Whether you are popping into the pharmacy to quickly pick up an item or trying to manage many different medicines and their effects, your pharmacist is your expert to help you. Here's 9 ways they can do that …
1. Offer advice
Much of a pharmacist’s day is taken up counting and pouring to prepare prescriptions, but your Pharmacist can also be a wealth of information. When collecting a script, ask your Pharmacist:
- What is my medicine and what is it supposed to do?
- When and how do I take my medicine?
- Should I avoid certain foods, drinks or activities?
- What side effects should I expect?
- What do I do if I forget to take my medicine?
- Can I take this medicine if I am pregnant or breast feeding?
- How should I store my medicine?
As part of the dispensing process, your Pharmacist will have checked your prescription for legality, accuracy and interactions with any of your other medicines. The medicine, dose and instructions are checked to see that they are right for you. Any side effects are considered and your Pharmacist will ring your Doctor with any queries or suggestions. He/she will check that you receive the maximum funding you are entitled to and keep records of your medicine and safety net.
2. Offer convenient health care
Pharmacists have long been regarded as a first port of call for health queries but over recent years, there has been several new medicines Pharmacists can recommend that you would have previously had to see your Doctor for. Many Pharmacists have done extra training to offer treatments for urinary infection, erectile dysfunction, migraines, conjunctivitis, cold sores, emergency contraception and quitting smoking. Vaccines can now be administered in pharmacy including funded influenza vaccinations. These medicines require a consultation with the Pharmacist but it means that treatments are easily accessible when you need them.
Of course, your pharmacy is stocked with over the counter medicines for common health conditions. Your pharmacist is available to offer advice on ailments, supplements and how best to stay fit and healthy.
3. Work with you to manage your medicines
Living independently is very important for many people but juggling multiple medicines can be confusing. Studies have found that up to 50% of people generally don’t take their medicines as prescribed and this can have an impact on their quality of life and independence. Your pharmacist can help you manage your medicines to take them safely and get the most from them. Many pharmacies offer extra care for people with long term conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis etc). The care may include working you and/or your family to:
- Give you tools to make taking your medicines easier
- Offer medication packs
- Find and investigate any medicine problems you may be having
- Help you understand more about your medicines
4. Pack your medicines into convenient packs to make it easier to remember to take your medicines.
5. Test your blood pressure
6. Save you money
Many medicines in New Zealand are subsidised by the government reducing the cost significantly, but there are still other ways that you can save money.
- Keep a track of the number of prescriptions you collect for your family or collect them from the same pharmacy. After you pay for twenty items in one year (1st Feb to 31st Jan), you are entitled to a Prescription Subsidy Card or Safety Net Card and most medicines will be free.
- Hold your prescriptions at the pharmacy so they won’t be lost and receive reminders when your repeats are due to stop them expiring.
- Collect all your medicines and prescriptions at the same time to avoid extra costs at the doctors and transport costs.
- Bring your community services card details with you to the pharmacy.
- If you pay more than the $5.00 contribution to a medicine, ask if there is a less expensive brand you could have instead.
- If your pet needs a medicine, the vet can write out a prescription so you can shop around for the item and compare prices.
- Ask your pharmacist about buying some over the counter medicines in economical bulk packs.
7. Deliver to your door.
8. Hold your prescriptions on file for you receive reminders when your repeats are due to stop them expiring.
9. Make up your script from a doctor’s fax or your phone request (if a repeat) to save you time waiting in the pharmacy.
If any of these services would benefit you or a family member you care about, please contact our pharmacist, Mel by phone on 068357948 or email on mel@ahuriripharmacy.co.nz.