Your pharmacist is trained to help you choose the medicine or product that will be most effective and safest for your needs. When you are buying from a pharmacy, you can ask questions of any of the pharmacy assistants. If they are unable to help, they will ask the pharmacist who has a wide and in-depth knowledge of prescription and non-prescription medicines (also called OTC or Over-the-Counter medicines).
It is always useful to talk to the pharmacy staff – they can pick up a lot of information about your state of health just by listening and observing. It also gives the staff chance to ask you the right questions. Every customer is unique!
Importantly, you can expect that all personal discussions with pharmacy staff will be sensitive and discreet, so other customers cannot overhear. Pharmacy staff realise that what one person considers a reasonable enquiry might embarrass another.
You can ask to talk to the pharmacist himself or herself if you wish. Some medicines are classified as [PHARMACIST ONLY], which means the sale needs to be permitted by the pharmacist and not by an assistant.
It is particularly important to talk to your pharmacist if…
- you are taking any other medicines, remedies or natural therapies at the moment (including anything you may have bought in a supermarket)
- you have any other health problems or conditions*
- you have any allergies or have reacted badly to any medicines before
- the medicine or product you are buying is for an infant or elderly person.
*eg, long term conditions like high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, glaucoma, heart disease, osteoporosis or pain.
If you remember, before visiting the pharmacy, note down the names of any medicines and other remedies, supplements or natural therapies you are taking. Note the brandname of the product (eg, Nurofen) and/or the ingredients (ibuprofen) – our OTC Medicines and Products Guide may help you with this.
If you know what you want and you request a specific medicine or product, the pharmacy staff may still ask you some questions. This is because it is important they check there has been no change in your health since you last used it.
If you have tried using a medicine or product and are not happy with it, pharmacy staff can usually suggest another or seek advice from the pharmacist about a “step-up” in treatment. They should also check to make sure you have been using the product correctly.
Your pharmacist can dispose of any unwanted or out-of-date medicines. Disposing of medicines is particularly important if you have small children around the house.