Sometimes a commercially prepared drug isn’t right for you: The dose is too high, the pill is too large, or it contains additives that you’re allergic to. Sometimes the drug you rely on is suddenly in short supply or discontinued! This is when it’s handy to know a Compounding Pharmacist.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) once seemed the answer for many challenges experienced by middle-aged women. It was thought that HRT could protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, while improving a woman’s quality of life. But 20 years of research from clinical trials shows that HRT is not as easy and safe as once thought.
You might be wondering whether your pharmaceuticals are interrupting your sleep, or whether a pharmacist can help you choose a safe over-the-counter drug to treat the occasional restless sleep. We asked Tarek, our Clinical Pharmacist, a few targeted questions about how he approaches insomnia with his clients.
Mrs. DK is one of my patients who is always on the run.
Every time she comes to the pharmacy, she drops off a prescription that contains at least 5 medications. The first question she always asks is, “How long will it take?”
No matter what time I give her, the expression on Mrs. DK’s face says, “Why would it take that long? Just print a label, slap it on the bottle, and give it to me! That’s it!”
When you have a question about your health or medication, who are you going to call first?
Probably your pharmacist.
Pharmacists consistently rank as one of the most trusted professions by Canadians. They are also the most accessible healthcare providers across the country and are often the first point of contact most Canadians have with the healthcare system.
Most of the questions I receive on a daily basis from my patients are questions about how to take their medications, what the expected side effects are, or how to take care of their health in general. These are questions I encourage all patients to ask. Here’s why:
Canadian medication safety experts have estimated that 98,000 deaths a year are attributed to preventable medical mistakes. That’s more deaths than those due to car accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS.
I stood behind the pharmacy’s drop-off counter, across from the 13-year-old and her dad, when I heard her ask, “Is he the cashier?”
“No, he’s the pharmacist,” her dad answered.
“Pharmacist? Is that a cashier who gives the drugs?”
