Don’t hesitate to speak to your pharmacist if you have any questions about how to take charge of your health. Book an appointement.
These activities and their conditions may differ from one province to another and require a consultation with your pharmacist. Some conditions apply.
Since Bill 31 came into force, pharmacists have been authorized to perform professional activities enabling them to better meet their patients’ needs and monitor their drug treatments more effectively. Here are 10 activities that your pharmacist can do on a daily basis that can make your life easier.
Following a consultation, your pharmacist can prescribe treatment for certain minor health conditions such as an uncomplicated urinary tract infection, or acid reflux, if you have already had a prescription within the last five years, for instance:
Your pharmacist helps you save time by providing you with access to the Health Record and its many benefits. In just a few clicks, you can refill, pay, and have your prescriptions delivered or pick them up at the pharmacy at your convenience. Activate email or text notifications and get a message when It’s Ready! Create a Health Record and Download the Jean Coutu Health app now.
Is the first trimester of your pregnancy giving you a hard time? Even before your first doctor’s appointment, your pharmacist can prescribe a nausea and acid reflux treatment if you meet certain criteria and can advise you on the safe and optimal use of medication.
Pharmacists can also prescribe folic acid and prenatal vitamins in anticipation of and during pregnancy, and review your current medications to suggest changes if any are deemed unsafe during pregnancy.
Your pharmacist can administer vaccines such as pneumonia, shingles, HPV and whooping cough under certain conditions. Find out which vaccines are available at your pharmacy and book an appointment.
Is your prescription about to expire and you haven’t been able to get an appointment with your doctor? No need to panic. Following an assessment, and if it is deemed appropriate, your pharmacist may extend the expired prescription until you can contact or see the prescriber again. It should be noted that this service is not intended to replace a scheduled or necessary medical appointment, but rather to avoid disrupting an essential treatment. Speak to your pharmacist for additional information.
Does your treatment cause adverse side effects or seem not to be working? Your pharmacist can adjust the dose and help you get the maximum benefits from your treatment following a consultation.
Based on an assessment, your pharmacist can help you choose a hormonal contraception method tailored to your needs, and prescribe it for up to six months, giving you time to meet with your treating practitioner for follow-up.
Moreover, if you have failed to use a contraception method, or if it has proved ineffective (e.g., a torn condom), it is possible to obtain emergency oral contraception (the morning-after pill) during a consultation with your pharmacist.
From advice and vaccinations to prescriptions for certain illnesses such as travellers’ diarrhea, your pharmacy is your first port of call for healthy travel. Your pharmacist can also help you prepare a travel kit that includes all the health essentials for your destination.
Whether it’s watery eyes, a runny nose, red eyes, or swollen eyelids, don’t hesitate to speak to your pharmacist about seasonal allergies. They can recommend the best treatment for your symptoms and, in some cases, prescribe it.
Are you thinking of quitting smoking? Your pharmacist can help you develop an action plan. Following a consultation, they can determine whether an anti-smoking aid could be beneficial and advise you on the available options.
Whether it’s diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease or heart disease, your pharmacist will closely monitor chronic disease management. Among other things, they can adjust your treatment and help you take it consistently to maximize its effectiveness by:
