Use of the Pharmacy

*This article originally appeared on a website operated by Tokyo International Communication.

There are several types of shops where you can purchase medicine. This time, We will explain the "pharmacy" where you will go when you get a prescription from the hospital.

Types of stores where you can purchase medicine

Yakkyoku (Pharmacies) and Yakuten (Drug Stores)

The types of shops where you can purchase medicine are either a pharmacy or a drug store.

Pharmacy: You can go there when you get a prescription from the hospital.
Drug Store: These have names like"○○薬店 (○ ○ yakuten)", or "くすりの○○ (Kusuri no ○ ○)," or "○○ドラッグ (○ ○ drug)," and the like. You go to these types of shops when you need a medicine, but do not have any instructions from your doctor.

What you can do at a pharmacy

You can purchase medicines instructed by your doctor.

A pharmacist is a specialist who prepares medicines at the pharmacy. The pharmacist will prepare the medicine indicated in the prescription when you present it at the pharmacy.

Please show your health insurance card to the pharmacy reception when you purchase a medicine instructed by your doctor. Then the money you will pay will be lower.

You can use the prescription you receive at the hospital for up to 4 days. If you have not used it after 4 days, you will need to get a new prescription from the hospital. You may also have to have your doctor examine you again.

Get an explanation from a drug specialist

The pharmacist will explain to you the correct use of the medicine when giving it to you. If you have any questions or concerns about the medicine, be sure to ask.

Get your Okusuri-techo (medicine record handbook)

You can get your medicine record handbook at the pharmacy. The medicine record handbook keeps record of what medications you have been using in the past.
This medicine record handbook helps you to inform your doctor or the pharmacist the following information.

What kind of medicine you are using right now.
What kind of illness you have had and what kind of medicine you have been using.

When you go to the hospital or to the pharmacy, don't forget to take your medicine record handbook along with you.

Deciding the pharmacy to use every time

Your primary pharmacy

The pharmacy that you always use is called your "primary pharmacy."

When you visit several hospitals, you should always buy your medicine at that pharmacy. You can feel secure if you use one pharmacy to purchase all the medicine that you normally use.

You can find pharmacies that support foreign languages listed on this site.

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