Sleepless Sleep Aids

Pharmacy | South West England, UK | Right | August 24, 2011


(A woman comes to the counter.)

Me: “Hello, how can I help you?”

Customer: “I see you’ve got [sleep aid]. Does it come in a non-drowsy version?”

Two Halves Make A Hole In Your Brain

Pharmacy | Massachusetts, USA | Right | August 22, 2011


Me: “Thank you for calling the pharmacy, how can I help you?”

Customer: “I’d like you to check how much my prescriptions are. My name is [name].”

Me: “You have two prescriptions waiting for you. Each one is $2.50.”

Customer: “So, how much does each one cost?”

Me: “$2.50 each.”

Customer: “So, one is $2.50. How much is the other one?”

Me: “Each of your two prescriptions is $2.50.”

Customer: “So, if I give you $5, how much will my change be?”

Me: “Nothing.”

Customer: *hangs up*

Recipe For Disaster

Pharmacy | Vancouver, WA, USA | Right | July 14, 2011


(A customer comes up to the pharmacy counter. Keep in mind, Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is controlled in all 50 states as it is used to make methamphetamine.)

Customer: “I need some Sudafed.”

Me: “Did you want Sudafed or [store brand]?”

Customer: “What’s the difference?”

Me: “The active ingredient is the same but sometimes they change the inactive ingredients. It still works the same though. Plus, [store brand] is about 5 bucks cheaper.”

Customer: “The recipe said I need Sudafed.”

Me: “…”

Customer: *realizing what she said* “Um, s***. Never mind, I got to go.”

49 Secrets Your Pharmacist Isn’t Telling You

When you pick up your prescription, at a minimum, ask…

Female medicine doctor prescribing pills to her male patient. Healthcare, medical and pharmacy concept.

ldutko/Shutterstock

What is this drug? What does it do? Why am I taking it? What are possible side effects? and How should I take it? Not only does this help you to use the drug correctly, it’s also a good way to double-check that you’re getting the right drug. Half the prescriptions taken in the U.S. each year are used improperly, and 96 percent of patients nationwide don’t ask questions about how to use their medications. Make sure you know about these 10 super-important questions you must ask before taking prescription medications.

When you pick up your prescription, at a minimum, ask…





What is this drug? What does it do? Why am I taking it? What are possible side effects? and How should I take it? Not only does this help you to use the drug correctly, it’s also a good way to double-check that you’re getting the right drug. Half the prescriptions taken in the U.S. each year are used improperly, and 96 percent of patients nationwide don’t ask questions about how to use their medications. Make sure you know about these 10 super-important questions you must ask before taking prescription medications.

Your pharmacist has spent more time studying drugs than even your doctors

Go ahead and call me doctor; I’m just not that kind of doctor. Since mid-2004, pharmacy students must pursue a doctorate in pharmacy (Pharm.D) in order to be licensed. Pharmacists licensed before then must have at least a Bachelor of Pharmacy and pass a series of exams. This is why your pharmacist probably knows more about your health than your doctor.

All pharmacists are not created equal

A less-qualified pharmacy technician may have actually filled your prescription. Currently, there is no national standard for their training and responsibilities

People assume that if it’s over-the-counter, it’s safe



According to Daniel Zlott, a pharmacist at the National Institutes of Health, this may not always be the case for you. “I’ve seen serious complications” with over-the-counter meds, he says. Here are some over-the-counter medication mistakes you didn’t know you were making.

An over-the-counter version of your medication might do the trick

You may just need to take more pills and forgo insurance reimbursement. But always talk to your pharmacist, and do the math

We’ll save you money if we can



“A good part of a pharmacist’s time is spent dealing with patients and their incomes,” says pharmacist Cindy Coffey. Part of that is suggesting generic or OTC alternatives. Or if a doctor has prescribed a newer drug with no generic alternative available, says Zlott, “I might call the doctor to suggest an older drug that’s equally effective.” Make sure to ask these questions that could save you money on medication.

I’d think twice about using a drive-through pharmacy

Our drive-through window may be convenient, but most pharmacists don’t like them. An Ohio State study found that pharmacists believe the distractions associated with drive-through service contribute to delays, reduced efficiency and even dispensing errors. They also create the unrealistic expectation of fast-food-like service. So the next time you’re frustrated and stuck behind five cars, try to remember that getting the wrong prescription is much more dangerous than getting the wrong burger at McDonalds’s—and try to be patient.

The more I know you, the more I can help you


The better I know you as a patient—your health history, your family, and how busy your life is—the better I can tailor medications to fit your lifestyle,” says Zlott. “You may not want to take a drug three times a day, for example, and I’ll know that if I know you.”

Generics are a close match for most brand names


But I’d be careful with blood thinners and thyroid drugs, since small differences can have big effects

Don’t try to get anything past us

Prescriptions for painkillers or sleeping aids always get extra scrutiny. Here are some lies you should never tell your doctor.

When in doubt, ask

I can give you a generic refill that’s different from the one you started with. Online resources like cvs.com let you double-check your pill.

Use one pharmacy if you can

There’s not some big computer database that tracks your drugs and flags interactions for pharmacists everywhere. If you start using a new pharmacy, make sure we know what you’re taking

Here’s how to avoid lines


It gets busy Monday and Tuesday evenings, since many new prescriptions and refills come in after the weekend. Also, steer clear of pharmacies on the first few days of the month—that’s when Social Security checks arrive and recipients swamp the pharmacy. Generally, the best time to visit is in the middle of the week or during the workday (but stay away at lunch hour).

Look into the $4 generics

Chains like Target, Kroger, and Wal-Mart offer them. And it can’t hurt to ask your pharmacy if it will match the price.

Yelling at me won’t help

If I can’t reach your doctor and/or insurance company to approve a refill, there’s nothing I can do about it. “It’s frustrating,” says Zlott, “but I’d be breaking the law in some states if I gave it to you.”

Pharmacists are required by law in most states to counsel patients and answer their questions

If your pharmacist seems too busy to talk with you, take your business someplace else. Check out these other signs you need to fire your doctor.