Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

That is a very sweeping generalisation and very untrue.

I can assure you we are well qualified to do what we do.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

I agree Pats, particularly clinical nurse practioners.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

I think our our pharmacists are very underused - all that talent just to count boxes of pills in a prescription? (might be showing a touch of ignorance there ...) but in Spain, their pharmacists carry out a more general approach for everyday things and doctors are consulted for more serious things.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

I agree that they are under used. I would think that most pharmacists know their products more than most.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

Agreed Uff - I've twice had pharmacists correct a GPs prescribed medication -the first time was after I'd reacted badly to something (own fault for not sticking to my usual chemist) and when I showed him what I'd been given, his first comment was 'why have you been given this?' - he took it off me and rang our surgery to question it; turns out that the GP had written the wrong thing down and had I stuck to my usual chemist, he would have picked up on it straight away. GPs often have to look stuff up in their little books.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

Have twice been prescribed medication pharmacist questioned with my doc, parmacist was right both times. Whether they can diagnose I don't know.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

I'm sure they can but probably are not allowed to - would they be able to learn all about medications but not know what the symptoms would be of the ailment those pills, or whatever, would treat?

Do pharmacists train for longer than GPs?

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

When I started, or took over, the rigmarole of dishing out tablets to my parents I was shocked to see all the side effects. Some of the tablets had side effects in a listing that were as long as your arm. I can well understand that the doctor would not mention these unless he was particularly concerned about them.

I think people rely on tablets far too much. I mean for instance being constipated - tablets or some solution - whereas a slight change in diet might well suffice (little extra bran can work wonders). Water retention in the lower legs - tablets for that - whereas less salt and a little exercise (a little cycling whilst sitting etc - little machines are available so that you cycle whilst in an armchair) can do the trick. Tablets for this and tablets for that. My parents were fair rattling with them.

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

I do think exercise is underrated for a few things - I know that exercise lowered my cholesterol levels (then got Bursitis from a spot of digging that went undiagnosed for 18 months by my GP and that put paid to being as physically active as I used to be and cholesterol started climbing). Maybe it's more a case of doctors relying on tablets too much?

Re: Doctors Versus Pharmacists/Who Is More Qualified To Prescribe Drugs?

Just want to add my views. Been with my pharmacist for years now and trust him implicitly. It was him for instance who pointed out, on dispensing my newly prescribed drugs for diabetes, that I was from then on entitled to free medication, and that I could get an exemption certificate. Did my GP tell me? No.

And he told me that they go through rigorous training.