Pharmacist is defined as a person professionally qualified to prepare medicine. And, there is no such word as Pharmist actually. Druggist is a tradesman who sells drugs, who may not be a pharmacist, eg we have Chinese Medical Hall Druggist. Chemist is an expert in chemistry who may or may not be a pharmacist as well. A pharmacist is sometimes being addressed as Chemist or Druggist, but not the other way round.

The pharmacist is an adviser to the public on everyday health care and is a key figure in the supply and delivery of medicines to the consumer. He is a partner of the manufacturer of non-prescription medicines. Both share the common goals of service of high quality for the patient and encouragement of the rational use of medicines. The pharmacist in his professional capacity and in direct contact with patients is competent to provide sound advice on the medicines he supplies. With this definition, community pharmacists not only oversee the dispensing and storage of all medicines given to patients, but also provide a variety of patient counselling services including asthma care or diabetes care.

Your community pharmacists has met the following standards before receiving their license to practice:
- At least three to four years of university-level pharmacy education
- Trained and qualified in all aspects of handling medications, including dispensing prescription and non-prescription medications, drug therapy and understanding drug interactions and side-effects
- Trained in the principles of good pharmaceutical care including patient counselling and care
- Aware of all health care and pharmacy laws governing pharmaceuticals, pharmacists roles and pharmacy operations
- Successfully completed provincial and national examinations on pharmacy practice and applicable pharmacy laws and standards

Yes, you should. Your community pharmacist is always there to help you decide what is best for you and your family. This is why it is important to stay with one pharmacist or pharmacy to be your Family Pharmacy. Staying with one pharmacy allows the pharmacist to maintain your health record and to provide you with the best advice whenever you have questions about current or new prescriptions, over-the-counter medications or herbal products.

Fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K are usually measured in IU, International Units. But for Vitamin A, World Health Organization had decided to change to RE, Retinol Equivalents, the equivalent weight of retinol actually absorbed and converted. 1 RE = 5 IU over here. While 1 IU Vitamin A = 0.3 mcg Retinol and 1 IU Beta-carotene = 0.1 mcg Retinol. Other vitamins and minerals are usually measured in MG, milligrams and MCG, micrograms. 1 MG = 1,000 MCG. For vitamin E, 1 IU is the same as 1 MG. Some herbs preparation like Ginkgo Biloba used to be measured with the ratio 50:1 of raw material to the extract, this means 2000mg of Gingko Biloba leaves with have 40mg of the extract.

RDA and USRDA are not the same thing. RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) was introduced in 1941 to safeguard public health. The RDA are not formulated to cover the needs of those who are ill, which means they are meant strictly for healthy individual. They are estimates of nutritional needs necessary to ensure satisfactory growth of children and the prevention of nutrient depletion in adults. USRDA (U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances) were formulated by FDA as the legal standards for food labeling in regard to nutrient content. Just because a product claims to provide 100% RDA or USRDA for a nutrient, doesn't necessary mean that it is a sufficient amount for your individual needs.

Right. Stress and illness, past or present, affects everyone's nutritional requirements differently. For example, if you are a smoker, each cigarette will destroy 25 - 100mg of vitamin C. Even if we do not smoke, we can't escape from passive smoking and the polluted environment.

No. There are no different between this two units. 300 Kilocalories is the same as 300 Calories energy produced by the nutrients. In countries where the metric system is used, energy value is measured in Joules. A joule is slightly less than one quarter of Calories.

Minerals Chelated with amino acid are 3-5 times better assimilated than the ordinary form, thus better absorption. Hydrolyzed protein is water dispersible and already in assimilated form. Predigested protein has already been broken down and can straight go to the bloodstream. The oil capsules that the oil is extracted by Cold Pressed, remain polyunsaturated and haven't been destroyed by heat.

Time Release, Sustained Release or Slow Release is popular among medicines. Now this technology has been introduced as well for vitamin preparation. It is a process by which vitamins are enrobed in tiny time pills and then combined into a special base for their release in a pattern that assures 3 to 6 hour absorption. This is particular important for water soluble vitamins that without time release, are quickly absorbed into bloodstream and excreted in the urine in less than 3 hours.

Yes, certain drugs and food do not mix well. When taken during the same period of time, some foods and drugs can interfere with the body's ability to ultilize a particular food or drug, which explain why some drugs are prescribed "with food" or "on empty stomach".

Coffee, tea and alcohol can increase the effect of certain drugs. Hypnotics, antidepressants, and antianxiety drugs are greatly affected by alcohol, resulting in enhanced central nervous system side effects. Taking with antihypertensive drugs like beta blockers may cause a drastic decrease in blood pressure. When taken with antidiabetic drugs, alcohol can alter blood sugar levels. Caffeine in coffee or tea can interact with antibiotic, ciprofloxacin and antiasthmatic, theophylline, to produce increased stimulant effects.

