Many people find they are taking one, two, three or even 20 different medications daily. Most have been prescribed by doctors. Sometimes a medication is no longer needed for a particular ailment.
Sometimes a smaller dose is best.
Sometimes one medication interacts with another one in a negative way, or cancels out the effects of one of the medications. Today we can get our medications checked by a pharmacist to see how we are doing with them. UBC (University of British Columbia) runs a free Pharmacists Clinic to check on medications.
You can call them to make an in-person appointment or to have a telephone consultation. Their number is 604-827-2584. If you prefer to visit the clinic, call and make an appointment. Their address is Pharmacists Clinic, UBC, Second Floor, 2405 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver.
Website: pharmsci.ubc.ca/pharmacists-clinic
Also, if your local pharmacist has the time, you could review all your medications with him/her.
Here are some questions to ask the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about your prescription:
- Why am I taking this medication?
- What are the potential benefits and harms of this medication?
- Can it affect my memory or cause me to fall?
- Can I stop or reduce the dose of this medication?
- Who do I follow up with and when?
By Linda Forsythe