The Costco Connection

for your health

Buyers’ picks

Excedrin Migraine

MIGRAINE SYMPTOMS can include throbbing or pulsating pain in the head, nausea, sensitivity to light and/or sound, as well as clamminess and lightheadedness. This pain and nausea can stop you in your tracks.

If you get migraines, you know how debilitating they can be, and how important it is to find relief from these symptoms as quickly as possible.

According to a 2014 study conducted by
Symphony Health Solutions, Excedrin Migraine is
the No. 1 neurologist-recommended over-the-
counter medicine for migraines among OTC med-
icine for migraines. Excedrin Migraine is migraine
medicine approved by the Food and Drug Admin-
istration to treat migraines, their pain and the
accompanying nausea, and sensitivity to light and/
or sound.

Excedrin Migraine contains acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. Used as directed, this formula has been clinically proven to start relieving migraine pain in 30 minutes, as well as the nausea and sensitivity to light and/or sound.

See your doctor for diagnosis of migraines and to discuss migraine treatment options. If you suffer from migraines your doctor may recommend that you try an over-the-counter medicine such as Excedrin Migraine before a more expensive prescription drug.

Excedrin Migraine is offered at Costco warehouses in a 300-caplet bottle. Item #720393.

For more about migraines, see “Migraine Awareness Month” on page 57. C

Natrol 5-HTP
SEROTONIN IS A neu-
rotransmitter that has power-
ful effects on the brain, such
as regulating mood and sup-
pressing hunger. Low sero-
tonin levels have been found
to contribute to many health
problems, including insom-
nia, depression, anxiety and
obesity. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a natu-
rally occurring amino acid that your body converts
to serotonin. 5-HTP supplements such as Natrol
5-HTP work to raise the serotonin levels in the
brain, providing a positive impact on mood and
helping to control appetite.

There is a lot of published research—more than 30 years of study—on this compound. Study results have shown that, in addition to helping to improve mood, 5-HTP suppresses hunger and helps to curb weight gain. As serotonin levels increase, hunger diminishes and you feel fuller faster. One study compared overweight women who took 200 mg of 5-HTP before each meal with those who took a placebo. The women who took the supplement ate 1,084 fewer calories per day and felt less hungry during the day.

Some doctors consider 5-HTP to be the best natural appetite suppressant, as it is able to cross the blood/brain barrier—a highly selective permeability barrier that separates the circulating blood

SEROTONIN IS A
rotransmitter that has power-
ful effects on the brain, such
as regulating mood and sup-
pressing hunger. Low sero-
tonin levels have been found
to contribute to many health
problems, including insom-
nia, depression, anxiety and
obesity. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a natu-

Teresa Thompson

Buyer, Pharmacy

Barbara Bradford

Assistant Buyer, Pharmacy

from the brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system.

Of course, you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding any medicine or supplement to your daily regimen.

Natrol 5-HTP is offered in a 150 100-mg-tablet- size bottle at Costco and Costco.com. Item #447497.

FOCUSfactor

WHEN IT COMES to enhancing brainpower, having some help in your corner can be a very good thing. FOCUSfactor, a patented (one of the few times a patent has been issued for a nationally branded nutritional supplement) proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients, could provide such help. FOCUSfactor offers numerous clinical studies to back up its claim to improve cognitive function.

Gary Kay is a clinical neuropsychologist and
president of Cognitive Research Corporation (CRC),
a full-service research organization that specializes
in the effects of nutritional supplements and phar-
maceutical products on human cognition. Discussing
a CRC study of FOCUSfactor, Kay says, “The results
are scientifically and clinically significant. The clini-
cal study demonstrated that, compared to a placebo,
FOCUSfactor improved abilities referred to as mem-
ory, concentration and focus in healthy adults.”
FOCUSfactor is offered in a 150-tablet bottle at
Costco warehouses. Item #476480. C