THE BATTALION THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1981 Page 3 Local En Garde! Ed Tatom, a graduate student at Texas A&M University from College Station, and Chris Humbert, a sophomore majoring in English from Cor pus Christi, battle to the death during a Society for Creative Anachronism practice. The SCA is a student organization at Texas A&M. Photo by Greg Trest Home and Auto Stereo Equipment / / <* -S' / / cf £ .£? £ £ £ j? Co £ The Best Prices in Town! Woodstone Audio 913 Harvey Rd. College Station 693-4423 :a5t, * ome remedies don’t always cut doctor bills year “doctoring” yourself cheaper or not? i jW^^niericans spend more that $3.5 billion a iW ®^» 0r ing” themselves with nonprescription drugs ^Hily available at pharmacies and supermarkets, thing says Beverly Rhoades, a consumer information spe- propJalist. twol* ‘Sometimes these medicines neither prevent nor dsp,,, 'ure illness or discomfort. In fact, if consumers keep irecord of these expenses, most will be surprised at low much they spend,” the specialist says. <£' i Rhoades is part of the home economics staff of the /Fexas Agricultural Extension Service, a branch of the /Texas A&M University System. In addition, many consumers are concerned about Bn* prescription-medicine expenses, the specialist lotes. What can consumers do? V ; Realize that prescription and over-the-counter medicine indeed constitute a sizable part of medical expenses, the specialist says. ' f ' Then take a hard look at both types of medicine — Aith your own buying-and-use procedures in mind, "N. she advises. ^ In each case, decide if you’re getting the most effective results possible for the most economical prices, Rhoades says. Before taking any more over-the-counter medi- eines, ask yourself these questions: !;i — Are the drugs safe for general use without a doctor’s supervision? Does the label warn you not to take the drug if a irtain illness or condition exists? — Can you take the drug SAFELY in combination with other drugs you now take? U to J m. — Does the label warn about possible side effects? If you had to say “no” to any of those questions, avoid treating yourself, Rhoades cautions. The money you spend is wasted if the medicine does not prevent illness, if it does not cure illness, or if it causes illness or complications, she says. Money you “saved” by avoiding a doctor’s visit may actually become an added expense when you finally do see a doctor or buy prescription medicine to treat an illness that over-the-counter medicine didn’t cure. Rhoades also suggests selecting a pharmacy care fully in order to save money and avoid potential problems. Some pharmacies charge less than others so com pare prices over the telephone, she says. When choosing a pharmacy, also consider ser vices and location. Ask about home delivery, for example. This can save you time and travel expense, and it may be more convenient in the long run, even if the prescription costs a bit more, the specialist says. Once you select a pharmacy, buy all your pre scription drugs there so you will have a complete record of your medications, she advises. This will enable your pharmacist to caution you about possible drug interactions, too — and it can help you avoid these kinds of problems entirely. Save receipts for possible health-insurance reim bursement and for medical deductions on your in come tax. Remember, deductions may include both pre scription and over-the-counter drugs, especially those recommended by your doctor, Rhoades adds. — Most money goes to graduates Engineers hard to find HffB To no one’s surprise, the highest salary offers from j^gemployers recruiting at the nation’s colleges went to “—"■engineering graduates again this year. Most employers were scrambling for hard-to-find engineering graduates, said Louis Van Pelt, place- ??~