What Can Pharmacists Do For Minor Ailments?

First, let's ask, what are minor ailments?

Also known as common ailments, they are conditions that do not require lab work and some may consider it recurrent, inconvenient or too minor for medical clinics to handle.

Typically a minor ailment means:

• It can be self-diagnosed.
• No lab or blood tests are required.
• Treatments should not be hiding any underlying 
• conditions. 
• Your follow-ups won’t be extensive.  

Well, this is where we can help. Pharmacists with additional prescribing authority (APA) are capable of recognizing and prescribing treatments for these minor ailments. What does this mean? It means patients can now skip the lines at the doctor’s and come into one of our locations where a prescribing pharmacist works and be seen quickly. The pharmacist will have to ask some questions and do their due diligence to assess if an over-the-counter product is needed, if a medication is appropriate to prescribe or if a referral to your physician is necessary. They’ll ask about your current medical condition, the medications you’re taking, the symptoms you’re dealing with, and how long you’ve had them. If a drug is prescribed and prepared, you can have it filled right in the pharmacy.

You will get a follow-up call in a few days to see how you are doing. Is the medication working? Is there a change in symptoms? Etc.

Minor ailments can include:

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (acid reflux)
• Nausea
• Dyspepsia (indigestion)
• Non-infectious Diarrhea
• Hemorrhoids
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Cough
• Nasal Congestion
• Sore Throat
• Mild Headache
• Minor Muscle Pain
• Minor Joint Pain
• Minor Sleep Disorders
• Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
• Emergency Contraception
• Dry Eyes
• Oral Ulcers
• Thrush -Oral Fungal Infection
• Fungal Infections of the Skin (such as Athlete’s Foot)
• Vaginal Candidiasis (yeast infection)
• Threadworms and Pinworms
• Cold Sores (Herpes Complex)
• Contact Allergic Dermatitis (skin reaction from coming into contact with an allergen)
• Mild Acne
• Mild to Moderate Eczema
• Insect Bites and Stings
• Impetigo
• Calluses and Corns
• Warts (excluding facial and genital)
• Smoking Cessation