Going to the pharmacy can seem like a mundane chore that you just need to get over with. And this is true for most people, however, there are some things every person should know before their next visit to the pharmacy that will make this process more useful. Some of these aspects include how to save money and better communicate with your pharmacist to be healthier and more informed.
Your Pharmacist Is There to Help You
Now, this is an aspect that most people don’t consider before heading for their next prescription fill. As we have mentioned before, pharmacists are very knowledgeable people. They are trained to educate and advise patients on how to use medications safely and effectively, as well as what their possible side effects, and how to properly use them. Even though it’s not their job to diagnose patients, nor to prescribe drugs, they can still help you a great deal by recognizing what might be troubling you and recommending over-the-counter medication. This can often save you a potentially expensive visit to your physician, and it can save you a lot of time and patience. Nowadays, there are pharmacies on every corner, which makes it more accessible for patients to consult their pharmacists. The best part about this is that pharmacists give you a consultation free of charge, making it even more accessible to people with minor difficulties.
Price of the Medication
Learning the price of your medication, as well as how much your prescription drug insurance can cover is crucial to determine whether you can afford it. Oftentimes, people skip taking their medication either partially or completely to save money. A great way to avoid this potentially very harmful downside of financial difficulty is to compare the prices of the medication needed to find the most affordable one. It is a well-established dispute between the price of generic drugs and brand-name drugs. Because these prices can vary significantly, it’s worth comparing them to all the available prices for the given medication. One way to do this is to call your local pharmacies and ask them about the prices of drugs you are interested in and simply pick the lowest one. An even easier way is to use cost-comparison engines online to do that job for you. This can save you a lot of time, offer some cost benefits, and will offer more privacy.
Generic Drugs as an Option
As with any article about pharmacies worth their salt, mentioning generic drugs is a necessity for many reasons. Generic drugs are a much cheaper alternative to the expensive brand-name medication. The main ingredient also called active ingredient is the same, and the only differences come from different inactive ingredients such as different fillings, for example. While different inactive ingredients may cause some side effects such as allergic reactions to some individuals, most of the population has none. A good pharmacist will offer you a less expensive version of the same medicine. They are especially aware that most generic drugs are named after the active ingredient while brand-name medication often has a unique name that can be quite misleading. Another aspect that many good pharmacists practice is to give the consumer a bigger dose of the same medicine and recommend that they simply split it into even doses if the drug formulation allows it. This is a smart way to spare you frequent visits to the pharmacy and to save you some money.
Clear Communication
Before we even begin with all of the things a person should know before visiting their pharmacy the next time, it is important to note this particular aspect right from the start. You need to have clear communication with your pharmacist. A pharmacist isn’t just a person who hands you out your prescription drugs; they are very knowledgeable people who have been trained with significant caution in their field of study. However, you should not expect them to be miracle workers. They will not know how to help you unless you establish clear communication with them. Always tell your pharmacist the truth about your condition, previous and current medication, because unless you do, they won’t be able to help you. It might be useful to commit to a single pharmacy as they can track your record more easily. Remember that it is in their interest to find the best course of treatment for your specific condition in that given time.
Don’t be scared to ask the pharmacist any kind of questions related to your prescription drugs because it is in their interest to achieve good communication so they could better help you with your current condition and future recovery.
