Eagle file photos
Len’s Drug Pharmacy Technician Rori
Leighton, left, and Pharmacy Manager Tilli
Bjornberg work in the John Day pharmacy.
Pharmacists
can
explain
prescriptions at Len’s Drug in
John Day.
Len’s Drug Pharmacy Manager Tilli Bjornberg
has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a
Masters of Business Administration degree in
pharmacy management.
Talking to the pharmacist ...
... not just a good idea
By Greg Armstrong
For the Blue Mountain Eagle
I
n our fast-paced digital world, the oppor-
tunity for meaningful face-to-face inter-
action still does exist and perhaps at an
unlikely place: the pharmacy.
While they may seem busy, a few
extra moments talking to a pharmacist can be
worthwhile.
Most pharmacists choose their careers
because they like people and they like to help
people become healthier. Many pharmacists
participate in special programs that help their
customers become the best they can be by
offering weight-loss programs, smoking ces-
sation, cardiac health, diabetes care or lung
care.
You may have heard these words at the
pharmacy counter, “The pharmacist is going
to come down and visit with you about your
prescription.” Great, you think, more waiting,
but your pharmacist wants to ensure that you
understand at least a few details about your
medication. Mostly, the pharmacist will con-
centrate on new medication or changes to your
current medication. That is why you should
look carefully at your medication before you
leave the pharmacy. Read the instructions to
ensure you understand and no changes have
occurred, even on refills. Check the medica-
tion for the same size, color and shape that
you are used to getting. Pharmacies would
love to never change the manufacturer of your
medications — it would solve many of their
problems — but they are at the mercy of drug
wholesalers and manufactures to maintain
their inventory to have adequate supplies of
medication to serve the population of custom-
ers. If anything does not look right, ask!
The pharmacist is always willing to talk.
Even if busy, they are willing.
Especially when it comes to children’s
medications, be sure your questions are
answered. Common question areas include
storage, dosage, side effects, special precau-
tions, conflicts with food or other medicines
or missed doses.
Not only are these good questions, but it is
also important that your children understand
their medication and how to use it.
A study from the UK states, “Although
children take responsibility for taking their
medication at different ages, involving par-
ents, and where possible children, in decision
making is key to medicine optimization.”
At Len’s Drug, the pharmacists love to
speak directly to the child, if possible, during
a medication consultation. The child will take
much more ownership of their medication if
the information is given directly to them.
And always feel free to call the pharma-
cist if you have questions once you’re home.
The pharmacist really does want to make sure
you have the information you need, both writ-
ten and verbal.
Pharmacists also offer these general tips
about your medication:
• Do not keep medicine in the medicine
cabinet! The medicine cabinet in a steamy,
moist bathroom is not the best place to keep
any medicine — prescription or otherwise.
The room’s moisture can make medicines less
potent. It’s best to keep medicines in a hall
closet or on a high shelf in the kitchen.
• Remember to keep prescription and non-
prescription medicines out of the reach of
children.
• Never repackage medicines. Keep them
in their original childproof containers so
you’ll have the expiration date and instruc-
tions on hand.
• Toss out medicines when they have
expired (usually one year for pills or sooner
for liquids — check the prescription label for
the expiration date) or the doctor has told you
that your child should stop taking them.
• Most liquid medicines are now fla-
vored, but some might taste bad to a young
child. Some can be mixed with other flavors
or foods to encourage kids to take the entire
dose. Check with your pharmacist to see what
would work best with which drug.
• When giving liquid medicine, use a medi-
cine syringe or spoon (not a household spoon)
to make sure your child gets the exact amount
prescribed. Len’s Drug has complimentary
dosage spoons and droppers available.
• If your child takes the wrong dosage, call
the pharmacist or doctor right away and fol-
low the instructions.
• If medicines need to be refrigerated, keep
them cool while traveling. Freezer packs in
coolers work fine. If you can, take the entire
medicine bottle. That way, you won’t forget
the prescription dosage and, if something hap-
pens to the medicine, you can get a refill.
The pharmacist staff at Len’s Drug strives
to be available for your every need.
Call the pharmacy anytime with questions
at 541-575-0629.
Greg Armstrong is a registered pharma-
cist at Len’s Drug in John Day with a Bache-
lor of Pharmacy degree. The pharmacy staff
includes Tilli Bjornberg, who has a Doctor of
Pharmacy degree and a Masters of Business
Administration degree in pharmacy manage-
ment, and Carl Amstad, Tracie Unterwegner
and Wendy Springer, who have Bachelor of
Pharmacy degrees.
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