Family Road Map Guide

Get to Know Your Pharmacist
A good pharmacist could be your single best source of information about medications.
Most are willing to spend time making sure you have all the facts. Pharmacists
also know a lot about your prescription drug insurance.
Use the same pharmacy location. If that’s not possible, use the same
chain. The stores in one chain will usually have the same computer system to hold
patient information. If your insurance requires you to use a “mail-order” pharmacy,
there is usually a toll-free number to call with questions. Look on the bottle or in
the packaging that comes with the child’s medications. Always check the label on
the medicine bottle to make sure the details match the prescription form. If the
doctor sends the information to the pharmacy electronically without giving you a
prescription form, ask for a copy of the form before you leave. Pharmacists may
substitute the less expensive “generic” for a brand-name drug. That’s fine so long
as the doctor has not marked “name brand only” on the prescription. Also, look at
the drug information inside the prescription envelope, medicine box, or flyer.
Ask about anything you don’t understand. Check for stickers on the
bottle that give warnings such as “take with food” or “avoid sun exposure,” and ask
for more details. (What kind of food? Can I give this an hour after my child eats?
My child plays on a team outdoors. If I put a strong sunscreen on him, is that good
enough? What does “drink plenty of water” really mean?)
Meds Safety
See Guiding Star Point
4, “Tracking Your Child’s
Progress,” for more tips
on organizing medications,
observing side effects, and
keeping track of behavior
changes.
Ask about side effects, even if the doctor has already mentioned them.
A busy doctor may not tell you everything (or know everything) about a medication.
Ask which side effects mean you should check back with the pharmacy or doctor
right away. Unlike health practices, pharmacies usually can answer questions on
nights and weekends and will get right on the phone with you. Often, they can also
call the doctor’s office directly and get answers more quickly.
Be sure your child’s pharmacy record includes any over-the-counter
(non-prescription) drugs your child takes. Ask about meds for temporary
illnesses, such as colds, infections, or viruses. If, for some reason, the pharmacist
is not helpful with answering questions, think about using a different pharmacy. If a
“mail order” pharmacy assistant is not helpful, ask to speak with a supervisor.
Take time to form a good relationship with your pharmacist. Plan
ahead to get refills. Use automated refill phone lines and automatic refill reminder
systems if they are offered. Ask what times of the day or week the store is busiest.
Try not to call with questions or prescription needs during “rush” hours, so the
pharmacist can give you the attention you need.
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