What should I ask the pharmacist about my parent's medicines?

If you help a parent with their medicines, the pharmacist is one of the easiest people to talk to. You do not need an appointment for a quick question, and they see the whole list of what your parent takes. This guide is a set of questions to ask, not medical advice. For anything about your parent's own health, ask the pharmacist or the care team.

Checklist to bring

• A current list of every medicine: prescriptions, over the counter products, vitamins, minerals and herbal products
• Your parent's drug allergies
• Any recent changes the doctor made, including ones said out loud and never written down
• Recent lab results, if you have them
• Your parent's consent or whatever the pharmacy asks for, if you are not the one picking up
• A pen, or your phone, to write the answers down

Start with three plain questions

AARP, in its guide to partnering with a pharmacist, describes three questions that work at any counselling session: what is this medicine for, how should it be taken, and what should I expect it to do. The pharmacist can also explain when it should start working and how to tell that it is working.

Then ask the follow-up questions

AARP also suggests asking:

• Is morning or evening better?
• Should it be taken with food, and does any food interact with it?
• Is it compatible with the other medicines my parent takes?
• What side effects should I watch for?
• What should we do if a dose is missed, or if symptoms do not improve?

Five questions from a Canadian safety campaign

"5 Questions to Ask About Your Medications" was built by ISMP Canada with partner organizations. Its poster says to ask these when you see your doctor, nurse or pharmacist:

1. Changes? Have any medications been added, stopped or changed, and why?
2. Continue? What medications do I need to keep taking, and why?
3. Proper use? How do I take my medications, and for how long?
4. Monitor? How will I know if my medication is working, and what side effects do I watch for?
5. Follow-up? Do I need any tests and when do I book my next visit?

The same poster says to keep your medication record up to date, including drug allergies, vitamins and minerals, herbal or natural products, and all medications including non-prescription products. It also says to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to review all your medications to see if any can be stopped or reduced. ISMP Canada says the questions are meant for moments like a doctor's appointment, a visit to the community pharmacist, discharge from hospital to home, or a visit from home care services.

AARP describes the same idea as a medication review: a pharmacist checks all prescriptions for effectiveness, interactions and gaps in care. It suggests asking for one when conditions change.

Use one pharmacy if you can

AARP notes that different pharmacies may not see the full medicine list, which raises the risk of duplication or harmful interactions. Ask the pharmacist whether it makes sense to bring all prescriptions to one place.

Say it back

AARP recommends "teach-back": repeat the instructions in your own words so the pharmacist can confirm you understood. It takes thirty seconds and catches mix-ups early.

If you are not the patient

AARP says pharmacists in the US may ask for a HIPAA authorization, a medical power of attorney or guardianship papers, although some accept the patient's verbal approval. Rules differ by country and province. In Canada, ask the pharmacy what it needs from you, and whether your parent can give consent on the spot.

Country notes

• Canada: Services differ by province, so ask your pharmacist what is offered where your parent lives. In British Columbia, for example, the BC Pharmacy Association says a Medication Review Service is open to BC residents with a valid BC Services Card who were prescribed at least five medications in the last six months, once every six months, and it cannot be given without the patient's consent. The pharmacist prepares a Best Possible Medication History, a list your parent can share with a doctor or other health professional. If the community pharmacy is closed, HealthLink BC (8-1-1) says its pharmacists are available from 5 pm to 9 am, seven days a week, to advise on prescription and non-prescription medicines.
• United States: AARP says a medication review can take 30 minutes to an hour, and is often covered by insurance, including Medicare with preapproval. Ask your plan.
• Australia: Healthdirect says that if you take multiple medicines, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist for a regular medicine review, ideally every 6 to 12 months and when starting or stopping a medicine. It also describes the Home Medicines Review, where a pharmacist visits you at home. You need a referral from a doctor, and healthdirect says the service is free of charge.

A note from Cureva

Cureva is a personal and family health companion app for people who look after a parent or someone close. You can keep a medicine list and doctor notes in one place, and share the medicine list with family caregivers. Cureva is launching soon, and there is a waitlist on cureva.app.

Want the one page version to print and bring? Get the free Medicine and Doctor Sheet: https://cureva.app/free?utm_source=seo_what-to-ask-the-pharmacist-about-your-parents-medicines

Sources

• AARP, "Why Pharmacists Should Be Every Caregiver's Go-To Ally": https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/medical/partner-with-a-pharmacist/
• ISMP Canada, "5 Questions to Ask About Your Medications": https://www.ismp-canada.org/medrec/5questions.htm
• ISMP Canada poster, "5 Questions to Ask About Your Medications" (wording quoted from the poster PDF): https://www.ismp-canada.org/download/MedRec/5questions/MedSafetyPoster-SHS-EN.pdf
• BC Pharmacy Association, "Medication Review Services": https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/node/296
• HealthLink BC, "HealthLink BC 8-1-1 services": https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/healthlink-bc-8-1-1-services
• healthdirect (Australia), "Medicines safety for older people": https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines-safety-for-older-people