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List Of Your Prescription Drugs: Don't Leave Home Without It

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist News
Article Date: 02 Oct 2007 - 18:00 PDT
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/84297.php

While a majority of Americans have an up-to-date list of the prescriptions they are taking, nearly three-quarters do not carry the list with them at all times, according to a new national consumer survey released today by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The survey finds that less than half (45 percent) have an up-to-date list of their over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, 47 percent have an up-to-date list of their vitamins, and only 20 percent have an up-to-date list of the herbal and natural products they use.

Among people who do not have an up-to-date list, 52 percent said they never thought about it and 39 percent said they have no desire or need to create such a list.

"Having an up-to-date list of the medications, herbal products and vitamins you are taking is a good start, but it's critically important to always have this list with you in case of an emergency," said Karen Reed, a pharmacist and the American Pharmacists Month National Spokesperson. "The list may provide emergency medical personnel with lifesaving information about potential drug interactions."

APhA recommends that people always carry an updated list of their prescription, OTC medications, vitamins and herbal products. The list should include the names and dosages of the medications as well as what conditions the medications treat.

The survey also finds that only 32 percent of pharmacy customers know their pharmacist's name, a slight increase from 2006. APhA continues to stress the connection between the consumer, having a relationship with a pharmacist and how medications are used properly. Only 19 percent of consumers said they are on a first-name basis with their pharmacists compared to 53 percent with their hair dresser, 49 percent with their doctor and 46 percent with their dentist.

Consumers are still hesitant to ask pharmacists about their healthcare needs. Less than half (43 percent) discussed their health concerns with their pharmacists, the same percentage of consumers as last year. Among those who asked questions, the most frequently asked questions were:

• Will it interfere with other medicines I am currently taking? (52 percent);
  
• Is there a generic version of the medicine my doctor has prescribed? (51 percent);
  
• Should I expect any side effects? (39 percent);
  
• Does the medicine contain anything that can cause an allergic reaction? (31 percent);
  
• What is the medicine supposed to do? (26 percent).

"The billions of dollars Americans spend each year on prescription and over- the- counter medications will be wasted if the medications are used incorrectly," said Dr. John Gans, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO. "Patients should work with their doctor and ask their pharmacist questions to avoid misusing their medications, which can prove ineffective and in some instances cause harm. We strongly recommend that patients establish a relationship with their pharmacist."

Other highlights in the survey include:

• The most popular sources of information about medicines are doctors (90 percent) and pharmacists (56 percent);
  
• The most trusted sources of information about medicines are doctors (73 percent), pharmacists (13 percent) and the Internet (7 percent);
  
• 79 percent said that the likelihood of them purchasing OTC medicines that are now kept behind the pharmacy counter remained the same;
  
• 83 percent said that the likelihood of asking pharmacists questions about OTC medicines that are kept behind the counter remained the same.

About the Survey

The "2007 Know Your Medication / Know Your Pharmacist" survey was commissioned by the American Pharmacists Association and conducted in March-April 2007 by Wilson Rx (Wilson Health Information LLC). Source: Know Your Medication - Know Your Pharmacist Survey, 2007 - American Pharmacists Association, Washington, D.C. - All Rights Reserved. For information about WilsonRx, contact info@WilsonRx.com or visit http://www.WilsonRx.com.

Survey Objective: To collect and report information about how consumers interact with and perceive their pharmacist and how their relationship with the pharmacist impacts their knowledge of their health, medications and medical treatments.

Survey Sample: 1,719 qualified respondents from a nationally representative panel of 3,006 households (57.2 percent response rate).

Statistical Confidence: plus/minus 2.41 percent.

About American Pharmacists Month

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) launched American Pharmacists Month in October 2004. Expanding from the long-standing National Pharmacy Week established in 1925, the month-long observance represents the Association's effort to exponentially increase consumers' understanding of the pharmacist's role in improving medication use and advancing patient care. Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals and McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals serve as the National Founding Sponsors of American Pharmacists Month.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.