Talk With Your Pharmacist
Most of us bring prescriptions to the pharmacy and go back and pay for them and run out of the store.
We should talk to our pharmacist for four reasons. First, we should understand everything we need to know about the medicine. Second,we must make sure they have our allergies listed in their computer. Third, they must be able to check for drug interaction for each of the prescriptions we are taking, and finally, we should ask their advice on how to save money, if possible, on our prescriptions.
The pharmacist has as many years of college as your average medical doctor, and passes a difficult license qualification procedure. Go over how to take the medicine. Should you take it before or after meals? Should you avoid anything? Should your doctor take a blood level of the medication to measure whether or not you have the correct amount in your system and are not over-medicated or under medicated. Should your doctor take lab work to test your kidneys? What are the symptoms for you to stop taking the medication?
Ask the pharmacist what allergies are listed for you on the computer? It is important for that to be listed so that they do not dispense anything that will give you a reaction. Even if you previously gave that information sometimes things become missing and it is worth making sure the information is there.
The pharmacist needs to check for drug interactions. You should go to one pharmacy, so they have all of your medications on the computer. You should make a list of your medications and give the list to your pharmacist for review if you go to several pharmacies. You should also go to the pharmacy and ask whether or not any vitamins, minerals, herbal therapy items, and cold or sinus off the counter items are harmless or harmful to you and the medications you are taking.
You should ask the pharmacist whether their computer system alerts them to drug interactions. If not you should ask them to review your medications for drug interaction and possibly find another pharmacy to fill your prescriptions.
Of course, we are all interested in saving money. The cost of medication is very high and we need to be good shoppers. Many of us have to pay full price because we do not have a drug plan. And many of us have co-pays ranging from as little as $5.00 or $10 up to 50% of the full price. Some people will face the Medicare donut and have to pay full price until they reach another threshold. The pharmacist can tell you whether a generic may be available. If you want to split pills maybe ordering fewer more powerful pills and splitting them can save you 30% or more. The pharmacy is usually aware of programs available in your area to save you money. New Jersey has the PAAD program where you can purchase medication at a low co-pay if you qualify as low income. Some of the drug makers have assistance programs for customers to better afford their medications.
You should also talk to your doctor about affordability of your medications. By law the pharmacist has to fill the prescription to the letter that your doctor writes unless there is an error of some kind. Tell your doctor to convert everything possible to generic. Ask about doubling doses of some medications and splitting them to save money. Ask for free samples and coupons. Yes, they are getting coupons to give to their patients by the drug companies.
Pharmacists are well trained. Pharmacists in a hospital setting sometimes are expected to review lab work to determine whether the strength of a medication is optimal or needs to be decreased or increased. Sometimes they check lab work to make sure an antibiotic is working or to recommend other antibiotics.
By talking to the pharmacist, we can make sure we are taking our medications properly, we can prevent allergic reactions, we can prevent harmful drug interactions, and we can be wise shoppers paying only what is necessary for our medications.
We should talk to our pharmacist for four reasons. First, we should understand everything we need to know about the medicine. Second,we must make sure they have our allergies listed in their computer. Third, they must be able to check for drug interaction for each of the prescriptions we are taking, and finally, we should ask their advice on how to save money, if possible, on our prescriptions.
The pharmacist has as many years of college as your average medical doctor, and passes a difficult license qualification procedure. Go over how to take the medicine. Should you take it before or after meals? Should you avoid anything? Should your doctor take a blood level of the medication to measure whether or not you have the correct amount in your system and are not over-medicated or under medicated. Should your doctor take lab work to test your kidneys? What are the symptoms for you to stop taking the medication?
Ask the pharmacist what allergies are listed for you on the computer? It is important for that to be listed so that they do not dispense anything that will give you a reaction. Even if you previously gave that information sometimes things become missing and it is worth making sure the information is there.
The pharmacist needs to check for drug interactions. You should go to one pharmacy, so they have all of your medications on the computer. You should make a list of your medications and give the list to your pharmacist for review if you go to several pharmacies. You should also go to the pharmacy and ask whether or not any vitamins, minerals, herbal therapy items, and cold or sinus off the counter items are harmless or harmful to you and the medications you are taking.
You should ask the pharmacist whether their computer system alerts them to drug interactions. If not you should ask them to review your medications for drug interaction and possibly find another pharmacy to fill your prescriptions.
Of course, we are all interested in saving money. The cost of medication is very high and we need to be good shoppers. Many of us have to pay full price because we do not have a drug plan. And many of us have co-pays ranging from as little as $5.00 or $10 up to 50% of the full price. Some people will face the Medicare donut and have to pay full price until they reach another threshold. The pharmacist can tell you whether a generic may be available. If you want to split pills maybe ordering fewer more powerful pills and splitting them can save you 30% or more. The pharmacy is usually aware of programs available in your area to save you money. New Jersey has the PAAD program where you can purchase medication at a low co-pay if you qualify as low income. Some of the drug makers have assistance programs for customers to better afford their medications.
You should also talk to your doctor about affordability of your medications. By law the pharmacist has to fill the prescription to the letter that your doctor writes unless there is an error of some kind. Tell your doctor to convert everything possible to generic. Ask about doubling doses of some medications and splitting them to save money. Ask for free samples and coupons. Yes, they are getting coupons to give to their patients by the drug companies.
Pharmacists are well trained. Pharmacists in a hospital setting sometimes are expected to review lab work to determine whether the strength of a medication is optimal or needs to be decreased or increased. Sometimes they check lab work to make sure an antibiotic is working or to recommend other antibiotics.
By talking to the pharmacist, we can make sure we are taking our medications properly, we can prevent allergic reactions, we can prevent harmful drug interactions, and we can be wise shoppers paying only what is necessary for our medications.
posted by God Bless America - Bob at 7:21 PM
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