Q: I go to several different pharmacies depending on which one has the best price on the medication I need. Is that OK?
A: When a patient goes to more than one pharmacy, it increases the potential that possible significant interactions may be overlooked and the patient can experience a serious medication related problem. When a patient is directed by their health or prescription plan to use a mail order pharmacy for their "maintenance medications" and a local pharmacy is used for immediate or initial doses, patients must still report all medications used to both pharmacies.
While everyone's goal today is to obtain the medication at the most cost effective pharmacies, costly medication related problems could result when your pharmacist is not aware of all medications currently in use.
Lynn Harrelson is a pharmacist who specializes in medication and prescription management for seniors.
Read her full biography