# What do pharmacists really do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2016, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245 "2016-04-27T06:32:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/41 "2016-04-28T17:12:29Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Learn something new every day. Yeah, don’t waste your money on products like Auro or other “drying aids.” And don’t bother with earplugs, either, because they won’t keep _ **all** _ the water out, so it’s as good as not using them at all. (Even the smallest amount of water will cause an infection.) The goal isn’t to keep the water out _while_ swimming–it’s just to _get it out_, _after_ swimming.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/42 "2016-04-28T17:18:49Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Actually I know that off the top of my head. (As I recall, I read that in a book called imponderables?) > > Anyway pharmacists used to be the one person owner of drug stores. They raised themselves up so they could see shoplifters in their stores. Thank you! This place is awesome! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/43 "2016-04-28T17:39:30Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > In a perfect medical system, the MD/DO would diagnose you, the pharmacist would prescribe you, and the nurse would treat you. Word. Don’t ask me whether you have emphysema or asthma. I have no idea. But I can teach you some different ways to breathe and give you this nebulizer and tell the doctor and pharmacist if it’s helping. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/44 "2016-04-28T19:08:32Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Just by paying attention, a pharmacist saved my husband from needing some platelet or whole blood transfusions. Put that fellow on your Christmas list. Find out his birthday. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DtypeJag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@DtypeJag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DtypeJag)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/45 "2016-04-28T20:06:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > They catch mistakes that doctors make . . . a very serious one, in my case. > > They also look to see what other meds you’ve been prescribed by other doctors, to discover possible conflicts. > > They also answer their customers’ questions with a straight face, e.g., “Should I be taking these suppositories with meals?” This brings up a question I’ve wondered about every time some celebrity dies from multiple prescriptions for the same drug or conflicting drugs from different Dr’s and/or different pharmacies. Is their any kind of system in place that can catch this or does it require some kind of full bore FBI investigation? How is this handled in single-payer countries? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245/46 "2016-04-29T02:50:58Z")
In many parts of the developing word, doctor-patient ratios are off the charts, and pharmacists act as de-facto doctors dispensing medical advice. Not the optimum situation, but if you can’t find or afford a good doctor, or any doctor at all, then it’s better than nothing. An organization called the International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs – I believe they’re affiliated in some way with the World Health Organization – recognizes the practicality of having pharmacists serve as makeshift physicians and tries to train them in proper pharmaceutical procedures – that is, not just giving super-antibiotics to everyone for any and all ailments. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pharmacists-really-do/753245.md?page=2)