FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. This is an emergency. I need an answer immediately
If your question is of an urgent nature, please contact your local healthcare provider or hospital emergency room. If this is a medical emergency, contact 911.
2. Can you tell me if my prescription is ready for pick-up?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc to see if your prescription is ready.
3. How much will my prescription cost if I am paying cash? If I have insurance?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc for pricing information.
4. How do I transfer my prescription to Farmacia Etc?
Contact Farmacia Etc where you would like to have the prescription transferred. The pharmacist will collect the necessary information and complete the prescription transfer. (Please note: transfer laws vary from state to state, therefore some prescriptions may not be transferable. Check with the local store for specific transfer laws.)
5. Does Farmacia Etc carry a particular product?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc for inventory information. If the product is not in stock, the pharmacist may be able to place a special order.
6. Can I get my diabetes supplies filled under my Medicare card?
Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost of diabetes supplies (blood glucose monitors, test strips, lancing devices, lancets, control solution, and replacement batteries) for patients with diabetes once you have met your deductible. Simply take your Medicare card and a prescription from your physician to Farmacia Etc and our pharmacists will process the necessary paperwork.
7. I am feeling better; can I stop taking my antibiotic?
Continue to take your antibiotic until the entire prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection.
8. What is the difference between a brand and a generic medication?
When a new product is introduced to the market, the manufacturer assigns it a brand or trade name, different from its "chemical" name. Once the patent rights to the product expire [patent life varies depending on the time interval from initial discovery to approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)], other companies are free to manufacture generic versions of the product provided they meet all the requirements the FDA requires of the brand name drug. Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA just like the brand name drug and must meet the same stringent standards to ensure safety and efficacy for their intended uses. Most states require generic substitution by law, unless otherwise specified by the patient or physician. Please consult with Farmacia Etc’s Pharmacist concerning the substitution laws in your state.
9. Do you take my insurance card?
Unfortunately, we do not have access to insurance plan information. Please contact your insurance company directly for assistance or contact Farmacia Etc. The insurance company should be able to provide you with a list of participating pharmacies in your area. (The phone number for the insurance company should be listed on the back of your insurance card.)
10. What should I drink when I take my medications?
Certain foods, beverages, alcohol, caffeine, and even cigarettes can interact with medicines. Generally, water is the best liquid to drink when taking a medication. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
For example, because certain types of aspirin can cause stomach upset, you may tolerate them better if you take them with milk. Certain medications may be absorbed into the body better when ingested with food. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more specific information.
Here are some examples of potentially harmful interactions between medications and food or drink:
11. How can I avoid taking too much prescription medicine?
Medications are prescribed in specific dosages to account for:
The most important thing to remember when taking either prescription or non-prescription medications is to follow the dosage recommendations of your doctor or pharmacist. Today's drugs are very complex, and the dosages tend to be precise for your needs. Either under-dosing or overdosing can be harmful. This is why you should never share your medications with anyone else.
12. I've heard that you should pay attention to the expiration date on your prescription medication. Is that true?
Yes. Expired medicines often don't work as well, and they can even be harmful. To make sure that you don't accidentally take an out-of-date medication, you should clean out your medicine cabinet every year, throwing away:
13. How should I dispose of my medications that I no longer need or are expired?
The disposal of medication is a complex issue. Throwing the medication into the trash can be risky if found and eaten by children or pets. The trash will most likely be taken to a landfill which will place the medication into the soil and water supply of our environment. Flushing unwanted medication down a toilet or rinsing it into a sink can also cause environmental concerns because the medication is put into the water supply. A better solution for the disposal of unwanted medications is to return the unwanted medication to your pharmacist or physician for disposal as hazardous waste material.
14. How can my pharmacist help me with my medication questions?
Patients need to work with their health care providers-including pharmacists-to make sure they receive the most benefit from their medicines. Keep a list of all prescription and non-prescription medicine and alternative medicines or dietary supplements you may be taking. Share that list with your doctor or pharmacist.
And don't forget that if you're ever a patient in a hospital or health system, you can always ask to speak to the pharmacist if you have medication questions. Working together, we can make sure that you receive the best treatment possible.
1. This is an emergency. I need an answer immediately
If your question is of an urgent nature, please contact your local healthcare provider or hospital emergency room. If this is a medical emergency, contact 911.
2. Can you tell me if my prescription is ready for pick-up?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc to see if your prescription is ready.
3. How much will my prescription cost if I am paying cash? If I have insurance?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc for pricing information.
