One of America's most trusted professionals is in your neighborhood pharmacy

Pharmacists were recently ranked second in a 2014 Gallup poll asking Americans to rate various professions according to perceptions of honesty and ethical standards.

Released a few weeks ago, the survey ranks nurses first, with 80% of Americans saying that nurses have high ethics and honesty. Pharmacists and medical doctors were tied for second place with scores of 65%. (Members of Congress and car salespeople were given the worst ratings among the 11 professions included.)

Said the President of the National Community Pharmacists Association, "Pharmacists are expertly trained, easily accessible and, as this survey affirms, trusted medication experts. They are well situated to play an even larger and evolved role in lowering U.S. health care costs and improving the quality of life for our nation's citizens." I'd like to add that it is heartening to see that those in the medical profession are rated as having higher ethics and honesty than most other professionals.

In light of these positive findings, what should you expect from your pharmacist? And what should your pharmacist expect from you?

Here are some tips from the US Food and Drug Administration for talking with your pharmacist:

Tell your pharmacist

• All your medicines that you take, including over-the-counter and herbal products. This allows them to check for any potential drug interactions.
• Any difficulties that could affect your use of medicine, such as trouble swallowing, reading labels, remembering to take medicine, or paying for medicine.
• If you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or if you are breast feeding. Your pharmacist can help you avoid medicines, supplements, foods, and other things that can affect you or your baby.

Ask your pharmacist

• What are the brand and generic (non-brand) names? Can I use a generic?
• What is this for, and how is it going to help me?
• How long should I use it? Can I stop using the medicine or use less if I feel better?
• When will the medicine start working? How should I expect to feel?
• Are there any special directions for using this? Should I avoid any other medicines, dietary supplements, drinks, foods, activities, or other things? Are there special tests needed to check the medicine's effects?
• Is there anything I should watch for, like allergic reactions or side effects? What do I do if I get any?
• How and where you should store this medicine. Ironically, the bathroom medicine cabinet is one of the worst places to store your medicine.

After you have the medicine, and before you leave the pharmacy

• Look to be sure you have the right medicine. If you've bought the medicine before, make sure this medicine has the same shape, color, size, markings, and packaging. If it seems different when you use it, tell your pharmacist, doctor, or other healthcare professional. Due to generic substitution it is possible that a medicine with the same active ingredients may look different. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.
• Make sure there is a correct measuring spoon, cup, or syringe for liquid medicine. If the medicine doesn't come with a special measuring tool, ask your pharmacist about one. (Spoons used for eating and cooking may give the wrong dose. Don't use them.)
• Be sure you have any information the pharmacist can give you about the medicine. Read it and save it. Be sure you know how to use your medicine.

Make sure to call the pharmacy directly with any questions - or if they aren't open, know the 24/7 phone number for the service you need. For Walgreens, these can be found here. Pharmacists are experts in drug information, so don't be afraid to ask your pharmacist about your health questions.

Be well, stay well!

Andy Stergachis, Ph.D., R.Ph. is the Director of the Global Medicines Program at the University of Washington in Seattle and a subject expert on public health and pharmacy-related topics.