Expert advice: How pharmacists can help manage your medication

Pharmacists offer many services to help people manage their medications and medical conditions, such as:

• Medication reviews = Understanding your medications: Pharmacists can review and discuss all medications, including vitamins, herbals products and over-the-counter products. The pharmacist will review what the medication is, how it should be taken and any common side effects or concerns and how to manage them. The pharmacist will also check for drug interactions between prescription medications, over the counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal products. The pharmacist will provide a medication list to the patient, so they have it at home for reference. Currently, pharmacists can discuss strategies on managing medications such as use of a pill-container or possibly blister packing.
• Pre-filled daily medication pack (blister packing): Pharmacists can make a pill pack for the patient, which would be pre-filled with the medications to be taken at certain times each day and for the week. This helps people take their medications at the right time.
• Medication reminders and auto fills: Some pharmacies offer services to remind people to fill their medication or automatically refill medications when refills are due.

Pharmacists are the most accessible health-care provider in the community and can accommodate walk-in health advice and can schedule one-on one appointments. Pharmacy teams have the resources and references available to make sure that patients are receiving the most up to date healthcare, while being able to work with other healthcare professions, such as physicians to create a more in-depth health plan. Pharmacists are required to maintain patient confidentiality.

Booking a medication review session with a pharmacist allows the patient to gain a greater understanding of their medications and their impacts. When compliance is increased through pre-filled daily medication packs (blister packing) or pill containers, doses of medications often decrease as patients have a better knowledge around how to properly use their medication. 

There is a large spectrum of pharmacy services available, it’s best to ask your pharmacy what they offer and can help with. If it’s not a service provided, a member of the pharmacy team can refer you somewhere else. 

Most pharmacy services are free to the patient and may be covered through PharmaCare. These include medication reviews, provincial immunizations, smoking cessation products (quitting smoking), and pre-filled daily medication packs (blister packing). 

Some of the services that may have additional charges (depending on the pharmacy) include private vaccine administration, travel health consults, compounding and delivery services.

Most pharmacy services are offered for any age group. The most utilized service is pre-filled daily medication packs (blister packing). 

Blister packing and medication reviews can help aid compliance for any age group, or any number of medications being taken. Understanding what your medications are for and how to take them properly is critical for all age groups. Other services such as routine immunizations are important for all ages and are often overlooked and missed in young adults.

 Tiffany Ryan, B.Sc.(pharm), R. Ph: Pharmacy Manager for Safeway Operations, Sobeys Inc., in Castlegar, B.C.

Tiffany is a community pharmacist who grew up in Castlegar, B.C. and returned to her hometown after completing the pharmacy program and working for five years in Alberta. Tiffany wanted to be closer to the mountains and lakes, while gaining a better work-life balance for her family that includes two young daughters. 

Tiffany is passionate about pharmacy. She enjoys helping patients understand and manage their medications to optimize their health and has a special interest in immunizations and travel health. Tiffany is looking forward to the future of pharmacy and hopes the scope of practice will continue to expand, so pharmacists can provide more services to benefit patients.