Reviewing your meds

@edsutton
Oops! I meant to say NOT being suckered by scam companies!

@carmine100
My pharmacist will personally check me out whenever there's a new med that requires caution whether due to potential interaction with other meds, supplements or foods.

@edsutton My experience was the same (Re: my visit with the Doctor of Pharmacy).
I arrived with my list of prescribed drugs; OTC supplements; Time of the day I take each; and, the strength of each. I had done my research in advance on all via various sites (i.e. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic etc.) He spent 45 minutes with me while utilizing his resources and gave me an ok on my complete list! I would also highly recommend an appointment with a Doctor of Pharmacy and make sure you come prepared to get the most out of your visit!

@mikead63 My wife forgot something at a pharmacy where she gets physio for a recently broken wrist. I drove there and saw, out front, offered services on a placard that included 'Medication reviews'. This is on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. I am quite certain that most offer this service.

@sueinmn
Thank you for providing a more complete reason for using a Dr. of Pharmacy for the review of all the meds we end up on. Much appreciated! My MD internist will not have time to do a complete review of my meds when I see him for my annual check-in. I do keep fairly good track of contraindications and potential side effects, but one slipped by me recently. I've had headaches since April, always in the same spot, not at night, not early in the morning. I saw one of the other MDs in internal med (I couldn't get in to see my PCP) and got no clarity at all. This morning I read that complete flyer that comes enclosed with a brand name med. There it was: "headache" is a side effect for some people. Within an hour the headache hit. Now I know what and why. I'll contact the pharmacist where I normally trade to see if she can do this type of review. If not, I'll contact the national office of the dispensing pharmacy to make arrangements with a Dr. of Pharmacy there.

A friend had heart medication, that had wrong instructions on his meds bottle, luckily he brought to Dr, and needed correction.

You have to do the homework yourself, no one at the busy pharmacy or busy doctor’s office has the time to research your meds and talk to you.

@carmine100 That is why an annual medication review is so helpful. What I found useful was that the guidelines for some meds I had used for years have changed, so the pharmacists had some recommendations. As a result, with the agreement of my docs, a few meds were stopped, some dosages were altered and other meds were switched. I got rid of a couple irritating side effects too.

@carmine100 - 1. Do the research. 2. Make a complete list of your prescribed medications and OTC medications (including when you take them and the strength of each medication). 3. Make an appointment with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Take 2 lists of your medication (one for you and one for your Doc) to your appointment and have your Doc review your list of medications while you are there. The PharmD I met with was recommended by the Doctor of Internal Medicine I have been going to for a number of years who is also a geriatric specialist (I'm old!). We spent 45 minutes going over my list and agreed that what I was doing was good for my various conditions. Face to face is the only way to get this right and it may be one of the best appointments you have ever made!

@mikead63 Thank you for your encouraging reply. I'll see if the pharmacy I use has a Dr of Pharm.