Why should I consult a pharmacist when buying OTC drugs?

The next time you need an OTC drug, head back to the pharmacy instead of just running in the drugstore and making a quick grab. The pharmacist can be helpful in helping you make a wise purchase—and a safer one. Remember, they see hundreds of people file in with all sorts of ailments, and they often know which over-the-counter drugs work.

But don't just hold up a bottle and ask, "Is this one good?" Give them the full story. Tell your pharmacist:

• Who the medicine is for. Is it for you, your five-year-old child, or your 73-year-old parent? And no fair sharing unless you tell the pharmacist.
• What symptoms you're trying to treat, how severe they are, and how long they've existed.
• Any health conditions you or the would-be medicine-taker has.
• What makes the symptoms you want to treat better or worse.
• What else you've already taken or tried to treat the problem, and if it helped.
• What other drugs and supplements you or the would-be medicine-taker is also taking.
  
  In tapping your pharmacist this way, you'll greatly reduce the odds that you'll be in the E.R. later than evening with stomach bleeding, or the chance that you'll be up at 3:00 a.m. telling your equally miserable spouse, "I spent $14.49 on this junk, and it has not helped at all."

You should consult a pharmacist when buying over-the-counter (OTC) drugs because a pharmacist is an expert in all medicines -- those that require a prescription and those that don't.

Your pharmacist can answer questions about side effects of OTC drugs and how effectively an OTC medication can treat a particular problem. If you are taking any prescription medications, the pharmacist can also advise you about any potential interactions.

The pharmacist may also give you guidelines on how to take the medication, such as whether you should take it with or without food, the best times of day to take it, or what to do if you miss a dose.