Will Penbutolo have negative side effects if taken with Trandolapril? What's the difference between a beta-blocker and an ACE inhibitor?
If you're like most people, you don't know - but your pharmacist does.
London Drugs pharmacist Robert Pammett will be answering seniors' questions about medications and how to find information about them at the Prince George Council of Seniors Wellness Wednesday presentation tomorrow.
"My take-home is get to know your pharmacist like you know your family doctor," Pammett said. "Going to someone you trust and who knows you is important."
In April the B.C. Pharmacy Association launched the Medication Review Service at pharmacies across the province.
The program provides resources for pharmacists to sit down with patients and take a look at the medications they're taking, what possible side-effects or interactions they may have, and how those medications could be optimized, he said.
"We'd like to focus on people with multiple medications, but it's open to anyone," Pammett said. "We just generally want to highlight that we have a tool and resources to do this at no cost to the patient."
At the end of the review, the pharmacist should be able to provide recommendations on things like adjusting dosages, alternative medications and why those medications are important, Pammett said.
"As people age, the risk for cardiovascular disease and other conditions increase. It may mean moving from taking two medications a day up to 10 or 15 a day," Pammett said. "The more medication you're on, the more interactions you're going to have. It's key for us as pharmacists to frame that risk."
Those types of judgment calls take place every day behind pharmacy counters without patients even knowing its happening, he said. But pharmacists in B.C. are looking to take a more active role as medical information providers.
"It's our role to provide education and information about he medications we dispense," he said. "[Because] unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of time in the doctors' offices for that kind of information."
Prince George Council of Seniors program coordinator Judy Close said Pammett's presentation is the season finale for the council's Wellness Wednesday presentations.
"We've had some wonderful speakers," Close said. "[But] we can't quite get it rolling, and I'm not sure why."
Close said the council will be looking at ways to renew the program and attract larger audiences when the series relaunches in the fall.
"We're going to revamp it in September. Over the summer we might look at a number of ways to rework it," she said.
The free information session runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Prince George Council of Seniors office at 1055 Fifth Ave.
