Text Box: Know your pharmacist, know your medicines”, a motto you are bound to hear this Fall, because October 19-25th is National Pharmacy Week. You are lucky though, because pharmacists are available to you every week. Why is this important? Because your pharmacist is a very valuable resource to anyone taking medicine. Each year billions of dollars are spent by Americans on their medications. To get the best effects and experience fewer problems from these medicines, a pharmacist’s knowledge can be invaluable. A pharmacist knows about interactions with food, medicines, or herbal supplements that can potentially change the way your medications work. Your pharmacist can monitor and prevent these potentially hazardous problems. Pharmacists are also available for advice on over the counter medicines that can have potential side effects or ill effects with other prescription drugs. Also a pharmacist can help you save money by eliminating duplicate therapies or by helping the healthcare team choose money saving alternatives. This is particularly helpful as medical costs continue to increase. With the availability of health information, including online resources, it can be difficult to sort out myth from reality. A pharmacist can assist you in wading through this information, and help you decide when it is time to see your physician. In addition to dispensing medicines, counseling patients, and monitoring for side effects, pharmacists assist in monitoring disease states such as high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. In order to obtain a better understanding of your medicines, you should discuss any concerns you have regarding your drug therapy with your pharmacist.

Text Box: Areas to focus on should include the following: § Name of Medicine and what it is supposed to do § Time of day to take medicine and how often it should be taken § Length of therapy and when to stop taking the medicine § Foods or drinks, over the counter medicines, or herbal supplements that should be avoided § Side effects to expect, and when to be concerned if these effects persist § Safety of the medicine if pregnant or nursing § Price concerns such as availability of generic formulations § Storage of the medicine § Allergic reactions These counseling points are important issues to discuss with your pharmacist in order to get the greatest benefit to your health. Take advantage of this valuable member of the healthcare team and take some time during National Pharmacy Week to get to know your pharmacist, so you can know your medicines. For more information please visit: www.pharmacyandyou.org.

Pharmacists: Your Valuable Resource for All Medication Information

Contributed by: Eli N. Deal, Pharm.D. Candidate

UMKC School of Pharmacy

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Flumistä	2
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What’s On the Website?	4
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Lice Products	5
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Our mission is to empower our patients with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions regarding their health and optimize the use of their medications through screenings, seminars, and consultations.

We will serve as a knowledgeable and trustworthy source by providing drug and health-related information in a confidential and professional manner.

Text Box: Co-edited by: John Witt, Pharm.D. Sarah Kerner, Pharm.D.