Talking to the Pharmacist About Medicine

• When you get sick, you might need to take medicine.
• Medicine can be: 
• Pills 
• Something you drink 
• Medicine may help you feel better.

• Most medicine is ordered by a doctor. 
• Orders for medicine go to a drug store. This is also called a pharmacy. 
• A pharmacist gets your medicine ready.

• You can get some medicine on your own. 
• These are called “over-the-counter” or OTC medicines. 
• You can get these at a drug store or pharmacy.

• A pharmacist is a person who gives out medicine. 
• A pharmacist must go to a special school to learn about giving out medicine.
• At school, a pharmacist learns about:
  • What makes people sick
  • How drugs work

Where is a pharmacist?

• Look for the pharmacist in the pharmacy. 
• Some pharmacies are in drug stores. 
• Some pharmacies are in grocery stores or big chain stores.

• The pharmacist can help answer your questions about: 
• Your illness
• Your medicine

• A pharmacist can tell you about: 
  • The medicine you take 
  • Why you take it
  • How to take it 
  • When to take it

• Medicine can make your body change 
• These are called side effects. 
• The pharmacist can tell you about changes you might feel when you take a new medicine.

• A pharmacist is not a doctor. 
• But a pharmacist can help you:
• Figure out what to do if you get sick
• Decide when you should go to see a doctor 
• Choose the right OTC medicine 
• Give you ideas on how to stay healthy 
• Pharmacists are there to help. So ask questions!