Certain antibiotics such as class of Penicillins, are no doubt best absorbed on an empty stomach, but may be taken with food to reduce stomach upset. Thus, the decision should be based on individual conditions. However, they should not be taken with acidic food, fruit juices, cola or other acidic beverages, as increased stomach acid can interfere with their absorption.

Grapefruit juice do interact with many drugs because it inhibits the oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in the gut wall or liver. This causes higher levels of drug in the body and consequently an increase in side effects or toxicity. The following drugs should not be taken with grapefruit juice:
- Calcium Channel Blocker eg amlodipine, felodipine and nifeipine.
- Cyclosporine
- Midazolam
- Buspirone
- Triazolam
- Carbamazepine
- Cilotazol
- Cholesterol Lowering Statins eg lovastatin, fluvastatin and atorvastatin. But alright with pravastatin.

The goal in treating diabetes mellitus is controlling elevated blood sugars without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.

It is quite straightforward when we mention after meal. But for before meal or with empty stomach, the medication should be taken 1 hour before food or 2 hours after food.

Based on what is known, medications for type 2 diabetes are designed to:
-Increase the insulin output by the pancreas
-Decrease the amount of glucose from the liver
-Increase the sensitivity or response of cells to insulin
-Decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine

Sugar content in the cough and cold remedies. It is best to consult your pharmacist as there are cough and cold medications that are without sugar and as well as alcohol.

May be but not necessary true. To rule out, first you should bring your home blood pressure monitoring kit to your pharmacy for calibration, the pharmacist should be able to assist you on this. Then, you should consider whether you are having the "white coat hypertension" where many may feel tense up while visiting their doctor.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels. The pressure is greatest when the heart contracts or beats. This is called "systolic pressure". While the heart is filling up, the pressure falls, which is called the "diastolic pressure". The top number is systolic and the bottom number is diastolic.

Never stop taking your hypertension medication without first consult your doctor. Antihypertensive medications will not cure high blood pressure, but will help control the condition. The objective of treatment is to achieve a good quality of life living with hypertension, such as to avoid the serious health problems that hypertension can cause eg. heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and enlargement of the heart.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise, eating foods low in salt or sodium and control your body weight.

Athlete's foot is a common, contagious fungus infection of the skin, which usually occurs on the feet, especially the soles and skin between the toes. It is not only confined to the athletes but may affects anyone in any age group.

The fungus, which grows in warm, moist environments, likes to live in the outer layers of your skin. They commonly attack the feet because shoes create a warm, dark and humid environment, which encourages fungus growth.

The initial treatment for a simple case of athlete's foot is usually a tropical antifungal cream, which may come in as fungistatic or fungicidal alone or combined with steroids for symptoms like itch, rashes and inflammation. Consult your pharmacist to get the right regimen for your case.

There are also antifungal medication to be taken orally, which you need the doctor's advice before using them. This oral medications may have fatal drug interactions with certain painkillers, antibiotics, cough and cold remedies, non-sedative antihistamines and asthmatic medications. Thus you must let your doctor and pharmacist knows what other medicines you are taking currently.

Help tips for prevention include: - wear sandals or shoes when walking on moist or wet floors
- don't share shoes or personal care items such as towels
- wear socks made of absorbent materials such as cotton or wool
- choose footwear that allows for air circulation
- keep floors in shared facilities clean and dry
- keep your feet clean and dry

You should discuss whether it is right for you with your doctor and your pharmacist can provide important information. Family planning pills or Oral Contraceptives are not for every women. It you have any of the following conditions, the pill might not be right for you:
- history of heart attack or stroke
- blood clots in the legs, lung or eyes
- chest pain
- cancer of breast, uterus, cervix or vagina
- vaginal bleeding with no cause
- liver problem during pregnancy or during prior use of the pill
- suspected or known pregnancy.

Some women may experience irregular vaginal bleeding. This is quite normal and usually goes away within the first few months. If the bleeding is heavy or if you also have pain, contact your doctor. Other common side effects includes nausea, vomiting, changes in appetite, fluid retention, spotty darkening of the skin, headache are usually temporary and some of them can be minimized by taking the pill at night before resting.

A number of drugs, such as antibiotics, St John's wort, drugs that prevent seizures and vitamin E may make the pill not work as well as it should. This could lead to pregnancy or menstrual irregularities. It can be helpful to talk to your pharmacist about these other medications.

Most packages of oral contraceptives have step-by-step instructions on how to handle missed pills. In most cases, if you missed only 1 pill, you should take the missed pill as soon as you remember, and take the next 1 at the regular time. If you missed more than 1 pill, instructions usually vary with the type of pill used. The pharmacist can tell you what to do. As a precaution, use backup methods of contraception for the rest of your menstrual cycle.

In most cases, a waiting period of 2 to 6 months is suggested, but you should consult with your doctor regarding individual plan.

Oral Contraceptives cannot protect you against sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, herpes and gonorrhea.

