An older man shuffled to the pharmacy counter one afternoon to pick up his prescription.
At first glance, nothing seemed urgent. He wasn’t collapsing. He wasn’t in distress.
But something felt off.
His movements were slower than usual — deliberate, almost mechanical. His speech lagged by a second or two, as if he were reaching for words just beyond his grasp. When asked a routine question, he blinked longer than expected before answering.
The pharmacist leaned forward.
“How have you been feeling lately?”
The man hesitated.
“Well… not great. Headaches. Tired. Just lousy.”
He mentioned he’d been taking several over-the-counter medications to try to “shake it off.”
That answer sharpened the pharmacist’s attention.
A quick blood sugar test told the real story.
His level was 35 mg/dL.
For most people, that number means nothing.
But in practical terms, it meant this: he was dangerously close to losing consciousness, close to a seizure. Close to getting behind the wheel of his car and blacking out.
An ambulance was called.
He didn’t need another appointment.
He needed someone paying attention.
The Expert Hiding in Plain Sight
Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in the country.
No appointment required.
No referral needed.
No waiting weeks to be seen.
And yet, many people treat the pharmacy like a drive-through window — a place to pick up a bag and move on.
That’s understandable. Modern healthcare often feels rushed and transactional.
But pharmacists are medication experts. That’s not marketing language — it’s training.
They study:
- Drug interactions
- Dosing strategies
- Side effects
- Absorption and timing
- Duplicate therapies
- Contraindications
- Insurance formularies
And they see something many physicians do not: the full list of what you are actually taking.
Prescriptions from multiple doctors.
Over-the-counter medications.
Supplements.
Herbal products.
When something doesn’t align, they often see it first.
Why We Don’t Ask
So why don’t more people use this resource?
A few reasons:
- We assume the doctor has already covered everything.
- We see the pharmacy as transactional, not relational.
- We don’t want to “bother” anyone.
- We turn to Google instead.
But Google doesn’t know your medication list.
And algorithms don’t check for drug interactions.
A pharmacist does.
Questions Worth Asking
You don’t need a crisis to start a conversation.
Here are simple, powerful questions you can ask the next time you’re at the pharmacy:
- “Do any of my medications interact with each other?”
- “Why am I taking this medication?”
- “Is there a more affordable alternative?”
- “What side effects should concern me?”
- “When is the best time of day to take this?”
- “Do I really need this supplement?”
Those questions are not interruptions.
They are responsible.
Sometimes clarity prevents harm long before symptoms appear.
The Last Safety Check
In many cases, pharmacists are the final checkpoint before a medication reaches your hands.
They review prescriptions for:
- Incorrect doses
- Dangerous interactions
- Allergies
- Therapeutic duplications
They call prescribers when something seems off. They catch mistakes more often than most people realize.
That work rarely makes headlines.
But it quietly protects patients every day.
Accessibility Is a Gift
In leadership, we often talk about expertise.
But expertise is only valuable if it is accessible.
Pharmacists are accessible.
They are trained.
They are present.
They are watching.
And often, they are underused.
A Simple Shift
The next time you pick up a prescription, pause.
Ask one question.
Start one conversation.
Healthcare doesn’t always require a new appointment.
Sometimes it requires awareness.
And sometimes the most powerful decision you can make is to use the expertise already standing in front of you.
More insights like this will appear in my forthcoming book, Safe to Swallow, a practical guide to understanding your medications and making informed healthcare decisions.
