THE SCHILLS REMEDY'SRx
Article published by the Waterloo Chronicle on Wednesday, March 16, 2011
By Charlotte Prong Parkhill (Chronicle Staff)
Many people may not realize that a local pharmacist can be an integral part of health care management. Clients who take three or more prescribed medications can get a thorough review with their pharmacist.
"We dispel myths," said pharmacist Catherine Schill of Remedy'sRx on University Avenue. "We use evidence-based medicine and give concrete facts to people so they can make informed decisions."
She and her husband William have been offering the service at their drugstore since the Ontario government introduced the original MedsCheck program in 2007. The program was expanded in 2010 to reach residents of licensed long-term care homes, all people in Ontario who are living with diabetes, as well as those who are homebound an not able to attend their community pharmacy for the service.
Schill does about 20 reviews a week. Each session, offered annually and paid through OHIP, takes at least half an hour.
Many of the clients have asthma, diabetes, hypertension, or are seniors with a range of health issues. She asks clients to bring in not just their prescription medications, but also any over-the-counter products, including herbal supplements and vitamins, that they may be taking.
"Natural health products would be most critical," she said. "During the review, we make sure there are no drug interactions, that it's effective and that it's safe."
Many people start taking these products after hearing about them from a friend, or reading about them in a magazine or on the Internet. But they may not have talked to their doctor about it, or done any thorough research themselves. For instance, a product called Vitalux can be effective for people who have a family history of an eye condition known as macular degeneration. But Schill has seen several people without that family history who are taking it for cataracts or some other eye problem. "It can become a safety and a cost issue for some people," she said.
Other clients come in with several multiple-ingredient vitamins and may not realize they are doubling or tripling the required dose of Vitamin D, for instance. Or they may unknowingly be creating a dangerous cocktail of an over-the-counter product and a prescription medication.
Some people who take cholesterol medications known as statins also take a co-enzyme Q10 supplement. But that supplement should never be mixed with warfarin, and anti-coagulant drug.
Some cough syrups interact negatively with antidepressants. People who have an ulcer or heartburn can aggravate their condition by taking aspirin or ibuprofen. Schill said MedsCheck is a great program, but she wishes it could be expanded to those who are not on multiple prescribed medications so she can help to prevent potential pitfalls.
She screens the client to ensure they have an understanding of their disease and the medications the're taking.
Is it treating the condition it was intending to treat? What are the side effects? Is it effective and safe? "We look at the drugs individually, and make sure they make sense together," she said.
It's a lot of information for people to sort out for themselves. And they may not have talked to their doctor about supplements, or they may begin taking them between doctor visits. Schill also asks her clients about their lifestyle and background. Do they go to Florida for the winter? Are they active or sedentary? What is the medical history of their family?
"Knowing that background is the most important thing probably. Let's face it, doctor's visits are short," she said.
"And there is a continuity of care with your local pharmacist because of the potential to see them often."
Call your local pharmacy for a MedsCheck appointment.