Do you ask the pharmacist every time you buy an over-the-counter medicine?

[nonnymouse]

I notice that on some of the over-the-counter medicines that I used to take for granted that they were safe, they say to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are diabetic before taking them.

The other day I had a bladder infection, and there's an over-the-counter medicine I've been taking for years that stops the pain. I'd feel kind of silly calling the advice nurse at Kaiser to ask her if there is any problem taking them with the meds I am on.

What do you do when in a similar situation?

Susan

[HeatherP]

I'm probably not a good example, because I just take the stuff. Asking the pharmacist is certainly a good idea, however he/she may not want the liability if anything goes wrong.

If there's certain meds that you take "regularly", then why not ask the doc's office about all of them at the same time, or ask for their recommendations for whichever problems you have or may encounter? That way you'll have a list to go by.

I've had a few bladder infections myself, so I know how it is, believe me. URGENT!! My doc makes me come in to do a test every time, because I'm diabetic. What a drag!

Hope that helps you,
HeatherP

[dpav]

This is a good practice. I have been using the same pharmacist for the past 18 years. Not the same Pharmacy, the same pharmacist. This person has checked and found doctor prescribed meds that I should not take and two that would have done some serious damage to me. He has answered OTC questions for me for a long time. He has also informed me of when Propulsid was being called off of the market and recommended I ask my doctor for a different med to replace it.
In my case I have all positive examples for talking to my pharmacist about the meds I receive, OTC or prescribed.
Don

[Teresa]

its prob a good idea... ive stopped askin tho cos they always tell me i have to ask the doctor... which doesnt exactly help when ya need it right then!!

[Shalyndria]

I agree with dpav. My pharmacist is also a CDE and I've been using her ever since diagnosis. I know she's got my back lol! :cool:

If you can't find a pharmacist to trust though, you should always read the labels. It should tell you if there's any risk for diabetics, in which case you can ask a pharmacist.

Shy

[rzrbks]

Pharmacist where I am now(almost 2 years) is Type II so we're constantly swapping info--the one I used for 14 years was very good source of info too.

I think it depends on your personal relationship with the phamacist. But then I try and make a personal connection with whomever I get my scripts filled--I want to feel safe.

[Linda57]

I tend to use 2 different pharmacies and I ask them both if its ok to take OTC meds.

One of them tends to act like I'm bothering her, but the other one has a adult son (who would seem to live at home) who has a type of Diabetes where he has to eat every hour or so, and his BG shoots up or down without much warning, cant take insulin.
So we have quite a long discussion usually.

I may be bothering them - but thats their job, right?


Love Linda:D

[mg_2204]

... in Québec, pharmacists have all your medical details. And whatever meds you are on, they show up on their computer, whatever pharmacy you buy your meds from. And if you'd buy over the counter meds, the pharmacist could tell you if you could or couldn't take it. Fantastic.

Once my son was prescribed antibiotics and I wasn't familiar with the name. At the pharmacy, I was told my son couldn't take those because of his sulfa allergy. Came up on the computer that my son couldn't take those. And his own doctor had prescribed the antibiotics!!! I was grateful for this wonderful system because when your child is sick and crying and vomiting all over the place, you just have one goal : get out of the pharmacy as quickly as you can and take care of your little one in the comfort of your home. You may not be in the mood for a long chit chat about meds...

Don't have this system over here. That's too bad. But I take no chances. I always remind them I'm diabetic and I ask questions.

Marie
:)

[DeusXM]

To be honest though, most of the time they just say 'consult your doctor if you have diabetes' just to cover their backs. Usually the worst case scenario with any of these kinds of drugs is they mess around with your bg control a little bit.

Then again, if you're ill you're probably already going to have a slightly higher bg anyway.

[mg_2204]

... pharmacists know everything there is to know about meds and side effects, etc. They should be the authority in the field. And we should be able to -t-r-u-s--t- their expertise. Docs prescribe but most of the time the pharmacist knows much more about meds (and should! it's their job). When a pharmacist tells me to consult my doc you can be sure I'll never go back to that pharmacy. Ever.

I also believe health professionals should be told when they are careless and well... when they don't give a ****. If we always let them get away with everything, how can we aspire to better care?

Marie
:)

[Linda57]

Marie,
I used the Superdrugs pharmacy and they gave me a little card, I was told it had what drugs I had been prescribed stored on it.

But it can only be used in Superdrugs - so not much use for me, as I dont often use them.

Love Linda:D

[mg_2204]

Hello Linda! :)

Yes, not very useful if you don't go there often... Back in Montréal, all pharmacies were linked together. That was great! Should be implemented over here...

Marie
:)

[Linda57]

I seem to remember we had plans here in the UK to link all the pharmacies, but it never happened - a good idea in principal..

Love

[Gina]

I usually ask my doctor and he writes something to let them know i have diabetes

[Jenny]

I rarely ask the pharmacist, but one time I did, it is a good thing that I did becasue the doc had prescribed two meds that weren't supposed to go togetgher.....I don't remember what they were though.......

[lgvincent]

I had a pharmacist give me a steroid even though he knew I had diabetes. Now he won't sell me NPH even though a prescription isn't required because he says I need to see my doctor. I have to buy glucose strips from that pharmacy but I don't have to buy anything else and I don't any more.