New Year, New Health Reset: Start the Year with a Medication Review at Yonge + Eglinton Pharmacy

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and refocus on your health. As life changes, so do our medications — new prescriptions may be added, doses adjusted, or treatments continued longer than originally planned. Taking time to review your medications helps ensure they are still appropriate, safe, and working effectively for you.

At Yonge + Eglinton Pharmacy, our team, led by pharmacist Kathe, believes that regularly checking your medications is a key part of staying healthy. A medication review, especially when paired with DNA-guided insights, can help you start the year with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

What Is a Medication Review?

A medication review is a one-on-one consultation with your pharmacist where you go over everything you take, including:

• Prescription medications

• Over-the-counter products

• Vitamins and supplements

• Natural or herbal remedies

During this review, Kathe and the pharmacy team take the time to ensure your medications are:

• Still appropriate for your health needs

• Working as intended

• Safe to take together

• Easy for you to manage day to day

This is a personalized conversation — not rushed, not judgmental — focused entirely on your well-being.

Why January Is the Ideal Time for a Medication Review

Over the course of a year, medications can add up. Prescriptions change, doses are adjusted, and sometimes medications remain on your list even when they’re no longer needed.

January is an ideal time for a medication review because:

• You may have started new medications in the past year

• Your health priorities or conditions may have changed

• Side effects or interactions may have gone unnoticed

• You’re already in a “fresh start” mindset

A medication review helps simplify your routine and prevents small issues from becoming bigger health concerns later in the year.

Personalized Care with Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing

One reason medications don’t work the same for everyone is because our bodies process drugs differently — and our DNA plays a role.

That’s why Yonge + Eglinton Pharmacy also offers Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing, a DNA-guided approach to therapeutic decision-making.

Pharmacogenomic testing can help identify:

• Which medications may be more effective for you

• Which ones may increase your risk of side effects

• How quickly or slowly your body metabolizes certain medications

This testing is especially helpful for medications related to:

• Mental health (anxiety, depression)

• Pain management

• Cardiovascular conditions

• Long-term or chronic therapies

When combined with a medication review, PGx testing helps move away from trial-and-error and toward more precise, personalized treatment.

Who Can Benefit from These Services?

You may benefit from a medication review or pharmacogenomic testing if you:

• Take multiple medications

• Have tried medications that didn’t work well or caused side effects

• Live with a chronic condition

• Feel unsure about your current medication routine

• Want a more personalized approach to your care

• Support a loved one managing complex medications

As Kathe often reminds patients, “The right medication isn’t just about the drug — it’s about the person taking it.”

Your Pharmacist, Your Healthcare Partner

At Yonge + Eglinton Pharmacy, Kathe and the team take pride in offering care that goes beyond dispensing. During your consultation, they can:

• Explain what each medication is for and how to take it properly

• Identify potential interactions or duplications

• Review side effects and safety concerns

• Suggest ways to simplify your medication routine

• Discuss whether pharmacogenomic testing may be right for you

• Work closely with your prescriber when adjustments are needed

Start the Year with Confidence in Your Medications

A New Year health reset isn’t about adding more complexity — it’s about making sure what you’re already doing is truly working for you.

This January, book a medication review with Kathe at Yonge + Eglinton Pharmacy, and learn more about how pharmacogenomic testing can support personalized, safer medication choices.

Your health is personal.Your care should be too.

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