Are You Taking Your Medications Correctly? Your Pharmacy Is Here To Help
Have you ever felt that the medications you take are not working well for you? Is it difficult to keep track of them? Did your doctor tell you that while taking your medications, you need to manage your lifestyle or diet? Or, are you worried that a new medication may affect other medications you’re taking?
If you want to feel better and cope with your doctor’s recommendations, talking with your pharmacist is a great place to start.
Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a specific service offered by some pharmacies that aim to optimize the overall health management to individual patients along with medication management. Certain health conditions need to be monitored well to improve the overall individual health outcome. MTM includes the following services:
A review of all prescription/non-prescription medications. This review covers all the problems or issues that you have while you are on these medications from any side effects, unnecessary medications, or inappropriate medication to some disease states. Plus, the interactions between the medications you take and the food you eat.
We go in-depth into each medication and provide you with a comprehensive consultation with you and your caregiver to make sure that you know how to use your mediations appropriately.
We can talk to your doctor and relay to them all the health issues you have and develop a plan for you that can help to better manage your overall health.
We go over your lifestyle including the food you eat and the best exercise regimen for you.
We provide you a list of the necessary vaccinations you need to take based on your age.
By having this conversation with your pharmacist, you have the power to be more knowledgeable about your condition and how to manage your medications, lifestyle, and diet. You will see and feel a big difference in your quality of life – not only by improving your health, but also by reducing unnecessary costs for medications, lab works, or doctor visits.
There are many examples of conditions that can be managed better by combining the right choice of medication with the improvement of lifestyle and food choices. Let’s use high blood pressure as an example:
People who take blood pressure medications are often told by their doctor to adjust their diet and lifestyle. Your pharmacist can help you learn exactly what adjustments are necessary, while taking other prescribed medications or conditions into account. They will recommend specific amounts of vitamins, foods, supplements, and exercise to improve your blood pressure readings, increase the effectiveness of medications, and help you avoid serious risks to your heart health.
No matter which conditions or medications apply to you, you will feel better talking with your pharmacist and knowing that you’re making the right decisions for your health.
