Pharmacists and drug info/off topic

[Guest guest]

List:

The topic of pharmacists reminded me of the basic lack of respect

that seems to be given the public in general when it comes to having

full information on medicines/vaccines we take.

The last time I had a prescription filled, I asked for the manufacturers

product insert. As I picked it up some 20 minutes later, I asked and

was told " it's in there " by pharmacist's cashier. Well, at a stop light

about two miles down the road, I happened to check. No, it wasn't in

there, but the print out, with the Pharmacy's name on it was there

instead. I often wonder how many people may think that is the product

insert. I did a U-turn and went back and told them it wasn't there and

I STILL wanted it. Another pharmacist tried to tell me you have it,

again I said NO this is not it, I want the manufacturers product insert.

She said well, we don't usually give those out, but I can get you one

(as if she was reluctantly doing me a favor) I said good, I am entitled

to have it. She went to a box containing the same prescription and

peeled it off that box. They will literally peel off and throw away

the insert rather than let you have it and takes more effort to trash

it.

I believe they feel people might try to call and bother them with

" silly " questions if they saw all the warnings on many drugs. I often

wonder if anyone who gets the average vaccine gets to see the inserts,

or realizes they even exist. I have been asking for these inserts for

my entire adult life. Many a pharmacist has dug through the trash for

me. What I find irritating is that I believe this little informative

inserts are placed on each package FOR THE CONSUMER. Yet it is like

pulling teeth to get them. They certainly aren't placed on each bottle

for the pharmacist to read! Actually this is something that I would

like to see as law, and that is that they MUST give you the

Manufacturers Product Insert and of course that all inserts give

instructions on how to report reactions to the FDA

Gretchen

list owner

[Guest guest]

I am a pharmaciat practicing in Washington state. I do believe it is every

person's right to obtain additional information (i.e. package insert) on any

medication that he or she may receive. However, the general public is

probably not as educated as yourself. Much information that is in package

inserts is not pertinent to the general consumer. Pharmacists and doctors

alike go through school to be able to interpret these package inserts and

relay pertinent information to the patient. There are many types of studies

that are done on allmedications and usually in the package insert it does not

break down the underlying factors down ( i.e. the age group, sex<most studies

are performed on men>, if it is a double blind study, long -term studies,if

the data is at all skewed, if it was a double blind study, ...and the list

goes on and on) Just as I am supposed to trust your judgement in whatever

your career specialty is, the general public is supposed to be able to trust

my judgement in relaying pertinent drug information. They are also supposed

to be able to trust that I will do my best in trying to obtain an unbiased

answer to any question they may have on a particular medication. There are

many reasons why the general public should not be required by law to pass out

package inserts with every medication given. I think the reasons are not at

all what you stated. I am sorry that the pharmacists that you have

encountered have had to " dig through the trash " in order to get you the

information that you requested, but I agree with the pharmacist that said

they are not generally given out to the public unless the patient asks for

one. There are some medications that are required by law to pass out to the

consumer. Please keep in mind, and I am not at all trying to sound the least

bit sour, but it is your choice to take a medication. And sometimes it is

the benefit versus the risk. This is your right and your choice. At least

consider this when you think about the poor military members that are being

stripped of this right. The anthrax vaccine does indeed have a " package

insert " and these military members can seek as much information as they can

find, but they still do not even have the choice, they are being forced to

take it or face a court martial.

in Washington

[Guest guest]

From: ml96@...

>>>

general public is supposed to be able to trust my judgement in relaying

pertinent drug information.

>>>

The insert is made for the 'end' consumer to see, they should know it

even exists and that they are entitled to have a copy.

>>>There are many reasons why the general public should not be required

by law to pass out package inserts with every medication given.

>>>

I am not suggesting that the general public be required to pass them

out, but that the pharmacists not remove them from the containers prior

to handing the prescription to the consumer. I have noticed that there

is a federal law on some pillows and mattresses that warn that that

label can only be removed by the consumer, therefore, there is no need

to remove this important information that the consumer is entitled to

from a product. Many of us get prescriptions from huge department

stores and have NO relationship with the pharmacist who asks zero

questions and we ultimately deal with a cashier. Better to take home

a complete product insert to read/study if one wants than to remember

a conversation (if one existed) while standing in a busy line.

>>>but I agree with the pharmacist that said they are not generally given

out to the public unless the patient asks for one. There are some

medications that are required by law to pass out to the consumer. Please

keep in mind, and I am not at all trying to sound the least bit sour,

but it is your choice to take a medication. And sometimes it

is the benefit versus the risk. This is your right and your choice.

>>>

I asked and still didn't get it. If it is my choice to take it, the

choice needs to be an informed one. It wasn't until I was at a doctors

office with tunnel vision that I ever found out the dangers of birth

control pills years ago. I had never seen a single product insert,

didn't know they existed and had never been informed of all the risks

when I made my 'choice' Only the eye doctor explained the risk I was taking.

In a perfect world maybe we could depend on all the important information being

given to us in a long disertation by the professionals. In the mean time we

should still have our meds in tact with the printed info that comes with

them.

