Military pharmacists on Okinawa say they do so much more than just put pills in bottles. They are the experts on medications. (Cindy Fisher / Stars and Stripes)
OKINAWA — Pharmacists do much more than simply put pills into a bottle. They’re experts on medications and how those medications interact with the body and with each other.
October is American Pharmacists Month, and military pharmacists are urging servicemembers to take advantage of their expertise to better understand how medications affect the body.
"You’re putting it into your body, so you’re ultimately responsible for knowing what you’re taking," said Air Force Capt. Katie Austin, the officer-in-charge of the 18th Medical Services’ pharmacy on Kadena Air Base.
"If patients understand why and how to take their meds, they will follow the guidelines and get better use of their medication."
A service that most military pharmacies provide is a brown bag review of medications, Austin said. Patients can bring in their medications — prescription, over-the-counter and herbal remedies and supplements — so pharmacists can check for possible drug duplication or harmful interactions, she said.
Austin and Lt. Cmdr. Valerie J. Riege, the department head of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa’s pharmacy on Camp Lester, offered the following to get the most out of medications:
