Our Pharmacist's Advice

Taken from National Prescribing Service News, Edition 34 June 2004. Reference: ACSQHC. Second National Report on Patient Safety: Improving Medication Safety. Canberra: Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care; July 2002.

Things you should know about your prescription medications
Consumer Medicine Information Leaflets
Things we need to know about you

We take all sorts of things to try make us feel better. This may not just be something that was prescribed by your doctor or bought from a pharmacy. It could also be…

• A vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement that you got from your naturopath or from the health food store.
• The pain killer or antacid you got from the supermarket.
• The pills that your neighbour gave you for your headache (you should never take prescription medication that was not prescribed or recommended specifically for you).

So whether it is a Doctor, a Pharmacist or other health professional determining the choice of a new medication or supplement for you, or yourself choosing something health related from the shelf, the same things need to be considered:

• Will it be a problem with ANYTHING else you are currently taking to benefit your health?
  
• Is it appropriate for your medical condition(s)?
  
• Will it reduce the effectiveness of one of your prescribed medications, or worse, increase the likelihood of side effects and make you sick?

Thus, it is always important to tell your Doctor and Pharmacist ALL of the things that you are taking at any one time.

BE INFORMED ABOUT YOUR MEDICATIONS AND YOUR HEALTH.

Things you should know about your prescription medications

Our aim is to inform our clients on way to maximise their medication’s effectiveness whilst using it safely and correctly.

Sometimes, especially when you are unwell, it is hard to absorb information from your doctor about a new medication that you are unfamiliar with. That’s why we like to reinforce the key points of taking your medication correctly and ensure that they are understood. We believe that before you leave our pharmacy, the following points should be clear about your medication(s):

• How many times per day, and at which time(s) should I take this medication?


• How much should I take? (i.e. one capsule? Two tablets? 10ml?)


• Should my medication be taken before, during or after a meal?


• Are there any common side effects that may occur, e.g. drowsiness, nausea etc?


• Can I drink alcohol whilst taking this medication?


• I did not see my regular G.P. and thus he/she was not aware of my full medical history. Is this medication still suitable for me?


• I take medication(s) prescribed by my doctor in conjunction with herbal supplements from my naturopath. Will these interact or cause any problems with this new medication?


• I have difficulty swallowing big tablets and capsules. Can this medication be cut in half, chewed or crushed?


• Can I eat my normal diet? Are there any foods that I should avoid whilst taking this medication?


• Do I need to store this medication at a particular temperature? e.g. in the refrigerator?


• I am trying to fall pregnant/pregnant/breast feeding and I forgot to tell the Doctor. Will this medication still be appropriate?

Consumer Medicine Information Leaflets

Consumer Medicine Information leaflets (CMI's) are another way to learn more about your prescription medications.

CMI's are designed specifically for the users of each particular medication, and as such are presented in fairly easy to understand terms. They go through what the medication is used for, how to take it, some of the side effects you may experience amongst other information.

When a prescription medication is dispensed for the first time one of our pharmacists will go through the CMI in relevance to your particular situation.

If you have not yet seen a CMI for one or more of medications, have a question, or you just can't remember what you are taking a particular medication for, then ask one of our staff and we will be happy to provide a CMI and discuss it with you.

Things we need to know about you

Often when buying a medication over the counter, even though it is obtainable without a prescription, you may find yourself asked a series of questions by our staff.

So why do we ask questions? Because we want to ensure that

• the right person
• gets the right medication
• takes the right dose
• and gets the right outcome (i.e. feeling better)

Examples of questions you may be asked at Kingsley Village Pharmacy include:

• Is this medication for yourself or someone else?


• Have you or the person requiring the medication taken it before?


• Is the medication working satisfactorily?


• Do you or the person requiring the medication have any current, or history of medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart conditions, asthma or diabetes?


• Do you or the person requiring this medication take any other medication(s)?


• Do you or the person requiring this medication have any allergies to medication(s)?


• Are you or the person requiring this medication pregnant, planning on falling pregnant, or breast feeding?


• When purchasing an asthma reliever inhaler (e.g. Ventolin^®): Do you get your asthma checked regularly by your doctor? Do you use a Preventative inhaler?

We appreciate that these questions can sometimes be tedious, especially if you have heard them several times. However, they are necessary in order for us to ensure that you are obtaining the maximum benefits of your medication.

At Kingsley Village Pharmacy we ask questions because we care for your health.

member of:

the Pharmacy Guild of Australia