What to Expect from a Medication Consultation at a Pharmacy
When your doctor prescribes a medication, they have a solid understanding of what it is and how it works with the body. However, your doctor’s pharmaceutical knowledge isn’t quite comparable to that of your pharmacist.
Having a medication consultation with your pharmacist is a great way to learn more about the benefits of your prescriptions, the mechanics of how the medication works with your body, the risk factors involved, the proper dosages, and much more.
When consulting with your pharmacist, you can expect:
Detailed Patient Education
Pharmacists are experts in the field of medicine and can offer patients a more in-depth discussion about their prescriptions, immunizations, or other relevant and drug-related topics. If they have an established relationship with a patient, the pharmacist can pull from their medical history to provide even better expertise.
The longer your pharmacist knows you, the more beneficial a consultation with them can be. But even if your pharmacist has only known you for a short while, a one-on-one with them is still informative and important. Take this time to ask questions and clarify anything that wasn’t covered by your doctor.
Careful Prescription Dispensing
A medication consultation gives your pharmacist the space to make sure they are dispensing the right amount of medicine for you. They will review your order and your records on file, doublechecking to see that you are receiving the correct medication and the correct amount of it.
The review process during a consultation is beneficial to everyone, but it’s especially good for patients who have been on certain medications for a long time. Long-term medications often involve changes in dosage over the course of treatment. A consultation gives your pharmacist extra time to review the changes in dosage and make sure they are dispensing with accuracy.
Prescription Monitoring
Similar to careful prescription dispensing, your pharmacist will take time during the consultation to monitor your prescription use. This helps you stay on track with your treatment plan and prevents you from accidentally purchasing too much medication. Your pharmacist works with you and your doctor to ensure you’re treated as safely and effectively as possible.