When it comes to medications, more isn’t always better. If you’ve been taking the same pills for years, it might be time to have a health professional help re-evaluate if you still need them all.
Many people continue taking medicines long after they’re needed. Others may not know why they started them in the first place. Sleeping pills, acid suppressants and certain pain medications are common examples.
Calgary Foothills PCN clinical pharmacists can help you understand if a change might be right for you.
“We want to make sure people are on the right medicines at the right dose — and only for as long as they need them,” says Michael Koch, PCN clinical pharmacist. “Our job is to ask the right questions and make sure each prescription still makes sense for the person’s life today.”
Sometimes, stopping or reducing a medicine can reveal unexpected benefits — like fewer side effects or better sleep. Other times, it may make sense to restart the original medication. The key is teamwork, open conversation and ongoing follow-up.
When you visit a PCN pharmacist, Koch says the team always begins with a full medication review. During this discussion, the pharmacist will ask a few questions about your health history and each medication that you take – including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products. It’s a great idea to bring your pills and bottles with you to this meeting.
“Just because a medication helped once doesn’t mean it’s still needed,” says Koch. “Every medicine should always have a purpose.”
If a medication stands out, the PCN pharmacist will ask why you’re taking it, how it helps and whether it’s still needed. Some medications — like sleeping pills or stomach acid reducers — may no longer be effective or appropriate. If so, the pharmacist will work closely with your doctor and care team to plan a safe, gradual way to reduce or stop taking it.
Koch adds tapering off a medication can take weeks or months, and you as the patient are involved in every decision: “We’re not here to take people off their medicines without a plan,” Koch explains. “We want patients to feel comfortable, informed and in control.”
To meet with a Calgary Foothills PCN pharmacist, speak to your doctor or contact the team through our website.