Session 1 showed how to prepare for your visit with your doctor. In Session 2, you learned the essential answers you need about your prescription drugs, and how to use two kinds of question lists. In Session 3, you'll learn how to partner with your pharmacist to get more information about using your medications safely.
What Is a Pharmacist, Anyhow?
No one knows more about a broad range of prescription drugs and other medications than your pharmacist. Did you know that:
- There are more than 200,000 pharmacists in the U.S. and about 55,000 pharmacies.
- Pharmacists complete six years of professional schooling at accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy.
- PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy is the six-year professional degree for pharmacy college graduates.
- Pharmacists study all the aspects of prescription drug therapy, with an emphasis on safe patient care.
- After passing national and state licensing exams, a Doctor of Pharmacy may begin practicing pharmacy in a particular state.
- To keep their licenses, pharmacists must take several new courses every year to every two years depending on the state they are licensed in.
- Some pharmacists take extra training to specialize in such areas as geriatric pharmacy.
Do You Talk With Your Pharmacist?
Have you already gotten help from your pharmacist? AARP studies find that about half of us already ask our pharmacists about our prescription medications. You may already know first hand about pharmacists' in-depth knowledge of medications.
Or, maybe you haven't had many chances to talk with your pharmacist. When you see pharmacists behind the counter, they may seem too busy. You may not have realized the specialized training pharmacists have. Perhaps you didn't see the private counseling area set up in many pharmacies.
In fact, many pharmacists are more likely than your doctor to have the detailed answers you want about your medications. And you may be surprised at all the services your pharmacist can provide. In most states, only your doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can actually prescribe a medication. But your pharmacist can suggest helpful prescription changes to your doctor.
The more you can work in a trio—you, your doctor, and your pharmacist—the more you will benefit from your medications.
The Logistics of Partnering With Your Pharmacist
So, you're convinced. You're ready to check out your new prescription with a pharmacist. Your doctor told you when to take this new drug. You asked a few questions.
But maybe you didn't have time to get other answers. You may feel worried about interactions with other medications you're taking. And you still have some blank spaces on your list of detailed questions about your medications.
Print Questions About Your Medications.
Here's what to do:
- You can, of course, go to any pharmacist you want. Some health insurance plans make it more economical to use certain pharmacies. Do everything you can to pick a pharmacy where you can fill all your prescriptions. Select your non-prescription medications at the same pharmacy.
- Go to the pharmacy in person. Try to choose a time when they're not likely to be busy.
- Find the sign showing where to go to talk with the pharmacist. The sign probably says "Pharmacist Consultation" or "Patient Counseling." In most busy pharmacies, you don't have to wait in the same line where you drop off or pick up your prescription.
- If the pharmacy is open, you can count on a pharmacist being there. In most pharmacies, this is a requirement.
- When you pick up your prescription, the pharmacy staff may ask you to sign a statement about your privacy rights. There is often an electronic pen to sign with. By signing, you may also be certifying that you (1) received your prescription, and (2) declined the pharmacist's offer to counsel you about your prescription. If you have questions about your medicine, even if you have signed with this electronic pen, you can still ask to speak to a pharmacist.
- When someone comes to the patient counseling area, tell them, "I have a question for the pharmacist." Only the pharmacist is qualified to counsel you. It may be a pharmacy technician or clerk who first greets you.
- You'll probably have to talk with the pharmacist over a counter. If you—or the person you're helping—need to sit down, ask the pharmacist to come out from behind the counter. Most pharmacies have a bench or chairs in the waiting area. If you're not sure that there will be somewhere to sit, think about bringing a folding seat or stool. Newer pharmacies often have a sit-down consultation space.
- Be prepared for some lack of privacy. Except in newer pharmacies, other customers will probably be nearby. To ensure that no one overhears you, you could bring a paper pad and pen, or a small toy blackboard. You can write private statements or questions there.
- Pretend you have blinders on. Try to ignore others who are waiting, and tune out the general bustle of the bigger store where your pharmacy is located.
- Be prepared to wait for a few minutes. Most pharmacists will stop what they're doing in order to talk with you. But there could be emergencies or other rush situations that just can't wait.
