Consumers not seeking Pharmacist's advice

As new prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies migrate into medicine cabinets across the United States, consumers should be asking pharmacists more about dosage and interactions. Yet many aren't talking to pharmacists at all, according to a recent survey of more than 40,000 Consumer Reports readers. CR found that readers sought pharmacists' advice about prescription drugs at just 38 percent of walk-in visits during the course of a year, and they asked about over-the-counter remedies at just 29 percent. That's far less than in CR's 2002 survey, when the figures were 50 percent and 37 percent, respectively.

Steve - this is disturbing but not surprising. It is a pharmacist's job to know these things. Use them! You cannot rely on your doctor for this information. If you choose not to speak with your pharmacist, at least read the medication insert before you take any medication.

The other side of the coin is: doctors and pharmacists could be offering up their assistance in these matters, not waiting for us to ask. A simple sentence such as, "Would you like me to discuss the potential side effects and contraindications that may occur with this medication," would suffice. Does this ever happen? Rarely. But it should be commonplace.