This entry is part of an ongoing series where pharmacists describe inspiring patient interventions. Have a story you wish to share? Send it to vwood@ensembleiq.com.I called a patient who we had done a systems review with and determined that he was awakening four to five times per night to urinate. He also had a long-term nagging cough.We talked about his treatment for urinary incontinence, his untreated allergies and his use of an ACE inhibitor.We had sent a recommendation to add tamsulosin and it has decreased his nighttime awakenings to two each night.Our plan is to try treating the allergies first in case it is an allergic cough (his allergies are active all of the time). If that does not work we will suggest a change from the ACE to an ARB.This gentleman is in a wheelchair most of the day, and has Parkinson’s and dementia in their early stages.But hopefully catching an untreated indication or two, or addressing an adverse effect, will increase his quality of life.These are often the small problems that get missed while we focus on larger issues. But minor problems can still have a significant impact on a patient.They are the kinds of things pharmacists can oftentimes pick up on.Ken Burns is pharmacist at the Diabetes Care Centre at Sudbury Regional Hospital.
