Patient counselling
A patient came to refill his blood pressure medication, but I saw he had no remaining refills and hadn’t been taking the medicine regularly. When I asked about his current blood pressure, he said it was in the 170s. He explained that he only took the medicine when he felt symptoms like headaches and was currently experiencing priapism, which he thought was related to his high blood pressure. I checked whether cost was an issue since he didn’t have insurance, but he said it wasn’t.
It became clear he didn’t understand why daily medication was important. I used a simple analogy: I asked him to picture a hose washing a car with high water pressure causing splashes. Then I related that pressure to what happens inside his blood vessels—to his organs. I explained that uncontrolled pressure damages the body silently, which is why he was having priapism and headaches. We aren’t curing the blood pressure, but daily meds help control the numbers and protect his organs.
He was grateful for the explanation since no one had ever explained it so clearly before. I renewed his medication, contacted his doctor about further refills and treatment for priapism, and counseled him on what to do if priapism became prolonged.
Weeks later, he returned happy and consistent with his medication. His blood pressure was closer to target, and his wife specifically asked him to thank me and said I am a ‘life saver’.
The rest of my day was pleasant because of this feedback.
Because of a pharmacist, something important happened.
