The Forgotten Doctor

Most of us pick up our prescription from the pharmacy.  We interact with the pharmacy tech who gives us our prescription, checks our insurance, takes our payment and asks if we have any questions.  In a hurry to use our medication and after having endured a lengthy wait to get to the front of the line, we hurriedly decline the offer and leave.

We have just bypassed one of the most beneficial free assets in our society.  In a time when it takes months to get a visit with our primary care physician and specialists are in such heavy demand that visits to them are short and to the point (to put it nicely), we are ignoring an ever constant resource at our fingertips.

I have heard so many complain about their primary care physician's lack of knowledge about the medicines that are being prescribed.  I can't help but wonder if we are forgetting about the doctor with all the expertise in medicines.  Are we expecting that expertise from the wrong doctor?

Pharmacists are doctors.  Your primary care physician spent years learning the body and disease.  Pharmacists spent those same years learning about medicines, how they affect the body and how they interact with each other. 

In my area, there are pharmacies in every grocery store, Wal-Mart, and stand alone pharmacies around almost every corner.  Each pharmacy has at lease one pharmacist on duty all the time.  Each pharmacy has a sign for a consulation window.  You do not have to have a prescription or even be on any medications to stop by and talk with them. 

Is it possible that you will have to wait?  Absolutely. 

Will it be the months that you have to wait to see other doctors?  Absolutely not. 

Is there a better resource that understands medicines more than they do?  Probably not. 

Is there someone better equipped to help you know how to use the medicines, explain the possible side effect, explain why to take medication A with foods, explain the possible interaction with other medications or even grapefruit?  Probably not.  

Can you get free recommendations for which over-the-counter medication will work best for certain ailments?  Absolutely. 

Pharmacists are a wealth of information at your fingertips...

I highly recommend that you find out for yourself.