4. How do I transfer my prescription to Farmacia Etc?
Contact Farmacia Etc where you would like to have the prescription transferred. The pharmacist will collect the necessary information and complete the prescription transfer. (Please note: transfer laws vary from state to state, therefore some prescriptions may not be transferable. Check with the local store for specific transfer laws.)
5. Does Farmacia Etc carry a particular product?
You will need to contact Farmacia Etc for inventory information. If the product is not in stock, the pharmacist may be able to place a special order.
6. Can I get my diabetes supplies filled under my Medicare card?
Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost of diabetes supplies (blood glucose monitors, test strips, lancing devices, lancets, control solution, and replacement batteries) for patients with diabetes once you have met your deductible. Simply take your Medicare card and a prescription from your physician to Farmacia Etc and our pharmacists will process the necessary paperwork.
7. I am feeling better; can I stop taking my antibiotic?
Continue to take your antibiotic until the entire prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection.
8. What is the difference between a brand and a generic medication?
When a new product is introduced to the market, the manufacturer assigns it a brand or trade name, different from its "chemical" name. Once the patent rights to the product expire [patent life varies depending on the time interval from initial discovery to approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)], other companies are free to manufacture generic versions of the product provided they meet all the requirements the FDA requires of the brand name drug. Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA just like the brand name drug and must meet the same stringent standards to ensure safety and efficacy for their intended uses. Most states require generic substitution by law, unless otherwise specified by the patient or physician. Please consult with Farmacia Etc’s Pharmacist concerning the substitution laws in your state.
9. Do you take my insurance card?
Unfortunately, we do not have access to insurance plan information. Please contact your insurance company directly for assistance or contact Farmacia Etc. The insurance company should be able to provide you with a list of participating pharmacies in your area. (The phone number for the insurance company should be listed on the back of your insurance card.)
10. What should I drink when I take my medications?
Certain foods, beverages, alcohol, caffeine, and even cigarettes can interact with medicines. Generally, water is the best liquid to drink when taking a medication. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
For example, because certain types of aspirin can cause stomach upset, you may tolerate them better if you take them with milk. Certain medications may be absorbed into the body better when ingested with food. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more specific information.
Here are some examples of potentially harmful interactions between medications and food or drink:
- Drinking alcohol when taking an antihistamine (can cause increased drowsiness),
- Drinking alcohol when taking an aspirin or acetaminophen product for pain (can damage the liver),
- Drinking caffeinated beverages when using inhalers for bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema (these types of inhalers and caffeine both stimulate the nervous system), and
- Eating food with certain blood pressure medications (food can sometimes decrease absorption)
11. How can I avoid taking too much prescription medicine?
Medications are prescribed in specific dosages to account for:
- Age,
- Weight, and
- The minimum amount needed to treat a condition vs. the maximum amount that might result in harm or unwanted side effects.
The most important thing to remember when taking either prescription or non-prescription medications is to follow the dosage recommendations of your doctor or pharmacist. Today's drugs are very complex, and the dosages tend to be precise for your needs. Either under-dosing or overdosing can be harmful. This is why you should never share your medications with anyone else.
12. I've heard that you should pay attention to the expiration date on your prescription medication. Is that true?
Yes. Expired medicines often don't work as well, and they can even be harmful. To make sure that you don't accidentally take an out-of-date medication, you should clean out your medicine cabinet every year, throwing away:
- Any medication that has changed color or formed a residue,
- Aspirin or acetaminophen that is crumbly or smells strange,
- Hydrogen peroxide that no longer bubbles when applied as a disinfectant, and
- Eye drops that have expired.
13. How should I dispose of my medications that I no longer need or are expired?
The disposal of medication is a complex issue. Throwing the medication into the trash can be risky if found and eaten by children or pets. The trash will most likely be taken to a landfill which will place the medication into the soil and water supply of our environment. Flushing unwanted medication down a toilet or rinsing it into a sink can also cause environmental concerns because the medication is put into the water supply. A better solution for the disposal of unwanted medications is to return the unwanted medication to your pharmacist or physician for disposal as hazardous waste material.
14. How can my pharmacist help me with my medication questions?
Patients need to work with their health care providers-including pharmacists-to make sure they receive the most benefit from their medicines. Keep a list of all prescription and non-prescription medicine and alternative medicines or dietary supplements you may be taking. Share that list with your doctor or pharmacist.
And don't forget that if you're ever a patient in a hospital or health system, you can always ask to speak to the pharmacist if you have medication questions. Working together, we can make sure that you receive the best treatment possible.