Welcome to HBL PharmaConsulting

1. Why do people request a medication consult? People most often are concerned about drug side effects, drugs that may interact, and changes in mental status of a loved one. Many of our clients are concerned that their health care provider has not fully addressed their medication questions or concerns.

2. How do I know if I would benefit from a consultation? For complete consultations, we always have patients fill out an information form and list their medications and medical problems. The pharmacist then reviews the information to determine if the patient is a candidate for a consultation.

3. My doctor knows everything I take, why would I need a consultation? Being sure that your doctor knows all of the medications you take is an important step to safely using them. However, many problems with drug therapy occur outside of the doctor's office. Many times, patients find it difficult to remember to take their medications as directed. Drug interactions can occur when patients use nonprescription products, herbal products, or other home remedies without checking with their health care professional first. Sometimes an improper drug dosage, drug choice, or a side effect or drug interaction goes unnoticed by the patient's physician and retail pharmacist.

4. I take a lot of herbals and natural remedies; can HbL PharmaConsulting provide information on these products? Yes, the pharmacy expert is able to check the latest resources to find information on the safety and effectiveness of a wide variety of herbal products and vitamin supplements.

5. Why do consultations take several days to complete? Consultations are very thorough and are based on the latest research and information available in the medical literature. In addition, the Pharmacotherapy Specialist is trained to identify many issues that may not be evident to the patient. A complete medication review and evaluation of the medical literature takes a little extra time.

	To enhance or improve the effectiveness of your medications
	There are many reasons why people do not take medications as prescribed by their physicians. Drugs are central to the management of many illnesses, and doctors carefully prescribe drugs to treat a variety of conditions. Medications cannot work if they are not taken correctly, however. Not following directions may result in extra physician visits, more prescriptions, or sometimes hospitalizations because the illness was not controlled properly. These consequences are undesirable and can be costly, too. HbL PharmaConsulting addresses obstacles that may prevent patients from taking their medications as prescribed.
	To promote the safe use of medications in combination
	Even carefully prescribed medications that work well alone may be harmful when taken in combination. The more medicines a patient takes and more than one physician prescribing medications for a patient increase the risk. Older patients are especially at risk. Eighty percent of patients over the age of 65 have at least one chronic illness, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or glaucoma. In many cases, the senior citizen may be prescribed more than 9 different medications. Over 50% of senior citizens use nonprescription drugs, and rarely is a health professional consulted. Unintended or undesirable effects of drugs can lead to extra doctor visits, added prescriptions, or even hospitalization if the effect is serious. Many, but not all, of the potential negative effects of drugs are preventable. HbL PharmaConsulting evaluates all medications used for potential problems.
	For peace of mind about the medications that you or a relative takes
	Through individualized counseling, the Pharmacotherapy Specialist focuses on each patient's drug-related questions and concerns. The Pharmacotherapy Specialist seeks to work with patients, their families, and their physicians to improve the positive results of medications and minimize drug-related problems