Your Pharmacist Can Help

A pharmacist is a medicine expert on your care team. You meet them when you pick up what your doctor ordered.

They explain how and when to take each medicine. Your doctor prescribes medicines, which means orders them for you. The pharmacist helps you use them well.

Bindu holds a folder across from a smiling pharmacist holding a pill bottle. Medicines only: one note reading My medicines goes over, the pharmacist's head shows a question mark, and the words Vitamins and herbs not checked appear. Every product: three notes, My medicines, Vitamins and Herbs, go over, and the pharmacist turns green and hands back a sheet with a tick that reads Checked for interactions.

A pharmacist also checks for interactions. That is when two products affect each other. It is like checking that two cleaning sprays are safe to mix.

Tell them about every vitamin or herb you take. These are called supplements, and they count too.

A supplement bottle with a leaf on it sits on a pharmacy counter, with a few soft capsules. Your medicine list goes next to it. The pharmacist looks at both with a magnifier, and a green tick links the bottle and the list once they are checked together.

Some questions are best for your pharmacist. Ask what a side effect is. It is an unwanted reaction a medicine may cause.

Ask how to store each medicine safely. Storing means keeping it in the right place and conditions. Talk with your doctor or care team before you change any medicine or supplement.

Cards sort into questions to ask your pharmacist, things to bring with you, and a worry that means calling soon.

Key takeaways

• A pharmacist explains how and when to take prescribed medicines.
• They check interactions and explain side effects.
• Tell them about every supplement you take.

Try it

Before your next visit, list every medicine and supplement you take, and bring that list with you.