10 Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist

Female pharmacist helping a senior customer.

September 25 is World Pharmacists Day

Pharmacists are a bridge between you and your doctor. Your pharmacist might also be the health professional you see and talk to most often about your health.(1)

Pharmacists are trained to help you manage and improve your health every day. Your pharmacist—along with your doctor or nurse—can give you patient-centered answers to questions on many topics, including medicines and immunizations. They can also teach you practical skills, including how to use blood glucose monitors and asthma inhalers, and advise ways you can prepare your health for emergencies.What is patient-centered communication? Patient-centered communication acknowledges the whole person, their personality, life history, and social structure to develop a shared understanding of the problem, the goals of treatment, and the barriers to that treatment and wellness.

Here are some example questions you might ask your pharmacist the next time you visit the pharmacy.

  1. How do I prepare an emergency supply of medicines? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply of medicines. Some states have emergency prescription refill laws that authorize pharmacists to refill a prescription before it’s due when under an emergency declaration. These laws vary by state. Learn more about the law where you live.
  2. What type of over-the-counter drugs should I include in my emergency supplies? Maintain an emergency supply of over-the-counter medicines, including pain and fever relievers, cough and cold suppressants, antihistamines, and antidiarrheal medicines in age-appropriate strengths.
  3. What kind of records should I keep with my important paperwork? Keep copies of all your prescriptions. You may need them in case you lose, run out, or damage your medicine. Having written records of your prescriptions makes it easier for another doctor to write a refill if you can’t reach your doctor or pharmacy during an evacuation or emergency.(2)
  4. How do I travel (e.g., evacuate) with medicine? Do not keep medicines in the glove compartment of your car. Keep them in their original containers. Keep the containers away from and out of sight of children and pets.(3, 4)
  5. How do I take care of my medicine during an emergency? Keep your medicines in a cool, dry place away from heat, air, light, and moisture.
  6. How do I store medicines safely at home and when traveling (e.g., evacuating) with children and pets? Any medicine, including those you buy without a prescription, can cause harm if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person or a pet. Put your medicines up and away and out of reach and sight to prevent adverse drug effects.
  7. How do I keep medicines cold during a power outage? Use a cooler, ice, and chemical ice packs. If you use insulin to manage diabetes, try to keep your insulin as cool as possible without freezing it. Insulin that has been frozen can break down and is less effective. You can use insulin in opened or unopened vials that have been stored at room temperature (between 59°F and 86°F) for up to 4 weeks.(5)
  8. How do I judge the safety of medicine after an emergency? Do not take medicine that has changed color, texture, or smell, regardless of its expiration date. Also, do not take pills that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or are cracked or chipped. Contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you are unsure about a drug’s safety. When in doubt, throw it out.(6)
  9. How do I safely dispose of expired, unwanted, unused, or damaged prescription medicines? The best way to dispose of most types of medicines is to drop them off at a drug take-back location.(7) This may be your local pharmacy or police station.
  10. What can I do if I am unable to take my medicine as prescribed because it was damaged? Can I share medicines with a friend or family member if they take the same kind? Medicines are only safe to use by the person whose name is on the prescription. You could experience an allergic reaction, an interaction with other medications, or other serious side effects from using someone else’s prescription medicine. People who share their drugs may experience side effects if they ration their supply to share with others.(8)

Make your pharmacist an important member of your healthcare team. Contact your local pharmacist or the FDA if you have questions about medicine.

FDA’s Division of Drug Information has pharmacists available to answer questions about drug use and safety. You contact them at 1-855-543-3784, druginfo@fda.hhs.gov, and on Twitter at @FDA_Drug_Info.

Learn more ways to prepare your medicine cabinet for emergencies.

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/pharmacist.htm
  2. https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2017/10/preparing-your-medicine-cabinet-for-an-emergency/
  3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000534.htm
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/protect/campaign.html
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/managing-insulin-emergency.html
  6. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs/safe-drug-use-after-natural-disaster
  7. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know
  8. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/safety/use-medicines-safely

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

Preparing Your Medicine Cabinet for an Emergency: A Checklist

Closeup view of an eighty year old senior woman's hands as she sorts her prescription medicine.

If you read our blog on a regular basis you can probably recite the mantra “Make a kit. Have a plan. Be informed.” in your sleep. You are probably familiar with the important items you should keep in your emergency kit – water, food, a flashlight, and a battery-powered radio. What you may not think about is personalizing your kit for your unique medical needs or the needs of your family. Particularly, including prescription medications and other medical supplies in your emergency kit and plans.

As a pharmacist whose job is focused on emergency preparedness and response, I want to give you 10 pointers about how to prepare your medications for an emergency so you can decrease the risk of a life-threatening situation.infographic illustrating an emergency kit.

  1. Make a list. Keep a list of all your medications and the dosages in your emergency kit. Make sure you have the phone numbers for your doctors and pharmacies.
  2. Have your card. Keep your health insurance or prescription drug card with you at all times so your pharmacy benefits provider or health insurance plan can help you replace any medication that was lost or damaged in a disaster.
  3. Keep a record. Make copies of your current prescriptions and keep them in your emergency kit and/or go bag. You can also scan and email yourself copies, or save them in the cloud. If you can’t reach your regular doctor or your usual pharmacy is not open, this written proof of your prescriptions make it much easier for another doctor to write you a refill.
  4. Start a stockpile. During and after a disaster you may not be able to get your prescriptions refilled. Make sure you have at least 7 – 10 days of your medications and other medical supplies. Refill your prescription as soon as you are able so you can set aside a few extra days’ worth in your emergency kit to get you through a disaster.
  5. Storage matters. Keep your medications in labeled, child-proof containers in a secure place that does not experience extreme temperature changes or humidity. Don’t forget to also include nonprescription medications you might need, including pain relievers, cold or allergy medications, and antacids.
  6. Rotate the date. Don’t let the medications in your emergency supply kit expire. Check the dates at least twice every year.
  7. Prioritize critical medicines. Certain medications are more important to your health and safety than others. Prioritize your medications, and make sure you plan to have the critical medications available during an emergency.
  8. Communicate a plan. Talk to your doctor about what you should do in case you run out of a medication during an emergency. If you have a child who takes a prescription medication, talk to their daycare provider or school about a plan in case of an emergency.
  9. Plan ahead. Make sure you know the shelf life and optimal storage temperature for your prescriptions, because some medications and supplies cannot be safely stored for long periods of time at room temperature. If you take a medication that needs to be refrigerated or requires electronic equipment plan ahead for temporary storage and administration in an emergency situation.
  10. Check before using. Before using the medication in your emergency kit, check to make sure the look or smell hasn’t changed. If you are unsure about its safety, contact a pharmacist or healthcare provider before using.

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