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Do pharmacists interact with patients?

Do pharmacists interact with patients as in telling them how to use the medicine they gave the patient and do they actually do, do they make the medicine?

Reply 1

Mango65

Original post by Juned5675

Do pharmacists interact with patients as in telling them how to use the medicine they gave the patient and do they actually do, do they make the medicine?

Pharmacists rarely make the medicine. They will just make up some liquids or syringes. Often things like adding water to antibiotics or measuring methadone, but even still most pharmacy technicians or dispensers may do this. Pharmacists are experts in medicine, they know the theory behind drugs and the different ways they can be administered. They do not dispense the drugs, but they check that they are correct after dispensing and before giving it to the patient (in community), this is a role of high responsibility. They can also offer advice to patients about their medication or alternatives and sometimes can give emergency contraceptives. They can tell patients how to take their medication and the ways in which they can take them such as different forms available. They can also work closely with doctors and nurses to advise them with different drugs/forms and administration. I wouldn't say they have as much patient interaction as doctors and nurses etc, they have a very important job but are often kept "behind the scenes" in a hospital. In the community, they will see customers/patients in the stores they work in but are often checking meds in the back of the store.