October is pharmacist month

Editor’s note: This article is the first installment in a series of monthly submissions from the Leamington Area Family Health Team.

Your pharmacist has a wealth of information to share about your medications.

Taking your medications properly can be a challenge.

Often, there are several different names for the same or similar medication, and those names often have many syllables. Whether you have been taking a steadily increasing number of meds over the years, or have just started on a ‘handful of pills’ after a cardiac event, managing your medication can be easier if you know what to ask.

Use the five questions below when you are attending a doctor’s appointment (e.g., family physician or specialist, dentist, optometrist), interacting with a community pharmacist at a local pharmacy, leaving the hospital to go home, or visited by home care services.

CHANGES - Have any medications for me been added, stopped, or changed, and why?

Did you have a side effect that couldn’t be managed, or maybe the drug didn’t have the desired results? Was it not covered on your drug plan? If a dose has been changed, such as “take only half of your blood pressure pill,” or “double up on that diabetes pill,” make sure to get a new prescription so the directions on the next vial will be updated and accurate.

CONTINUE – What meds do I need to keep taking and why?

If you get a new medication, is it an add-on or a replacement to a previous medication? Will you need refills, and who will authorize them?

PROPER USE – How do I take my meds and for how long? Is there a best time of day to take it? Should I take it on an empty stomach, or with food, and does it matter?

Some recent studies show added benefits in taking most blood pressure meds at bedtime. Some medications can interrupt your sleep, and changing the time you take it may help.

MONITOR – How will I know if my medication is working, and what side effects should I watch for?

Should you be keeping a log of blood pressure reading, or sugar level, or a diary of the frequency and level of your pain?

Sometimes, medications will cause side effects, like an upset stomach, or some temporary dizziness or drowsiness while your body adjusts to a new medication. Be patient, and ask your pharmacist if there’s a way to manage it. If the side effects persist, contact your doctor or nurse practitioner.

FOLLOW UP – Do I need any tests, and when do I book my next visit?

Ask for an update with your pharmacist. At your drugstore, your pharmacist can do a MedsCheck to review all of your medications.

At the Family Health Team, you can ask for Med Map, which is an updated list of your meds.

For further information, visit safemedicationuse.ca