourth

This week's Frugal Family features items to help with your Fourth of July plans.

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you eight great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen, just add them to our comment box. This week, Frugal Family scoured our local sources to come up with great deals for the Fourth of July, amongst others. Remember to check with the merchants for additional conditions. DEALS Deal: Deals' "Summer Fun Book" features lots of …

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Walgreens Decision Means Some Customers in Florissant Must Fill Prescriptions Elsewhere

Express Scripts customers who get their medications at Florissant Walgreens stores have until Jan. 1 to choose a new drug store.

The Express Scripts website press room features a news release expressing shock about the decision by Walgreen’s to stop filling prescriptions for the pharmacy provider network based in North St. Louis County. You will find a news release on the matter on the Walgreens website, too. This quote from Walgreens points to a breakdown where many contract negotiations often come to an impasse: money. “Walgreens is committed to providing quality, convenient and cost-effective pharmacy services to our patients, but we cannot continue to deliver these services under the terms and rates Express Scripts offered. As the largest retail provider in their pharmacy network, we were surprised by Express Scripts’ ultimate stance during our talks, which made…

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Redbox Kiosks Now Offer Video Game Rentals

Top new releases are available, along with popular family and children’s games, for $2 a night.

Gamers can now rent video games locally at all hours of the day and night. Redbox, the stand-alone kiosks at local retailers most known for their dollar-a-night movie rentals, now offers video games. Games cost $2 a day and can be reserved online for easy pick up at the nearest Redbox location. In Florissant, there are 17 Redbox locations. They can be found at various locations in town, including McDonald's, Schnucks, Dierbergs, Shop n' Save, Walgreens and 7Eleven stores. Most Redbox kiosks are located outdoors to allow for 24-hour access. Top new releases are available for rental, along with popular family and children’s games. A complete list of available titles is viewable online. Games are available for PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and …

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Frugal Family

Saving Pennies Around Town

This week's Frugal Family offers a number of meal deals and savings in shopping.

Deal: 69¢ boxes of movie theater candy (limit 6) Good through: Feb. 26 2. Deal: Banana splits are only $2.50 every Monday. Good through: End date not specified 3. Deal: Sign up to be a member with Shutterfly on-line and receive 50 free 4 x 6 prints that can be picked up at a , Walgreens, or CVS. Good through: End date not specified 4. LOWE’S  Deal: Free basic installation of Stainmaster carpet with the purchase of Stainmaster carpet and Stainmaster carpet pad. Good through: March 7 5. PUJOLS 5Deal: Kids eats free at Pujols 5 on Sundays after 5 p.m. (one child per paid adult entrée). Good through: No current expiration date

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Frugal Family

The Penny Saver

We've got deals on food, shoes and more for your family's needs.

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars.  This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, Frugal Family scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on health and wellness products, mattresses, Asian cuisine, shoes and American food. 1. …

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Planning and Zoning Commission Keep Tight, Brief Meeting

Commissioners review requests for additions to Walgreens and a clarification of the word, "family."

Monday night’s Planning and Zoning meeting took only 50 minutes to complete all agenda items.  The first item of business, an amended presentation for the incoming of Kydz Kastle on New Florissant Rd., was continued until the next Planning and Zoning meeting later this month.  For the next item, the commissioners listened to a presentation by Civil Engineering Design Consultants' Brian Harp. Harp requested approval for work to be done to the Walgreens at 400 US N Highway 67, which would add a drive-thru, additional masonry and landscaping.  Commissioners questioned Harp as well as the architect Nick Telowitz about parking, entering and exiting of the intersection and the plaza as well as the anticipation of traffic with the added drive-…

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Never Too Late for a Flu Shot

As we enter the midpoint of the flu season, flu vaccines remain plentiful throughout Florissant area.

Sniffles, coughs and fevers have been no stranger to the St. Louis County area as the flu season is in full swing. This January alone has produced more than 340 cases of flu type A throughout the St. Louis County area, according to the St. Louis County Health Department. Last year, comparing the same time period, there were only 19 cases of Type A reported. A majority of the cases have been for patients between the ages of 25 and 49. The St. Louis County Health Department urges residents six months and older to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu. “It’s not just about protecting yourself. If you don’t catch the flu, then you can’t spread the flu to others,” said Dr. Dolores J. Gunn, Director of the Saint Louis County Department of …

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