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Up to Speed on Your Meds

415 views · Published 11 January 2015 · 1:45 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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One of your best health advisers may be found where you’d least expect. Your pharmacist generally has a pretty good idea of where you stand with your prescription drugs.

“Most patients usually see a primary care provider, but often they see specialists that may prescribe other items for that patient. So there are multiple medications coming from multiple prescribers,” explains John Armistead, director of pharmacy for Lee Memorial Health System.

Think of them as a resource to carefully explain drug side affects along with how and when meds should be taken. Up to 30% of prescriptions are not refilled, leading to non-adherence and potential problems.

“Medication therapy is really a key to self-care in home environment. So it’s absolutely essential that a patient understand why they are taking a medication, what side effects might they experience if they’re taking that medication, and who to contact if they do have problems.”

Another stumbling block involves monitoring multiple medications. It is not unusual for an elderly or chronically ill person to take more than a dozen pills a day. The interactions with each other can create symptoms like dizziness, which can lead to accidents or injuries.

“Annually you should kind of review what your medications are. Sometimes there are symptoms that you haven’t had in ten years and you’re still on the medication for that. Maybe you can be weaned back or something along those lines.” 

Keeping tabs on your pills and tablets - your pharmacists is in the best position to assist.

“The pharmacist is the health care professional that you can see every month when you get your prescriptions refilled,” says Armistead.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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