Chapter 2: Working With Your Pharmacist

• Provide reliable information on all medicines. The pharmacist is an expert on both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The pharmacist is knowledgeable about possible side effects, drug interactions and how to properly use medicines.
• Verify what your doctor said. Perhaps you did not get enough information or are not completely clear about what the doctor told you about a medicine. Your pharmacist can verify what your doctor said and answer your questions.
• Monitor the medicines you or your loved one takes. It is important to always use the same pharmacy. If you or your loved one are a regular customer, the pharmacy may keep a record of the medicines you or your loved one purchase or a complete patient medication profile.

Keep your own patient medication profile. A patient medication profile like the
Prism Medical Manager. It is used to track an individual's medicine and allergy history, medical conditions that need to be considered, and all the medicines (prescriptions and over-the-counter) you or your loved one take. The Prism Medical Manager is an essential tool because it:
     - Serves as a check against taking medicines that you or your loved one might
be allergic to.
     - Reduces the possibility of taking a medicine, which you're own or your loved
ones medical history indicates is not appropriate.
     - Helps prevent undesirable drug interactions, especially when you or your
loved one are taking medicines prescribed by more than one doctor.
     - Enables the pharmacist to alert you and your doctor to potential problems
with medicines.
     - Enables the pharmacist to better monitor whether you or your loved one is
taking the medicines properly and remind you when you or your loved one
needs a prescription refill.
     - Enables the pharmacist to better advise you or your loved one about over-
the-counter medicine.

Buying all medicines from one pharmacy that maintains a patient profile for customers can help prevent medication problems. Choose one pharmacy that you like and stick with it. To select a pharmacy, ask these questions:
     - Do you keep patient profiles?
     - How is the patient profile used? Some pharmacies keep records primarily for
payment and tax purposes; others keep records that are more complete. Choose a
pharmacy that uses the profile to screen for possible drug interactions and allergies.
     - When is the patient profile checked? Choose a pharmacy that checks your own or
your loved ones record for potential drug interactions each time you fill a prescription.

In addition, choose a pharmacy where the pharmacists take time to explain each medicine to you and answer your questions. Some pharmacies have designed a special area you can privately discuss questions or concerns you have about your own or your loved one's medicines.

If you move or change pharmacies, request a copy of your own or your loved one's profile. This could be helpful to the new pharmacist and the new doctor.

Continue to Chapter 3: Taking Medcines Safely...