Help Your Pharmacist to Help You

Pharmacists are the medication-management experts on your healthcare team. They can do much more than just dispense medications. Ask your pharmacist about:

• Ensuring that your medication is appropriate for your condition
• Helping to minimize the possibility of drug interactions and allergic reactions
• Making sure you get the most benefit from your medications
• Properly taking and storing your medications
• Advice on over-the-counter products
• Offering assistance with your weight-loss or smoking-cessation goals
• Monitoring and helping manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure
• Monitoring your response to your medicine

Many pharmacists can give vaccinations and provide comprehensive medication reviews. They can provide advice and tools to help you stick with your medication regimen. It is vital that you have a good relationship with your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can only determine what is best for you, and what is safe, if he or she knows your history, your lifestyle and your current health conditions.

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