Prescription Medications
Dispensing Prescription Medications
Our pharmacists will talk to you before providing a prescription to assess your situation and recommend the best treatment for your health condition. If needed, our pharmacist consults with your doctor to see if this is the best solution for you.
Once your prescription is filled, our pharmacists will explain when and how to take your medication and give you other tips to help you receive the best possible benefit from the therapy.
Renewing Prescription Medications
Did you know that our pharmacists can meet with you and may be able to renew prescriptions that have no more refills? This ensures that your prescription and therapy won’t be interrupted.
A consultation with our pharmacist doesn’t replace a check-up with your doctor. However, it can give you a cushion between the time your prescription ends and the date of your next doctor’s appointment to get a renewal.
Before renewing your prescription, our pharmacist will meet with you first to ask you some questions: Was your treatment prescribed for a chronic health problem? Is it effective for you? Are you able to take it as recommended? These questions help the pharmacist, whose goal is to avoid renewing a medication that is no longer right for you and to avoid delays until your next doctor’s appointment. By renewing your prescription, our pharmacists are assuming professional responsibility for your health to ensure you’re getting the best treatment.
Adjusting Prescription Medications
Did you know that when you get a new prescription or prescription renewal, our pharmacists may be able to adjust your dose or change the medication?
For example, if the prescribed dose is not your regular dosage and may be too high or low. our pharmacists may make changes such as adjusting the number of pills you take to make it easier for you to manage your medication.
In other situations, our pharmacists, working with your physician, may be able to increase or reduce your medication dose to help you reach the treatment targets established with your doctor. This is the case for medications for health problems like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid problems, and migraines, as well as for anticoagulant management (e.g., CoumadinTM).
Our pharmacists may also adjust the dosage or form of your prescribed drug to make it easier to take. For instance, you may get the drug in a liquid or chewable form if you have trouble swallowing tablets. Our pharmacist could also recommend that you take your medication in the evening instead of the morning if it causes drowsiness.
Our pharmacists are your medication specialists and are here to make sure your medication works for you.
Substituting Prescription Medications
If your prescribed medication is unavailable because of a supply disruption, our pharmacists may be able to substitute it with an equivalent one.
It can be difficult to predict medication supplies. The pharmaceutical industry must meet strict quality standards, and drug shortages can happen (e.g., if a batch is rejected for some reason).
If your medication is out of stock, our pharmacists may be able to substitute it with an equivalent one. When making a substitution, our pharmacists will ensure that the new drug is in the same family as your prescribed medication. Additionally your physician would be notified of any potential changes.
Our pharmacists will follow up with you after a few days to check that the new medication is working for you. Once your regular medication is available again, our pharmacists, working with your physician, will give you the option of going back to this drug or staying with the substitution.
