Community pharmacists (those that work in pharmacies or chemist shops) don’t just sell medicines and put labels on them. Rather, they have much more to offer.  

Pharmacists complete a university course learning about all aspects of medicines. After qualifying they must continue regular training and education to ensure that they keep up to date. As a result, pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge about medicines that we can make use of. All we have to do is ask.

Prescription medicines

Pharmacists are a great source of information about prescription medicines. They can explain just about anything about medicines, including:

• what the medicine is for
• how it works
• what to expect when you take it
• what side effects and interactions to watch out for
• what to do if you think you may be experiencing a side effect or interaction.

They can also give you your medicine’s Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet. CMI leaflets give you comprehensive but easy-to-understand information about your medicine and how to take it. They are written especially for consumers and can be obtained free of charge from your pharmacist. You can ask for the CMI leaflet when you pick up the prescription or at any other time.

Over-the-counter medicines

Pharmacists know a lot about over-the-counter medicines that can be used to treat common minor ailments, so they can help you choose a suitable treatment for minor ailments. They can also check that the chosen medicine does not contain the same active ingredients as any of your other medicines, and check that it will not interact with your other medicines.

Practical information about using medicines

Taking a medicine is not always as simple as it seems at first glance. For example, some medicines need to be taken with food, while for others it doesn’t matter. Pharmacists can clarify any uncertainties you may have about the instructions for taking a medicine, including:

• when to take it
• whether it should be taken with or without food
• any special instructions for taking it
• whether it needs to be stored in the fridge
• how to cut the tablet if you only need to take part of it.

Help solve problems

Pharmacists can help solve problems that may be making it more difficult for you to take your medicines. For example:

• if you’re having trouble reading the medicine label, they can print out a medicine label in larger print, or they can print off the instructions in large print on a separate sheet of paper
• if you’re having difficulty swallowing the tablet, they may be able to suggest another form of the medicine (e.g. a liquid form or a smaller tablet) that you can discuss with your doctor
• if you can’t open the medicine’s safety cap, they can put your medicines in a container that is easier to open
• if you’re having difficulty remembering whether you’ve taken your medicines, they can put your medicines in packaging that holds each dose in a separate compartment (e.g. a Webster-pak).

Ask, it’s free!

Pharmacists are probably the most readily available health professionals, because they are just behind the pharmacy counter, ready and waiting to help you. All you have to do is ask!

Most pharmacies have pharmacy assistants who help the pharmacist by serving customers, accepting and receiving prescriptions, dealing with basic questions, and so on. However, they are qualified to give only limited information about medicines. If you want information about your medicines, particularly your prescription medicines, ask to talk to the pharmacist — there will always be one on the premises.

Ask the pharmacist any questions you may have about your medicine and what to expect when taking it. Also, ask the pharmacist to go through the instructions for taking the medicine each time you start a new medicine, or each time the instructions change. Doing so, will help you avoid medicine-related problems and help you get the best out of your medicines.

Pharmacists can be a good first port of call when you don’t know what to do about a medicine problem, or when you don’t know if you need to see a doctor about a problem. In many cases, they will be able to guide you. If they can’t, they will refer you to your doctor, or they may even ring the doctor on your behalf, especially if the problem is serious or urgent.

For example, if you’re not sure whether a new symptom could be a side effect to your medicine, you can ask the pharmacist for their advice. They will be able to tell you if it is a recognised side effect. They can also tell you whether you can wait for a few days before reporting it to your doctor or whether you should visit or ring your doctor immediately.

There are questions a pharmacist can answer, just ask!