Pharmacy

When your doctor prescribes medication to help with your treatment, you usually get the medication at a pharmacy. You may have your prescriptions filled at a hospital pharmacy during a hospital stay and/or after your discharge. Or you can get medications from a local pharmacy, which can be an independent business or part of a larger chain. These pharmacies often have other health-related items as well, such as supplements, bandages, and durable medical equipment.

Pharmacies may offer additional services to help you understand your medications and to make taking them easier and safer. Some of these services can include:

• Packaging—separating medications into individual doses or grouping multiple medications together.
• Medication therapy management—making a personalized medication action plan based on all of your medications and health needs, and providing information and resources to help you follow that plan.
• Coordinating refills—scheduling refills so you can pick up all your medications for the month at the same time (sometimes called “medication synchronization”).
• Compounding—creating custom medication to meet a unique need, like a special dose or a medication without an allergen.
• Health clinics—offering services like health screenings for blood glucose and cholesterol, resources to quit smoking and treatment plans for minor illnesses.
• Vaccinations—providing vaccines to prevent diseases like the flu and HPV.

Choosing a Pharmacy

To choose a pharmacy that will fit your needs, find out about:

• Inventory—Can you get all the medications you and your family need at the pharmacy?
• Insurance—Does it accept your insurance?
• Costs—Does the pharmacy offer competitive pricing for the medications you need? (Ask your doctor how to compare prices.)
• Services—Does it provide services you need or want to use, such as compounding or delivery to your home?
  

Ask your pharmacist these questions about any new (and current) medications you take:

• Why am I taking this medication? How will it help? When will it start working?
• What dose? How often? How long?
• What is the best time (morning, night, etc.) or way to take it (with food, with water)?
• What are possible side effects? What do I do if they happen?
• Are there any foods, drinks, or activities to avoid?
• What do I do if I miss a dose?
• How should I store it (in the dark, at a certain temperature, etc.)?
• How should I throw away unused doses?
  

Additional Resources:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: www.fda.gov/drugs

MedlinePlus: www.medlineplus.gov