Questions about your health & wellness?

Find the answers to commonly asked questions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find the answers to many common questions below. If your question is not listed, contact the pharmacy team at your nearest PharmaChoice for more information.

Your best defense against the seasonal flu is the flu shot. The flu shot is recommended for most Canadians who are six months or older. Some contraindications may affect your eligibility for the flu shot, which can be discussed with your healthcare provider. Most people don’t experience any side effects from the flu shot, in fact, severe reactions are quite rare. Contrary to a common myth, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

In Canada, you may be able to get Accutane through your pharmacy with a prescription from your doctor. Accutane is a generally effective solution used to treat severe acne. For more information about treating your acne, take a look at our Advice for Life blog!

Along with a number of other pharmacy services, you can have your blood pressure checked with help from your family doctor, at a walk-in clinic and at most pharmacies. People can also purchase their own blood pressure monitor, their pharmacist can help them choose the right one for them. Please note that blood pressure checks are available at select PharmaChoice pharmacies. Give your local pharmacy a call first to ensure that they offer blood pressure checks.

Pharmacists in Ontario can administer many vaccines, including but not limited to the influenza vaccine, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal disease, rabies, and typhoid. To find out if your pharmacist can administer a specific vaccine, contact your nearest pharmacy. Please note that vaccinations and injection services at pharmacies in Canada can vary from province to province.

Living a healthy lifestyle can aid in safe and effective weight loss. Your doctor can work with you to determine a weight loss plan, set goals and provide you with support throughout your weight loss journey. While every weight loss journey is different, a healthy diet, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and drinking enough water can all aid in safe and effective weight loss.

According to Health Canada, there are five stages to quitting smoking:

1. Pre-contemplation

During the pre-contemplation stage, the person is generally not thinking about quitting. They might actually defend their choice to smoke if challenged by another. Chances are they have tried to quit before and failed, leading to feelings of discouragement and embarrassment. They might even believe that they are too addicted to ever quit smoking. But for most smokers, they will think about quitting at some point or another.

2. Contemplation

During the contemplation stage, the person may be thinking about quitting but not quite ready yet. They could be ready in the near future, likely within six months or less. They are likely more aware of the risks to their health that are associated with smoking and that it is a problem that requires a resolution. They are often more open to learning about the dangers of smoking and identifying the barriers that could be preventing them from quitting effectively.

3. Preparation

The preparation stage is when the person has made the decision to quit and is getting ready to stop smoking for good. In this stage, the cons of smoking greatly outweigh the pros and it is time to make a change. They may even set a date to quit smoking.

4. Action

The action stage is when the person actively tries to quit smoking. During this stage, they may turn to family and friends for support, attend a support group or use smoking cessation products. This is the stage when the person needs the most help and support from loved ones.

5. Maintenance

The maintenance stage is exactly as it sounds. It’s when the former smoker continues to maintain a lifestyle without smoking; they anticipate and handle temptations, cope with stress and the social pressures once associated with their identity from when they were a smoker. While they may have a lapse and smoke the occasional cigarette, they will either try to learn from their slip so that it doesn’t happen again or turn into a full relapse.

Each PharmaChoice pharmacy location offers a number of pharmacy and health services. These services may differ from one location to another based on a number of factors, including the province. Some services include:

  • Prescription refills
  • Prescription renewals
  • Prescription delivery
  • Vaccinations and injections
  • Consultations
  • Trip preparation
  • Smoking cessation

Contact your pharmacy for more information about the services offered.