<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Denise wrote: 
> I also would like to share a related experience.  I have been taking =
> Prevacid for GERD.  I was told by my doctor that I could take Prilosec
> = which I could buy cheaper and without a RX.  So I went to the
> pharmacy = and asked the Pharmacist if Prilosec contained Gluten.  Not
> one could = tell me.  I also had them look up Prevacid.  They looked
> at the package = insert and gave it to me to interpret!  When I asked
> them to please = interpret all these chemical names for me, the were
> almost dumfounded.  = After a loss of words, I asked them if any of
> them were pharmacists?  I = asked them if they knew about Celiac
> Disease?  No one knew anything, = except that "Some lady" in a near by
> city, had to look up things for = that sensitivity.  I felt like a
> complete nuisance asking them for this = information.  they were
> clearly at a loss, and very defensive.  They = finally looked up the
> manufactures of these drugs and gave me their = phone numbers.
> 
> I educated them about the seriousness and the prevalence of gluten =
> intolerance and celiac's disease.  That seemed to care less,and said
> we = have to it out ourselves.  The tech said the ingredients in all =
> medications  can change on a daily basis, and their there was no way =
> they can provide this information. I figure they should aatleast be
> able = to interpret the chemical ingredients?
> 
> I am feeling pretty outraged at the moment.  Anyone have any knowledge
> = about how to lobby for prescription labeling?
> 

In our state (California) there are three levels of people who can be 
behind a pharmacy counter - pharmacy techs (10 weeks of classes), 
pharmacists (education equivalent to a masters degree) and 
pharmacologists (doctorate level education). The pharm-techs are 
useless when it comes to finding out information on drug 
constituents, the pharmacists less so (depending on their workload). 
You want to make sure that the person you are dealing with is either 
a pharmacist or a pharmacologist! Some large chain drugstores are 
notorious for staffing with 5 or 6 techs and 1 very overworked 
pharmacist. I've found the best time to talk to the pharmacist for 
information gathering (at my 24-hour local pharmacy) is between 9 pm 
and 8:30 a.m (late night or early morning). Of course, this means 
that if I need them to contact a manufacturer, I need to plan for at 
least 24 hour turnaround. I do plan for that, and I make my thanks 
profuse when they help me.

Part of our responsibility as consumers of health care is to pick the 
appropriate person to help us. I've discovered that the pharmacists 
(and pharmacologists) at certain drug stores have the *willingness* 
to help us stay well - these are the folks I patronize, regularly - 
the ones who ask, *every time* I pick up a refill, if I have any 
questions or concerns, and make the time to listen and answer 
questions. When I ask them to cross-check a new medication for cross-
reactions with my maintenance drugs, I usually find out that it has 
already been done - several times, the drug I picked up was not the 
drug my doctor told me s/he was ordering - in between my seeing my 
doctor, when the prescription was called in, the pharmacist found 
contra-indications, called the doctor back with options, and was 
given the go-ahead for a substitute drug. These are the pharmacists 
you want to have your business!

Also, note the prevalence of generic drugs as a cost-saving measure - 
the formulas on generics can be hard to verify - especially when the 
generic is made half-way around the world. The words "dispense as 
written" or "do not substitute" should be standard on prescriptions 
for most of our medications - brand names and individual 
manufacturers are easier to keep track of!

Anyone who is on any medication for any length of time, and anyone 
who is on multiple medications, should have a regular "brown bag" 
review with a *pharmacologist*. This is where the pharmacologist goes 
through every pill you put in your mouth (including vitamins and 
nutritional supplements) with you, explains each, and makes sure that 
there are no mix-ups, overlaps, or cross-reactions with the pills. 
I'Ive helped numerous (mostly older) friends gather their things for 
one of these reviews, and the results are normally impressive. Most 
people go from 7 to 12 prescription drugs to 2 or 3, and not only do 
their pocketbooks feel better, they do, too!

FWIW, educating the pharmacy staff needs to come from above, or from 
the state regulatory agency, not from an outraged, angry consumer - 
they're going to write you off as a wacko if it comes across that 
way, and you will not have done anyone (much less your fellow 
celiacs) any good.

karen

Karen Davis
Davis and Associates Consulting
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The light at the end of the tunnel may be an oncoming train...

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