Pharmacists Role in Patient Self-Medication

Pharmacists have always played big part in recommending OTC products to help patients deal with their health issues. By asking their patients appropriate questions, pharmacists can learn when self-medication is appropriate or referral is needed. The types of OTC products available provide the pharmacist with very effective products to recommend. And with the switching of products from legend drug status to OTC, the availability of effective drugs will only increase. Schools of pharmacy now make OTC education an important part of pharmacy education. Today’s pharmacist has the training to make OTC product recommendations and he or she is comfortable in that role. So as this pharmacist role is promoted and pharmacists become more available to the patient, their role and influence will grow.