Published archive
Every story reflects work that often goes unseen.
One afternoon, a new prescription for tramadol was brought to my attention. It was meant for pain relief after a dental procedure. As I reviewed the patient’s history, I noticed a documented seizure disorder. Knowing that tramadol can significantly lower the seizure threshold and...
Read full story → Anonymous · Ontario · Community pharmacist · Jun 04, 2026A patient who had been stable on a certain dose of thyroid medication for about two years recently presented a new prescription with an increased dose. Before dispensing, I reviewed his electronic health record to ensure the change aligned with his current health data. The latest...
Read full story → Anonymous · Alberta · Community pharmacist · May 30, 2026An older gentleman came into the pharmacy with a prescription for terbinafine to treat a fungal nail infection. He seemed to be in a hurry and wanted the prescription filled quickly. I asked if he had any recent bloodwork done related to this medication, and he said no. Since ter...
Read full story → Anonymous · Alberta · Community pharmacist · May 28, 2026A man came into the pharmacy wanting to buy Polysporin for a surgery site that hadn’t healed properly. At first glance, the area didn’t look dramatically swollen, but I noticed it was inflamed, discoloured, and warm to the touch. He said it had been painful for two weeks. The pha...
Read full story → Anonymous · Saskatchewan · Rural / remote pharmacist · May 17, 2026A patient returned to the community after a prolonged hospital stay for a high-risk cardiac condition. During hospitalization, several medications were changed—some stopped, new ones added, doses adjusted. The hospital provided only a one-month supply, expecting the patient to fo...
Read full story → Augustine E · Alberta · Community pharmacist · May 03, 2026A patient came to the pharmacy for a urinary tract infection assessment. She mentioned she didn’t have a family doctor and hadn’t had bloodwork done in eight years. I offered to do a heart health assessment while she was there, and she agreed. During the check, her blood pressure...
Read full story → Tomi A · Alberta · Community pharmacist · May 03, 2026