Taking Your Medicine The Right Way? Talk to Your Pharmacist!

Getting the best from your medicine

Have you ever gone to the pharmacy to have a prescription filled and left without understanding how to take the medicine properly?

Have you ever wandered through the aisles of the pharmacy, reading the directions on just about every box and bottle on the shelves, and still felt uncertain if you were buying the right medicine to treat your symptoms?

Your pharmacist routinely provides information about your medicine, but sometimes you have to ask for more advice or an explanation. Never leave the pharmacy until you have the answers to all your questions. Your pharmacist is a medication expert and will help you get the best from your medicine.

Take responsibility

Taking medicine well is important; otherwise you may be taking unnecessary risks with your health. Each year many Canadians miss work, end up in the hospital or even die because they did not take their medication the right way, skipped doses or did not finish it at all. The costs of these errors are extremely high, both to Canada's health care system and to you as a taxpayer.

Canadian pharmacists prevent and solve thousands of problems related to prescription and nonprescription medication every year. This work helps to improve the health of Canadians and is estimated to save the health care system hundreds of millions of dollars in communities and hospitals across Canada.

Take responsibility by learning about your condition and how to take your medicine properly so you get the best results.

Your pharmacist has answers

Whether you are filling a prescription or choosing over-the-counter medicine to treat an illness, never leave the pharmacy before you know the answers to all your questions.

These might include:

• Why am I taking this medicine?
• How do I take it?
• How will I know if this medicine is working?
• When will I feel better?
• What side effects might I experience? What should I do?
• When should I see my doctor?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Where should I store my medicine?
• What foods, alcohol or other drugs should I avoid while taking this?
• How will I remember to take my medicine?
• Will this medicine make me drowsy?
• Can I take this medicine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
• I'm taking three other medications. Is it okay to take this, too?
• Is "four times a day" the same as "once every six hours"?
• Is there a less expensive medicine I might use instead?
• Am I using my inhaler properly?
• Can I get my medicine in a container that is easier to open?
• Is there another medicine I could take that would be easier for me to swallow?
• Which is the best nonprescription medicine for my symptoms?

Build a relationship with your pharmacist

Always visit the same pharmacy so a record of your prescriptions is in one place. The better your pharmacist knows you, the better he or she will be able to help you make the best choices where your health is concerned.

Your pharmacist:

• is your medication expert
• monitors your drug therapy
• checks your prescription to make sure the drug, dose and instructions are best for you
• gives advice on ways to relieve your symptoms without using drugs
• helps you choose nonprescription medication or health care products
• offers advice and information on a wide variety of health issues
• works closely with your doctor
• keeps a computer record of all your prescription medications

More about your pharmacist

Your pharmacist is a licensed health care professional with at least four years of university training and practical experience. He or she is an expert resource for you, your doctor, nurse and other health professionals.

Pharmacists practice in many settings, including:

• community pharmacies (drug stores)
• hospitals
• universities
• pharmaceutical companies
• governments
• associations

There are thousands of medications available. Your pharmacist's job is to be knowledgeable about all medications and to keep up-to-date on new drugs coming onto the market.

Your pharmacist can always help you make the best choices for your health.