Important Questions Patient Should Ask about Medications In A Pharmacy

When people get their medication from the pharmacy, many fail to ask some vital questions. Those tiny pills at the right strength, route, duration and frequency can give us a better health otherwise they are almost useless or deadly. Adherence to these dosage is enhanced by knowledge. And this knowledge can only be acquired by questions. That is why it is important to ask the pharmacist questions about medication given before leaving.

Read Also: Patient counselling

Questions About Medication

Indication

There are times when more than one medication is prescribed for one person. It is good to know what each is used for. Having this knowledge helps the user to adhere to their medication regimen because they can tell all their complaints have been well covered. It also helps the person to know which of the drug is working and the one that is not during use. It opens up the opportunity for the person to give feedback.

Questions

Effects

It is important to know what effect each drug or a combination can cause be it positive or negative. A positive effect is usually the intended purpose for giving the medication. A drug given for sedation is a positive effect unlike those given for other purposes and then cause sedation. In the second scenario, the drowsiness effect is term side effects. Side effects are normal but should be well known by the person. Such information will help the person make an informed decision if to continue with the medication or not knowing fully well the risks and benefits. Adverse effects which rarely occur should be sounded as a warning. Such warning will help the person to take appropriate action in case of eventuality because they can cause serious problems if the drug is continued.

Dosage

Very important. When the dosage formula has been given, the person must ask what quantity is to be taken, how frequent should be drug be taken and for how long. Without this, every other question is almost useless. Also, the time to take the drug, dosage adjustment, food to eat and or avoid, how to take the drug are all very important. This is because some drugs work best at a particular time of the day with some certain food. Some others work best on an empty stomach.

Lifestyle

Some lifestyle can affect drug and disease. It is pertinent to ask questions on lifestyle changes. This includes what should be avoided or added to life routine.

Effects Time

You want to know how soon the effects of the drugs will start and for how long. If a person expects a positive effect within an hour of taking a medication which is eventually taken more than that time can lead to non adherence. Some drugs have effect within some few minutes while others take weeks or even months. A group of drugs do not cure some medical conditions. They rather prevent the condition from getting worse. In such a case, the drug will have no effect at all. This information will help the person to continue with the drug.

Optional Questions

Some questions are not really important but necessary. Most people that ask these questions are those who are very much involved in their own healthcare which is worthy of emulation. They want to take charge of their own healthcare. Some of these questions help them to narrow down their treatment to the best, cheap and safest. They are;

Read Also: Information in drug information leaflet (DIL)

Alternative Treatment

There are some disease conditions that have only one medical solution to it. Such cases are close. However, many others have many approaches. If the prescribed approach is not convenient for you the user, an alternative that is more convenient can be sorted out. In most cases, the presence of side or adverse effects limit the use of some drugs and require the use of alternative. Some of these effects can be predicted from the person's medical history. Others are due to dosage regimen which may affect the person and make adherence complicated. In such a case, the drug can be changed.

Avoiding Treatment

Some people will choose to suffer from some kind of medical conditions than to endure side effects of some medication. This is especially so with medication that does not cure but manage a disease that does not kill but causes a particular problem. Persons in such situations should talk to a specialist on available treatment options and risk of avoiding medication.

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