ASK YOUR PHARMACIST! ARE MY MEDICINES SAFE?
You might be surprised by how much your local chemist can help you
Sometimes, when we’re unwell, the best course of action is to see a doctor right away. However, for common conditions and ailments, there’s also another option – visiting the chemist.
Pharmacist Amy Jones says some people don’t know that pharmacists can help with a range of issues.
“Customers are possibly not aware of all the minor health conditions pharmacists can help them treat, so they may not need to wait to see a doctor or spend a lot of time sitting in the emergency department,” Amy explains. “Conditions such as migraines, allergies, thrush, simple urinary tract infections, and muscular aches and pains may be alleviated with advice from the pharmacist and over-the-counter medicines if appropriate.”
Pharmacists can also help in other ways, like advising on the safety of medicines, safely disposing of unused medicine , checking blood pressure and issuing nicotine replacement therapy. Each pharmacy is different, so ask your local chemist or visit their website.
WHAT VACCINATIONS CAN I GET?
Many of us go straight to the pharmacy when it’s time for our flu and COVID shots. However, some can also provide vaccines for travel, and to protect against illnesses like whooping cough, shingles, meningococcal disease and pneumococcal disease, to name a few. Not all pharmacies provide the same vaccinations, so ask in store or check online.
CAN MY PHARMACIST SUPPLY THE PILL?
Pharmacists can also resupply the oral contraceptive pill. Customers who are eligible don’t need a prescription from their GP. This involves a consultation with your pharmacist first and is only available if you have been prescribed a low-risk contraceptive pill by a doctor or nurse practitioner in the past three years. If you’re unsure whether you are eligible for over-the-counter contraceptives, talk to your pharmacist.
CAN MY PHARMACIST TREAT UTIs?
“Many pharmacists can now help women with simple urinary tract infections manage their condition without the need to see a doctor,” Amy says.
The service is only available to women at select pharmacies and in some cases, you may still need to visit a doctor.
“If the pharmacist determines they cannot treat your urinary tract symptoms under the requirements of the guidelines, they will recommend you speak to your doctor first.”
Pharmacists are highly trained to answer questions about medicine, and to ensure that you’re taking
them safely and effectively.
“They can help with advice about prescription and over-the-counter medicines for all people from babies and children to adults,” says Amy.
If you’re taking multiple medications or vitamins, or are caring for someone who is, your pharmacist can package these together in a medicine dosage pack, which can make it easier to keep track of the exact number of doses that you need each day.
Napier pharmacist Rebekah Taylor adds, “Pharmacists can help check if a medicine is safe to take if you’re elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding and look out for any drug interactions. It always pays to double-check, even when you’re purchasing over-the-counter medications, such as cold and flu tablets.”
DO I NEED A MEDICINE REVIEW?
If you take multiple long-term medicines, a Medicines Use Review (MUR) might help you. This is a one-on-one discussion with your pharmacist about your medicines to make sure you are getting the maximum benefit from them. You can consult your local pharmacy to find out if you’re eligible and to ask about making an appointment if you need one.
“Managing multiple medicines can sometimes be challenging,” Amy says. “Some medicines can interact with others. This might mean that taking the two or more medicines together will make you feel unwell or interfere with the way the medicines are supposed to work and reduce their effectiveness.”
To get the best outcome, Amy suggests that you write down all the medications that you’re taking, along with information on dosages. Also remember to include vitamins, supplements and over-thecounter medication.
“An MUR will help address concerns or questions about medicines, uncover any potential problems and include information about how to best manage their medicines.”
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?
If you’re unsure about whether you need to see a doctor or not, your pharmacist can help. “Pharmacists are trained to identify when you need to be referred to your doctor for further checks,” says Rebekah. “Otherwise they can usually offer some treatments first.”
This can be helpful if you need advice at a time when your regular GP isn’t available. Amy tells, “Many pharmacies are open late at night and on weekends for medical advice. You can either drop in or call the pharmacy and ask to speak to a pharmacist, but always call 111 in emergency situations.”