Pharmaceutical Addendum

*Important Safety Note Regarding Previous Post *

When it comes to taking medications and supplements, I always error on the side of caution and call a pharmacist to triple check I'm not taking anything that will interact with anything else I'm already taking. You would be shocked. Just shocked! At the things I've been prescribed by a doctor, only to be told later by a pharmacist they interact with things I'm already taking - even though I specifically informed my doctor I was already taking the medicine in question.

*Take Home Message*

Drug interactions can happen from a variety of sources: prescription medicine, over the counter medicine (both oral and topical), vitamins, supplements, and even tea!




*Helpful Hints*

• Next time you add a new item into your regimen, quickly run the new item by a pharmacist. It's easy, you can simply pick any pharmacy (CVS, Walgreen's, Rite Aid, etc.,) find their phone number (phone book or online,) and call them. You do not have to have purchased your item in question at that store. Heck, the store you call doesn't even have to be in the same state! Trust me, I've done this for years and the pharmacist won't ask - who, what, where, when, why or how - you want to know. They'll just tell you if (and how) item "A," interacts with item "B," "C," or "D."

• When you call, ask to speak directly with the "pharmacist" (not a pharmacy tech).

A typical call to the pharmacy might go something like this:
Pharmacy: "Hello! CVS, how may I help you?"
You: "Yes, I would like to speak with the pharmacist please."

(They will transfer you, or tell you when to call back if a pharmacist is not on duty.)

Pharmacy: "Hello this is Ruth."
You: "Hi, Ruth. Are you the pharmacist on duty?"
Pharmacy: "Yes."
You: "Great. I'm taking a few medications and vitamins and I wanted to know if I'm taking anything that will interact."
Pharmacy: "Sure, which ones?"
You: (Then just list anything you're taking.) "I've been taking 'Zytrec' and 'New Chapter' brand 'Women's One Daily' multivitamins for about two years. I take each of those once a day. And I've just been prescribed _____. Are all of those safe to take together?"

The pharmacist might advise taking item "A" in the morning and item "B" at night...12 hours apart can actually make a big difference.

Or, You might be surprised what you hear back regarding possible drug interactions.


For example, did you know that St Johns Wort and some antibiotics can interfere with hormonal birth control? Yikes! I mean I want children, but not because I was an idiot and didn't check to see if there were possible drug interactions.

Also, did you know that some multivitamins interact with some antibiotics? Meaning a multivitamin could be the difference between a harmless little infection, and four days in the hospital with a raging whopper of an infection.

And don't even get me started on Calcium supplements...

*Tips to Remember*

• If a pharmacist seems rude to you over the phone - They're probably just having a busy day. And what you're sensing is just accumulated stress from their day. I've spoken with many pharmacists and they all say they're glad I'm double checking possible drug interactions, and it's not against their policy, at all, to give advice over the phone.

• If something the pharmacist says to you seems strange, call another pharmacy.

• Drug interactions get a lot more complicated if you're pregnant (or TTC). Make sure you mention that "pre-existing condition" if, and when, it applies to you. ;)

*Bottom Line*

Be your own health advocate - Do your homework!