Pharmacists have become an important member of our
health care team. We can get a lot of
advice and help from our local pharmacist.
It
is a good idea to have a relationship with a drugstore near you or one that is
easy for you to get to. A pharmacist that
knows you and is familiar with your particular health care needs and
prescription history can be very supportive and helpful.
After
visiting the doctor and sometimes the dentist you may be a prescription for
medicine.
This must be given to a registered pharmacist at a
drugstore. The doctor will give you
a piece of paper (a prescription) with specific, hand written instructions to
the pharmacist about what medication you need and how often you need to take
it.
A doctor may give a prescription over the phone to
the pharmacist. Each doctor has a special
number that he/she is assigned that gives him/her the authority to prescribe.
A hand-written prescription usually looks like a foreign language. There
are symbols and codes that are used to communicate drug names and special instructions
for usage. Don’t worry if you can’t read it.
Prescription medicines are medicines that can only be
dispensed (given out) by a registered pharmacist when there is a prescription
written by a medical doctor. We often hear the term “over the counter”
drugs. This refers to medicines that
are typically found on the shelf in a drugstore and do not require a
prescription from a doctor.
When you go to see a pharmacist they will need to know
several things from you before they send you home with prescription
medicine. It is important to think
about these questions ahead of time and have the words you will need prepared
on your communication device, book or board (link to word board).
You must have a way to tell your health history and/or
allergies. The pharmacist will ask you
if you have taken that particular medicine in the past and whether you have any
questions about it. Prepare your
communication device and/or board in advance with the vocabulary you will need.
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Remember, you must have a written prescription with you for
the pharmacist to give you any prescription medications. If you do not have a written prescription
the pharmacist or pharmacist aid will need to phone your doctor’s office. This is obviously a problem if you need
medication in the evening when your doctor’s office is closed and you do not
have the written prescription.
Plan ahead and schedule a caregiver or friend to come with
you if you are worried at all about your ability to tell important health
information to the pharmacist.
It would be helpful to have a card
that contains your name, address, phone number, the name and phone number of
your doctor and the name and phone number of a caregiver or friend. That way you can leave the card with the
pharmacist and they will have phone numbers to call if they need to. (link to sample card)
When
you arrive at the drugstore you will need to go to the “Pharmacy” area, usually
located at the back or to the side, in the drugstore. The Pharmacist or Pharmacist Assistant will need to have the
prescription written by your doctor or dentist.
You
will have to wait while the medicine is prepared or pills are counted out. Most often you are told how long you can
expect to wait. This is where a lot of
us end up spending more money than we had planned as we browse the rest of the
drugstore waiting for our name to be called to return to the pharmacist.
When you are called the pharmacist will probably talk with
you about how and when to take the medicine he/she is giving you. They will tell about any “side effects”
(sometimes medicines can make us feel tired, anxious or even sick to our
stomach) you may feel from medicine.
Before you are given the medicine the pharmacist will ask
you if you have ever taken that medicine before. He/she will want to now if you have any questions or concerns
about the medicine and how/when you should take it.
Be prepared to answer questions about any serious health
concerns you have, any other medicines you are taking (bring them with you if
you can) and any allergies you have (especially 
to medications).
The question about other medicines you are taking
is very important. Not all prescriptions
or even regular “over the counter” medicines can be taken together. They could make you very ill. The pharmacist will need to know what
medicines or herbs you are taking on a regular basis before giving you a new
medicine.
The pharmacist can give you a lot
of information about the medicine you are taking. She/he can tell you what to expect from a medicine. They are a wealth of information about
disease and illness and are usually happy to take the time to talk to you about
any questions or concerns you may have about your medication and/or the effects
of the medication on your body.
Here are some questions you may have for the pharmacist:
How long should I take this medicine for?
If I feel better can I stop taking the medicine?
When does the medicine expire? Some medicines are only good
for a short period of time (kind of like milk) and it is important to know when
to throw it away, or return it to your drugstore for safe disposal.
If I need more of this medicine can I come in and get the
bottle filled again (a refill)? How
many refills can I have before I need to see my Doctor again?
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To be treated as an independent adult in your
community. Being prepared to
communicate your own wants and needs from the very first contact. This increases your chance of being viewed,
from the start, as a capable, responsible adult.
To have all questions and responses directed
to you, not the facilitator or caregiver who accompanies you.
To be treated with respect and dignity
The pharmacist and staff in a drugstore are paid
to care for you and serve you well.
Even though you may not be paying them cash for your visit it is
important to understand that the pharmacist is being paid well to serve you. There are charges included in what you
and/or your insurer pays to have your prescription filled. It is reasonable to expect to be treated
with respect and dignity. Don’t accept
anything less.
Arrange for transportation to and from the Drugstore
Call ahead for a caregiver to accompany you if necessary
Prepare your communication aid, book or board with words you
will need before you go
Write down or program your questions about your medication
before you go
Bring your prescription from the dentist or doctor with you
Bring your insurance card, debit card, cash or credit card
Fill out an information
card to ensure the pharmacist is left with important contact information
after you leave
