You know your pharmacy is there for you when you need to fill your prescriptions, get your annual flu shot, or purchase over-the-counter medicines for things like allergies and minor aches and pains, but your local pharmacy can also cover a whole slew of other needs that you might not be aware of.
Here are some of the things you can get help with at your local pharmacy:
- Quit smoking.
If you smoke or use tobacco products, quitting can be one of the best things you do for your health. But if you’ve tried to quit in the past, you know how difficult that can be. Your pharmacist, though, can advise you on products that can make quitting easier – including both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- Measure your blood pressure.Â
Has a doctor advised you that you should be monitoring your blood pressure? Next time you stop by the pharmacy, check your blood pressure.
- Diabetes care.Â
Managing your diabetes can feel overwhelming, particularly if your diagnosis is recent. From measuring your blood sugar to administering self-injectable drugs, it can be very nerve-wracking. But your pharmacist can help you learn what you need to know, provide you with specific techniques and help you to become more comfortable.
- Stay current with your immunizations.
You are probably aware that you can get flu and covid vaccines at your local pharmacy. But did you know there are other vaccines your pharmacist can provide as well? Your pharmacist may also be able to provide vaccines for tetanus, HPV, shingles, and pneumococcal, as well as travel-specific vaccines such as typhoid and yellow fever.
- Avoid harmful drug interactions.Â
Your pharmacist doesn’t just fill prescriptions given to you by doctors or specialists; they are also trained to know about various drug interactions. When filling a prescription (especially if it’s for the first time), bring in a list of everything you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications, supplements, and prescriptions that have been filled at other pharmacies. If there are any potentially harmful drug interactions, your pharmacist will alert you to them.
- Synchronize your medication refills.Â
If you have multiple prescription medications, your pharmacist can synchronize them to allow you to pick up all your refills on the same day each month. This means that instead of making multiple trips to the pharmacy every month, you can get what you need to be done with just one trip, saving you time.
- Get your kids to take their medicine.Â
If you have a child that resists taking their medicine because they don’t like the taste, you can ask your pharmacist if they can flavour the medicine for you. There is usually a range of flavours available, from various fruit flavours to chocolate or vanilla.
- Get the right over-the-counter medicines.Â
Your pharmacist can help you choose the right over-the-counter medicine for minor ailments ranging from upset stomach to heartburn to seasonal allergies. Your pharmacy has a wide range of over-the-counter medications, and your pharmacist can advise you on what is likely to give you the most relief.
Contact Brant Arts today.
Next time you visit the pharmacy, remember there is a long list of things your pharmacist can help you with. If you have a question about how we can help you, be sure to talk to us today.
