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General Consumer Alerts
What is a pharmacist?
These
highly educated professionals receive specialized training in the preparation,
dispensing and proper utilization of drugs. They know as much, if not
more, about your medications as any other healthcare professional.
What you should ask your pharmacist?
Your doctor may or
may not have told you everything you want to know about your medicine.
The pharmacist is there to help. Ask anything you think you should know,
including:
- What is the medicine's name?
- What is it supposed
to do?
- How much of it
should I take at one time? When, and for how long, should I take it?
- Should I take
the medicine with food, or on an empty stomach?
- How long will it
take the medicine to start working?
- What will happen
if I stop taking the medicine?
- Is it okay to drink
alcohol while taking the medication?
- Can I take this
medication in conjunction with other prescriptions?
- Will the medication
make me drowsy or less alert?
- What are the most common side effects?
What you should tell your pharmacist?
If you're a regular customer, your pharmacist probably knows a great deal about you. If not, you should offer the following information:
- Names of medications
you are now taking, including nonprescription medications
- Any problems you
are having with your medicines
- Any allergies
Over-the-counter medications are still medicine.
Your pharmacist is an expert on nonprescription as well as prescription drugs. Just because you can take a medication off the shelf doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken with care. Ask your pharmacist if you have any concerns.
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