According to a Gallup poll, pharmacists are the second-most trusted healthcare professionals in America (#1, in case you were wondering, goes to nurses). No wonder. In 2018, U.S. pharmacists filled 1.1 billion prescriptions per month – at Walgreen’s alone. That means pharmacists have more experience with medicines than the vast majority of doctors. Which is why, before you fill your prescriptions, you should take out time for these questions you should ask your pharmacist.
The 7 Questions You Should Ask Your Pharmacist
Question #1: What does this medication do?
You need to know which medications you’re taking and why. And your pharmacist is the best person to answer that. You want to know the brand name, the generic name, what the medication is usually used for, why your doctor prescribed it and how long you’re supposed to be taking it. Jot the information down in a small notebook or start a file on your computer. This is crucial because if you’re getting different prescriptions from different doctors, you could end up with an overlap. And you don’t want to be taking more medication than you have to.
Question #2: How should I be taking this medication?
This question goes beyond the dosage. You need to take some medications with food, some before food, some after food – and some don’t matter. There are also medications that need to be taken at certain intervals, or shouldn’t be taken at certain times of the day. You need to ask your pharmacist what the best way is to take your specific medication.
Question #3: Does this medication cause side effects?
This question is so obvious you probably ask it in your sleep. What might not be so obvious, though, is that you should give your spouse, children and friends a heads-up about the answer. Why? Well, let’s say you asked your pharmacist if a certain medication causes drowsiness and she said yes. If you don’t let your loved ones know, they might become alarmed when they see that you’ve suddenly become way sleepier than usual. Ditto for staff and friends if you live in an assisted living community.
Question #4: What should I do if I skip a dose?
This is another one of those questions for pharmacists that doctors will most likely not know how to answer. It’s also one of those things you should jot down in that notebook we mentioned earlier. Some medications will allow you to take a missed dosage as soon as you remember; others will have you skip it and just continue on time with the next dose. But if you don’t write those instructions down next to each medication you’re taking, it’ll be really hard to remember what the guidelines were for each one.
Question #5: Is there a generic version of my medication that is less expensive and just as effective?
These are questions you need to ask your pharmacist at the same time. That’s because, as counterintuitive as it seems, the generic version isn’t always less expensive (and it’s not always covered by insurance). And, even when it’s available and cheaper, there are certain generic meds that are not as effective as the brand-name ones, or have different side effects. So definitely keep generics in mind, but make sure to do your homework before taking them.
Question #6: Are there any foods, beverages or other medications I should avoid while taking this?
Okay, this is crucial. There are certain foods and drinks that can hamper the effectiveness of medication. Some medications shouldn’t be taken within a certain amount of time after eating dairy products. Other meds don’t interact well with caffeine. Even kale can be an issue. And while your pharmacist will likely know on their own if a prescribed medication is a bad mix with something else you’re taking, you should always, always ask.
Question #7: How long will it take for the medication to show results?
This is another don’t-forget-to-clue-other-people-in question. Some meds take effect immediately. Others can take a month or even longer. So if you’re having a health issue that your loved ones are concerned about, be sure to let them know that while it’s under control, it will be a while before you – and they – can expect improvement.
So these are the 7 basic questions you should ask your pharmacist, whenever you fill a prescription. If you have questions that aren’t on this list, though, make sure to ask away. Your pharmacist is an unsung member of your health care team. Don’t hesitate to talk to her.