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What You Can Get From Your Pharmacist
Your pharmacist has specialized resources to help you get the answers you need about your medications. Here are some examples:
- Computer programs that help your pharmacist tell if a new drug will have dangerous interactions with your other medications, and with food or vitamins. If you use one pharmacy, keep your patient profile form up to date. Ask the pharmacist to get such a profile started. It will be kept on the computer. Everything you take is listed there, and it's easy to check for interactions. If you use more than one pharmacy, get a list of your prescriptions from each one. Show the list to each pharmacy.
- Printouts of what you have spent on prescription drugs, for your tax records.
- Subscriptions to receive official notices about drug recalls or other problems.
- Drug information reference books and Web sites to investigate a drug you're wondering about.
- More and more often, software to receive prescriptions electronically from your doctor. This helps avoid medication errors due to illegible handwriting. If your doctor submits a prescription electronically, ask for a printed copy of your prescription, just for your records.
Bring your list of questions to your pharmacist. Together, fill in the answers you still need.
For each category on your list, here's what your pharmacist can do:
What is the name of this medication and what it is supposed to do?
Your pharmacist should:
- Check that the drug on your prescription is the right one for your condition, not another drug with a similar name.
- Make sure that this drug is not on a list of drugs that older people should never take.
- Ensure that the prescribed drug is not recalled or under investigation.
- Check the list of all the medications on your patient profile, to help you avoid dangerous interactions. This check includes over-the-counter, non-prescription drugs that you take.
- Call your doctor to discuss any concerns, and to help set up monitoring tests that may be required while you use the drug.
Why is this the right medicine for my condition, age, gender, and race?
Your pharmacist should:
- Suggest a more proven, generic, or less expensive drug that could treat your condition as effectively, and with fewer side effects.
- Explain any new studies showing drugs that work more effectively for people of your age, race, or gender.
- Suggest a lower dosage to start out with.
- Make sure that the prescribed drug and dosage will not interfere with any other drug, food, or vitamin you are taking.
- Contact your doctor to discuss possible changes to your prescription.
When do I begin and stop taking this medicine?
Your pharmacist should:
- Give and explain detailed written instructions—in large type—for when to take this drug.
- Print out the label on your prescription container with large type.
How do I take this medicine and what should I avoid and watch out for?
Your pharmacist should:
- Explain the reasons behind the instructions for taking and storing this drug.
- Give you specific examples of possibly dangerous drug reactions to report—and how to report them.
- Explain the safest way to add another medication—prescription or over-the-counter—to what you already take.
- Contact your doctor to see if you can take all your prescription drugs at the same times each day.
- Schedule a medication review session at the pharmacy.
- You bring in all the medications you've been taking. The pharmacist checks for duplicate medicines and possible drug-drug interactions. You may no longer need some medicines. The pharmacist can recommend needed changes in your medications to your doctor.
The pharmacist may charge a small fee for this review. This type of review can result in your taking fewer medications. And that could benefit your health and your pocketbook.
Some pharmacists now specialize in evaluating and monitoring patients' drug treatment. They may have their own consulting practice, and charge an hourly fee. They may, or may not, work at a pharmacy. If you want to hire a pharmacist like this, look for a Senior Care Pharmacist who is a member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
Some consultant pharmacists have passed a voluntary exam given by the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy. These Certified Geriatric Pharmacists specialize in helping older people with their medication needs.
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Where can I get more information about this medicine or about obtaining it at a lower cost?
Your pharmacist should:
- Tell you about special programs that help you pay for your drugs, and how to qualify and apply for them.
- Contact your doctor to suggest a less expensive drug that could be right for you.
There is a lot of new research to help you find the best prescription drug at the best price. Check out AARP's AARP's Effectiveness and Safety of Prescription Drugs for consumer-friendly information on commonly prescribed medications. More details will follow in Session 5, Lower the Cost of Your Medications.
In a supplemental seminar you can learn how to research your medications on reliable and easy-to-use drug-information Web sites.
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In Session 4: On Your Own, Manage Your Medication, you'll learn tips for managing your medications.
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All material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Consult your health care professional for advice relating to treatment of a medical problem or condition.
Copyright 2005, AARP.
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