When you visit a local pharmacy to pick up some prescription medication, you shouldn't just take the bottle and be in a hurry to leave. This is a good opportunity to spend a few minutes speaking to the pharmacist or one of their assistants so that you can learn about the medication you'll soon be taking. This is especially important if you're just received a prescription for a type of medication that you haven't previously used. Pharmacy staff will be patient and do their best to answer any questions you may have as clearly as possible. Here are some details to go over.

Dosage

There are all sorts of things that you can confirm about the recommended dosage for your new prescription medication. You'll want to learn how much of this medication you can take each day. For example, if you're picking up a bottle of pills, it's important to know whether this is a medication that you take once a day or once with each meal throughout the day. Some medications are safe to take in larger quantities on an as-needed basis. For example, you might typically take one pill to manage your condition, but you may be permitted to take two pills if the condition's symptoms are particularly difficult. 

Side Effects

This is also a good time to talk to your pharmacist about any side effects that may occur when you begin to take the medication. Doing so can be better than searching online for side effects, as you might see a list of scary-looking side effects that are, in reality, unlikely to occur. Your pharmacist will give you an honest and clear idea of what side effects you might encounter, as well as how to manage them. For example, if a particular medication can upset your stomach, your pharmacist may recommend taking it when your stomach is full so that it's gentler on your system.

Other Medication

You should also talk to your pharmacist about any other medications that you're taking. They'll have a record of any prescriptions you're on, but they won't know about your over-the-counter medication usage unless you share this information. The pharmacist may make certain recommendations based on what you share. For example, they might suggest discontinuing a certain over-the-counter medication once you begin taking your new prescription medication, as the latter may do a better job at treating your health issue than the former.

Reach out to a compounding pharmacy near you to learn more.