Include Your Pharmacist on Your Health-Care Team

Thursday, October 31, 2002

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Do you consider your pharmacist part of your health-care team? If not, you might be missing relatively easy access to important information about medications and your health, according to the November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

To get the best counsel, fill all prescriptions at one pharmacy. Provide your pharmacist with a list of all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use, including supplements or herbal products. Alert your pharmacist to new medical conditions that may affect which medications you can take safely.

Each time you present a new prescription, ask your pharmacist to review your record and check for potential problems including:

* Previous adverse drug reactions

* Duplicate medications, for example, a generic and brand-name version of the same medication

* Interactions between drugs or foods

* Drugs that may adversely affect an unrelated disease or condition

Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511 (evenings)
e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page, monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

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