8 Essential Questions to Ask the Pharmacist

Do you ever find yourself leaving the pharmacy with a bag of medications in your hand – and a basketful of questions in your head? Next time, don’t be afraid to ask!

No matter how many drug- or health-related concerns you have, your friendly neighborhood pharmacist will be happy to address them. After all, it’s their job to help you understand how, why and when you should take your medications.

Next time, before you leave the pharmacy – and definitely before you start taking your pills, tablets or capsules – make sure you know the answers for the following questions, especially if it’s a new prescription:

• What medication are you getting?
• Why are you getting it?
• How do you take it?

If you’re unsure about these or anything else, feel free to ask any questions that you have. If you’ve never known what to say in a pharmacy, here are some additional things to consider:

• What size dose should you take?
• How often should you take it?
• How long should you take it?
• Are there special instructions? Food, drinks, supplements to avoid? How should it be stored? And so on.
• Are there any side effects you should know about?

Knowing these answers will help you take your medications safely and effectively. Since you can’t take a pill to make you smarter, asking your pharmacist is the next best thing.