>>>>

At least consider this when you think about the poor military members

that are being stripped of this right. The anthrax vaccine does indeed

have a " package insert " and these military members can seek as much

information as they can find, but they still do not even have the

choice, they are being forced to take it or face a court martial.

>>>

THAT is all I have thought about for the last 15 months.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

I agree that the public should, and must, have faith in the medical

professional that treats them, but a pharmacist who openly lies to the

consumer has destroyed that trust. If you tell me something, I show you that

you are wrong and you continue to argue the obvious false information, how

can I ever trust you or other professionals in your field? That very

situation is the problem with the DOD anthrax vaccine program. DOD officials

openly lied about many facts but continue to say the same things. Why, with

the history of lies coming out of DOD over the years, and with the current

lies being told about anthrax, would any reasonable person believe that the

vaccine is safe or even necessary? Why would any reasonable person accept

the SecDef's threat statements? When DOD can answer these questions I will

gladly take the vaccine. Of course, under these circumstances, I will never

see that day.

[Guest guest]

,

ly, I am appalled by your response regarding Gretchen's note on

medication package inserts. I worked as a pharmacy tech for quite a few

years and the pharmacists I worked with and highly respect NEVER hesitated to

give out package inserts. It sounds to me as if you put yourself on a VERY

high pedestal and think you are capable of making the RIGHT decision for

every customer. We have the RIGHT to this information and every person

SHOULD read the package insert if they have any questions or concerns

whatsoever! It seems you are in line with the DOD in your " trust me, I know

best " policy. That is a MAJOR flaw in our government AND our medical system

these days. I sincerely hope anyone reading this will think about this and

make your OWN decisions based on all the information you can possibly

acquire. This country has reached a sad day when both the government and

some of those on the medical community believe we should not inform

ourselves, rather place our blind trust in them.

You stated " ...it is your choice to take a medication. " YES, it is our

choice to take any medication or vaccine. HOWEVER we need to base that

choice on accurate and reliable information, not someone else's opinion of

what is safe and effective or best for our health.

In my years in pharmacy, never once did someone who asked for and read a

package insert return to the pharmacy in a panic. At the most, they asked

INTELLIGENT questions that they may not have known to ask prior to reading

that insert. And never once did anyone come back to us saying they had

decided not to take the medication.

I would hope you, , would reconsider your position and begin giving

customers ALL the information rather than just what you think they can

handle. That is one of the very basic reasons this mailing list is in

existence. We are people who don't blindly follow, we ask questions, we

research and we make our own INFORMED decisions.

Liz

[Guest guest]

I have to say " ditto " . I also worked as a pharmacy tech for several years. I

never saw a pharmacist who was reluctant to give out a package insert. The

ones I worked with were always more than glad to hand them out upon request

and always answered any and all questions asked. I even saw them offer a

package insert from time to time depending on the medication, the person's

history, etc.

Re: Pharmacists and drug info/off topic

> From: Anilizz@...

>

> ,

>

> ly, I am appalled by your response regarding Gretchen's note on

> medication package inserts. I worked as a pharmacy tech for quite a few

> years and the pharmacists I worked with and highly respect NEVER hesitated

to

> give out package inserts. It sounds to me as if you put yourself on a

VERY

> high pedestal and think you are capable of making the RIGHT decision for

> every customer. We have the RIGHT to this information and every person

> SHOULD read the package insert if they have any questions or concerns

> whatsoever! It seems you are in line with the DOD in your " trust me, I

know

> best " policy. That is a MAJOR flaw in our government AND our medical

system

> these days. I sincerely hope anyone reading this will think about this

and

> make your OWN decisions based on all the information you can possibly

> acquire. This country has reached a sad day when both the government and

> some of those on the medical community believe we should not inform

> ourselves, rather place our blind trust in them.

>

> You stated " ...it is your choice to take a medication. " YES, it is our

> choice to take any medication or vaccine. HOWEVER we need to base that

> choice on accurate and reliable information, not someone else's opinion of

> what is safe and effective or best for our health.

>

> In my years in pharmacy, never once did someone who asked for and read a

> package insert return to the pharmacy in a panic. At the most, they asked

> INTELLIGENT questions that they may not have known to ask prior to reading

> that insert. And never once did anyone come back to us saying they had

> decided not to take the medication.

>

> I would hope you, , would reconsider your position and begin giving

> customers ALL the information rather than just what you think they can

> handle. That is one of the very basic reasons this mailing list is in

> existence. We are people who don't blindly follow, we ask questions, we

> research and we make our own INFORMED decisions.

>

> Liz

[Guest guest]

Can I make a suggestion here???? Can we have messages such like this going

directly to the person as opposed to out to the whole entire list with all

our watchers??? 1) I don't think disputes between one another need to go out

to everybody, and 2) at a time like this, we're all supposed to be united as

one to find this cause. Not flaming one another. With the watchers that we

have, it sure doesn't give the sense that we are all united when messages

such as this go across for all to see. I know this is a big debatable issue,

but, I'm just requesting that these messages go directly to the individual as

opposed to everybody. Thank you.

Randi

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ly, I am appalled by your response regarding Gretchen's note on

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