Pharmacists help consumers use medicines safely and effectively
Taking medication as prescribed may seem like a personal matter, but in fact medication adherence is a complex and widespread public health issue. Nearly three out of four Americans do not always take their medication as directed, and the effects are costly, both in terms of wellness and billions of dollars wasted each and every year.
Consumers with questions about their medications do not have to worry about where to get information. Pharmacists are their best and most accessible medication experts. A dialogue between patients and their pharmacist about any prescription and nonprescription medicines being taken will ensure that maximum health benefits are received and harmful side effects avoided.
Pharmacists can provide consumers with answers to questions about interactions with food, medicines, or dietary supplements that can effect how medicines work. Some interactions can be dangerous. When picking up a new medicine, ask if it will work safely with other prescription and nonprescription medicines you may be taking. Tell your pharmacist about any herbal products that you may be using, as well.
As a student pharmacist, issues like these hold special significance for me. I know that there are many reasons people do not take their medication as prescribed. But for those with chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, the result of not taking medication as directed is always the same and ultimately, patients put their health and their futures at risk.
Following a pharmacist’s advice can save consumer’s money and help lower the nation’s health care bill by ensuring proper medication use. If patients do not follow a medicine’s instructions or discontinue its use without consulting with their health care provider, it can lead to more expensive treatment, such as surgery or hospitalization.
When the patient keeps the pharmacist up-to-date on all prescription and nonprescription medications being taken and asks important questions, the pharmacist can monitor the patient’s treatment and help guarantee a healthy result.
Finding the solution starts with a conversation. This October, I have teamed up with other student pharmacists at Ohio Northern University to help celebrate the American Pharmacist Month and the national “Script Your Future” campaign by raising awareness in Waynesburg about the importance of taking medication as prescribed.
Throughout the month, I will join other student pharmacists across the country in a coordinated effort to start more conversations about the medication challenges our patients face, and what we as pharmacists can do to help them.
Elissa McCracken, Waynesburg
Junior (P3) Pharmacy major at Ohio Northern University