The 10 Most Important Questions to Ask a Pharmacist

Did you know that there are 312,550 pharmacists currently active in the United States? Pharmacists help give you the medication you need. They can also give you advice about different types of medication and their side effects. 

But what are the most important things to ask a pharmacist? What questions about medications should you ask?

Keep reading and learn more about the most important questions you should ask your pharmacist below.

1. What Are the Uses of My Medications?

Your doctor might have prescribed you a new medication, but you might not know what it does. If you are curious about this new medication, ask your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can look up the medication and see what it's for.

This is important if you need it to treat a serious condition like diabetes or high blood pressure. Knowing more about the medication will make you more comfortable when taking it. You will know how it can help you and how your body should respond over time. 

2. How Long Do I Use a Medication?

Many people don't know how long they should use a certain drug. Should you take it for a few months? What about a few years?

Do you have to take it for the rest of your life? Understanding the length of time you should take medication is important. Some drugs are not designed for long-term use. 

They might do more harm than good if you take them longer than you're supposed to. Other drugs may only work after several months. This is common with anti-depressants and similar drugs. 

Your pharmacist can check how long it would be safe to take a certain type of medication. You can then plan your prescriptions ahead of time to match that time range.

3. What Should I Do if I Miss a Dose?

It is important to stay on top of the doses for your prescription medications. Some prescriptions need to be taken every day at precise times. Other medications may only need to be taken as needed. 

Consider birth control pills. You need to take these pills every day at the same time, or they won't be as effective as they're supposed to be. This is true of many other types of pills too. 

If you miss a dose, you should know how to react. Your pharmacist can explain this to you. It might not matter if you miss a dose with some medications. 

Both others may require you to take an extra pill to catch up with the missed dose. 

4. What Are the Side Effects of My Medication?

Every medication comes with a list of side effects. Some people may never experience any side effects. Others may experience very severe effects or allergic reactions. 

If you don't know about the side effects your medication may cause, you should ask your pharmacist. This will keep you alert and aware in case you start experiencing any side effects. Your pharmacist can also advise you on what to do if you have any side effects. 

Most of them will go away naturally after a week or so. But some may be too serious to wait this long. You should instead contact your doctor and tell them about your side effects. 

Your doctor may decide that the medication isn't right for you. 

5. Should I Worry About Any Drug Interactions?

If you are already taking certain medications, you should check if a new drug may have any interactions with them. Drug interactions can be very serious. They can cause side effects like low blood pressure, passing out, dizziness, vomiting, and so on. 

Some drug interactions are very dangerous or fatal. Your pharmacist can double-check to make sure that there are no drug interactions with the drugs you're taking. This will allow you to rest easy knowing that your medications won't do anything unexpected or dangerous.

6. How Do I Store My Medication?

Some medications need special storage specifications. Others might do fine no matter where you put them. You can ask your pharmacist about the proper way to store your drugs.

It is best to store them in a dark, cool area. It is also best to keep them away from moist environments. 

7. Should I Take My Medication at a Specific Time?

Your pharmacist can advise you on whether you should take certain medications at certain times. Birth control pills are a common example. They should be taken at the same time every day for the best effects. 

Other medications are similar. But some medications you can take no matter the time. 

8. How Can I Make Dosing Easier?

Your pharmacist may recommend a pill organizer. This is a small container made of smaller containers to hold the pills you need to take each day.

This makes it easy to remember what pills you've taken. 

9. How Can I Travel With My Medication?

Your pharmacist can give you advice about the best ways to travel with medication. It is best to keep the medication safe and cool.

There are also some medications that you can't travel with. 

10. How Can I Tell if My Medication Is Expired?

Your pharmacist will direct you to the expiration date printed on the drug label. You should never take expired drugs. 

You should also stay away from pills that smell or look strange.

What to Ask a Pharmacist

It is important to ask a pharmacist a variety of questions about your medications. How long should you take your medication? What should you do if you miss a dose?

Understanding more about your drugs will make you more comfortable when taking them. To learn more about medications, check out what we have available. 

Works Cited:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, March 31). Pharmacists. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291051.htm

WebMD. (n.d.). New prescription: What to ask your doctor and pharmacist. WebMD. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/questions-pharmacist-filling-prescriptions

Order Canada Drugs & International Prescription medication at discount prices. PricePro Pharmacy. (2021, May 25). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/products/

How to order your prescription drugs online from Canada. PricePro Pharmacy. (2021, June 14). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/how-to-order/