Do You Need a Pharmacist Consultation? Probably Yes

What a consultation actually covers

A medication consultation at Fairview typically covers four areas.

• A full review of every medication you take, including OTC products and supplements. Not just the bottles you bring in, but the bottles in your bathroom cabinet, your car, your purse.
• How you actually take each one, compared to how it is prescribed. Missed doses, skipped doses, doubled doses, timing relative to food.
• Side effects, both expected and worth flagging.
• Your questions, concerns, and goals. What is working. What is not. What you wish you understood better.

Who benefits most

• Anyone on 4 or more medications. The complexity rises quickly past this point.
• Anyone recently discharged from the hospital. Medications change at discharge and reconciliation often fails.
• Anyone on a new medication who has questions.
• Anyone caring for a family member with multiple conditions.
• Anyone on a medication for more than a year who has never had it reviewed.
• Anyone with side effects they have not raised with their doctor.
• Anyone considering supplements alongside prescriptions.
• Anyone on Medicare Part D who has not had a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR), which Medicare covers annually for many beneficiaries.

What patients often discover

Common findings during a consultation:

• A medication that is no longer needed but was never stopped.
• Two medications with overlapping effects, where one was supposed to replace the other.
• A side effect the patient assumed was just part of getting older but is actually from a medication.
• An OTC product or supplement interacting with a prescription.
• A timing issue (medication taken at the wrong time relative to food, other meds, or sleep) reducing effectiveness.
• A cheaper formulation or alternative the doctor did not know about.
• A medication that should be split to a different time of day for better tolerance.
• Missing vaccines.

What to bring

• All your prescription bottles, even from other pharmacies.
• All OTC products you take regularly.
• All supplements, vitamins, and herbal products.
• A list of your conditions, surgeries, and allergies.
• Any notes from recent doctor visits or hospital stays.
• Your questions, written down. Even the ones that seem small.

How to schedule one

Call us. Tell us you would like a medication consultation. We schedule them at times when the dispensing flow allows for an uninterrupted conversation, which is usually mornings or specific afternoons. The consultation can happen at the counter in our consultation area, or over the phone for patients who cannot come in.

For patients on Medicare Part D, you may be eligible for a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) that your plan covers annually. We can check your eligibility and run the review if you qualify.

What happens after

You leave with a written summary of what was discussed, including any changes recommended. If we identified things to discuss with your doctor, we either contact the doctor directly with your permission or give you the talking points to take to your next visit.

When to talk to a pharmacist

• You are on multiple medications and have never had a structured review.
• You were recently discharged from the hospital.
• You started a new medication and want to confirm everything is set up correctly.
• You take supplements and want to confirm they work with your prescriptions.
• You are caring for a family member and need help organizing their medication plan.
• You have Medicare Part D and have not had your annual CMR.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Before starting or changing any medication, including over the counter products and supplements, talk with your pharmacist or physician about your specific situation.