Colds and flu are viral infections which can cause symptoms such as coughing and a sore throat. A cold is a minor viral infection of the nose and throat. The flu, however, is usually more severe, with higher fevers and the addition of aches and pains.

First, you must know whether the antihistamines prescribed to you will cause drowsiness or not, as this may potentially dangerous if you are going to drive or operate any machinery. Second, let your pharmacist knows what other medications you are taking as some drug interactions with non-drowsy group of antihistamines are fatal.

You should see your doctor immediately when:
- a cough becomes persistent or the phlegm becomes green or yellow.
- having sore ears as well.
- having high temperature that won't come down despite treatment

Many OTC cold remedies contain paracetamol, consult your pharmacist when several medications are to be taken for cold relief to avoid a potentially fatal paracetamol overdose. Be careful that any combination products for children under 12 do not contain aspirin. Check with your pharmacist for confirmation.

Sometimes colds develop into something more serious especially when there is bacterial infection on top of the cold virus. Antibiotics will be needed to treat this secondary infection.

A dry cough is non-productive and irritating, sometimes with a tickly throat. A cough suppressant can be taken to relieve the coughing and this medicine should usually sipped slowly. Also drinking plenty of water and avoid dry environment.

A wet or productive cough is one where the person may complain of a tight chest. The person will feel congested and breathless and the cough will bring up mucous or phlegm. An expectorant should help shift the mucous from the chest. A cough suppressant should not be used for a productive cough as it will cause a build up of phlegm in the lungs that can lead to infection.

Arthritis medications not only kill off the pain. Their basis actions are reduction of the inflammation and slowing down the disease process. Thus, you should take your medication even there is no intense pain but stiffness of the joints.

Many arthritis medications, especially NSAIDs, irritate the stomach lining. Taking the drug with food can help to avoid this problem. Use the "sandwich technique": Eat a little food. Take your medication. Eat a little more food. There are also newer medications that cause lesser stomach upset, consult your doctor or pharmacist to see if they are suitable for you.

First, keep each medication in a labeled container. Get some from your pharmacy if you couldn't find the suitable containers. Ask your pharmacist to write the name of the medicines, directions and the functions clearly on the label.

Second, learn the generic and the brand names of the medications. Know the common side effects.Your pharmacist will be able to assist you to identify any side effects if occurred while taking the medicines.

Third, get your prescription filled at one pharmacy so that your pharmacist can watch for duplications and potential interactions. Ask the pharmacist for advice on how to get the most out of medicines.

No. Painkillers are not for stomach ache. Do not use someone else's medication or let them use yours, even if other is having the arthritis as well, not mentioning the different condition. What is right for one person may be dangerous for another.

Unless your son's asthma is very mild, chances are he has prescriptions for at least two different medicines. They are preventive and quick reliever medicines. The preventive medicines are used for long-term control of the disease and work to make asthma attacks less frequent and severe. Quick reliever medicines offer short-term relief of symptoms when asthma episodes occur. Consult your pharmacist to understand more of these medicine will help you to use them correctly

No. Although medicine help a lot, you are also advised to avoid things that cause or trigger your asthma symptoms as much as you can, even if they are things you like, eg. perfume, food, gardening, certain sports or your pets.

All medications can have side effects, and asthma medications are no different. If you are not sure what are the symptoms, consult your pharmacist to identify the side effects and tell your doctor about them so that your medications can be adjusted. Some people worry about the steroid drugs that are often prescribed for asthma, because they have heard so much about the side effects of steroids. Steroids are usually prescribed in aerosol form asthma and are taken with an inhaler. Taken this way is consider external, the risk of side effects is extremely small; however, the patient may experience a sore throat or less commonly oral thrush. It is important to rinse out extra drug from the mouth after using an inhaler.

It should be an overdose rather than the side effect of the inhaler. The greatest danger for most people taking asthma medicine, especially by inhaler, is overuse. Overuse of these medications over a period of years may prove to be very harmful. Call your doctor and consult your pharmacist for the exact frequency and amount of your grandfather's doses. Overusing is overdosing.

No. You need to keep taking the antibiotics exactly as your doctor prescribed them. It is important to take all of the medication because there may still be harmful bacteria within your body. Some of the dangerous bacteria my not die and you might get sick again. These bacteria can then become resistant and make the infection you already have, even harder to treat.

Yes. It's important to take the antibiotics on time and follow your doctor's and pharmacist's instructions. Antibiotics don't work as well when they aren't taken on time.

Antibiotics take different amounts of time to make you feel better, but most start to work within three full days. If you have been taking the antibiotics on time and you don't feel any better after three full days of treatment, you should go to see your doctor. You should stick to the same doctor who prescribed the antibiotics to you as he may need to prescribe a different antibiotic.

No. You should never take someone else's leftover pills. You may not have the same illness your husband had. It's important to know that specific antibiotics are effective against specific bacteria, so you shouldn't assume that the leftover antibiotics will work.