A recent CMAJ editor's preface1 discussed drug reactions and interactions and outlined the need for information to be given to the patient. You specifically commented on the importance of the information given to patients by their pharmacist.
Throughout the years I have been grateful to pharmacists who keep my patients (and me) out of trouble by double-checking drug doses and instructing the patient about important drug interactions. However, in recent years there has been an increasing tendency for drugstores to hand out printed sheets that cover every possible side effect of a drug. This scares many patients and frequently leads to non-compliance, anxiety and confusion.
As a dermatologist, I have found the information on these printed sheets to be a problem for patients suffering from acute or recent-onset dermatitis. I have instructed the patients to use the strong steroid frequently and consistently, but the instruction sheet has warned them of side effects and told them to use it sparingly. This advice is incorrect, because in some cases it is necessary to use potent doses to achieve a therapeutic effect. Side effects can develop from long-term use of topical steroids but they are not, practically speaking, a problem over the short term when the drugs are used under close supervision. My prescription pads now state the following at the bottom: "No instruction sheets for topicals or Kenalog please." I prefer to fully inform patients in the office about the medication they are prescribed.
Information about drugs is important to patients but I believe that the printed drug handout sheets lack perspective and are presently doing more harm to patients than good.
Reference
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