Most people will patiently wait half an hour or more to see their doctor, dentist or lawyer, but when they make it to the pharmacy, suddenly 10 minutes isn’t worth the wait. I would argue that a trip to a pharmacy is like a visit to any other professional. The knowledge imparted is more than worth the wait.

Pharmacists are trained for 5 years or more to provide specialized knowledge on medications. The preparing, labeling and dispensing of medications is only a fraction of what pharmacists are trained to do. When you receive a new medication from the pharmacist, he or she should provide you with enough information to maximize the efficacy and the safety of that particular drug. Even when you receive a refill, this is an important opportunity to follow-up with you and determine if there are any issues or possible improvements to your drug regimen.

Your pharmacist should touch upon at least 9 key points with respect to medication use while speaking with you (pharmacists call this counselling). These are the questions you should ask (or the information you should receive) when starting a medication:

What is this drug called?
Sounds like a simple question, but many drugs have multiple names. Tylenol is just a popular brand name for acetaminophen. In some parts of the world, it’s called paracetamol. You should be able to differentiate the brand vs. generic name of the medication.

What is this drug for?
Many patients will say they take a little white pill 3 times a day, but when asked what is it for, they freeze. Knowing the indication for a medication’s use and how it works will help you to better understand your medication regimen and what goals you can expect to achieve with drug therapy.

How should I take this medication?
Knowing when and how to take a medication will help to maximize its effectiveness. Some medications are best taken with food. Some medications work best when taken at bedtime. Three tablets taken once a day is very different than 1 tablet taken three times a day.

When can I expect this medication to work?
Some medications work in seconds, where others take weeks to months. The same variation goes for the duration, or how long the effects of medication last. Your pharmacist can provide you with this information and give you a realistic expectation of the timelines related to the activity of your medication.

For how long am I expected to take this medication?
Some drugs are to be taken for a specified duration (e.g., antibiotics, pain medications) whereas others may be taken for life (e.g. certain heart medications, diabetes drugs).

Are there any drug interactions with this medication?
Just like people, some drugs do not get along well with others. Drug interactions can result in a decrease in effect or even an increase in the toxicity of the drug. Your pharmacist can provide you with strategies to reduce the risk of dangerous drug interactions, such as separating their administration or avoiding certain medications altogether.

What are the common and serious side effects to this drug?
You should be informed not only what these side effects are and how likely to occur, but also what to do if they happen. Most side effects either go away with time or can be managed by simple measures. Others are more serious and require reporting to your health professional immediately. Your pharmacist can also provide you with techniques to minimize the risk of side effects.

How should I properly store this medication?
The storage of a medication affects its shelf-life or expiry date. Proper storage is often a cool, dry, dark place, but can often be in the refrigerator or even the freezer.

How much does this cost?
You probably don’t need a reminder to ask about cost. If you have a drug plan, certain drugs may be covered, whereas other require you to pay. Your pharmacist can help to sort this out. If you have no drug plan, cost may be a very important factor and your pharmacist can help you weigh various options and their respective costs.

If you don’t understand your medication information or you have drug-related questions… Ask Your Pharmacist!

Brad Langford, RPh, ACPR, is a Pharmacist, practicing in Toronto, Canada.
For more information or to ask a medication question visit http://www.askyourpharmacist.ca

Tags: ask, drug, medication, pharmacist, question

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