[admin]

Kemzero

I hope you are right, and I'd love to use more of the knowledge I have gained over the years. I guess all we can do is wait and see what the future brings for us.

I never take the advice I give to people lightly, and it is a serious business wether it be about OTC or prescription drugs.

Years ago I used to take diclofenac for my leg. I took it for years, and never had any advice or warnings given to me by anyone. I used to work in a lab that had 7 pharmacists in it, and nobody, not even my own GP told me of the dangers and signs to look out for. So even though I was being sick, and having terrible heartburn all the time, I still carried on taking it (I was not a pharmacist then). As a result I have a stomach that feels like it's been sand papered on the inside!

I always, when possible, explain to patients starting out on NSAID's the signs to look for, and to go back to their GP if they have any stomach problems etc. I also do the same for many drugs, such as statins, to try to help people avoid getting future problems from their medication. I'd rather spend my time doing things like this, making a positive contribution to people's healthcare, then just checking and bagging prescriptions. However the retail chains don't get paid for giving out advice, and the current cutting down of staff hours is making things like this even harder to do.

Have you done a post grad course in medicines management? If so could you post a bit about what it entails, and what you feel the benefits of it have been to yourself?

Thanks