Don’t rush it

That line at the pharmacy counter may be annoying, but it’s long for a reason. Your pharmacist has a ton of things to do—and it takes time to do it right. “A pharmacist’s job to a lay person may seem simplistic, but there are many functions, from reviewing your profile to checking interactions, and making sure you’re getting the correct drug, and dosage,” says Fernando Gonzalez , RPhI, assistant professor pharmaceutical sciences division at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “Patients should realize that rushing a prescription is like telling a pilot not to check the landing gear before takeoff,” he adds.