Last Updated on December 24, 2025 by Joyce Runyan

Be sure to watch or listen to this episode at The Power of the Pillbox: Simple Habits for Healthier You

Brenda was joined on the podcast by Brian Wilson, the owner and pharmacist at Mesa Winds pharmacy, located at 1923 S. 1^st Street in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He was there to talk to her about simple tips for getting the most benefit out of your medical prescriptions.

First of all, take the label’s dosing instructions seriously. These are not merely guesses. When your prescription label tells you how often to take your medicine, and how much to take each time, do what it says. Don’t improvise on your own. These dosing instructions are based on lots of studies and research that show how the body deals with the medicine in question. The instructions, therefore, are not random, but are designed to help your body best handle and utilize the medicine, while minimizing unwanted side effects. Later, we found this also includes food instructions.

They talked about the common prescription instruction to take the medicine 3 times a day and what that means. Most generally, it means morning, noon, and night at the common mealtimes. However, it may not be convenient to get medicine to a child in school at lunch. In a case like that, the “3 times a day” dose might look like “before school, after school, and before bed”. If something more rigid than that is required, the prescription will specify “every 8 hours” or something similar.

One of the most common errors that are made when taking prescription medication, even by healthcare professionals, is to stop taking your medicine before it’s all gone, before the prescription is completed. One area in which this may be harmful is with antibiotics. It may happen that you start feeling better and so stop taking them before they are all gone. But it can be that remaining, latent bacteria, which is now more resistant to the antibiotic (having survived through some of it) can grow and be harder to deal with.

One common obstacle with prescriptions is getting your kids to take them. Brenda asked what could be done to help with dosing. Brian mentioned several new methods of delivering even the yucky syrups and things of that nature. One of these was an oral syringe, that can be used in conjunction with a special bottle stopper that allows the medication to be drawn into the syringe in the same way that a needle syringe takes its dose from the vial.

Medication measurement was discussed, with Brian pointing out that the industry is moving away from using measures in teaspoons and tablespoons, which can be vague for a lot of people, who may think the spoon they eat supper with is either a teaspoon or a tablespoon. The industry is moving toward standardized use of milliliters instead, with cups, vials and syringes that are marked that way. Until that standardization happens, it’s good to know that “1 teaspoon” on your label is calling for 5 ml.

How about splitting your pills on your own to save money? This is not helpful, except in the case of pain medication, when you know you may do well with less than a full pill.

Are there special tools to split pills that can be split? Yes, but generally those that may safely be split come almost “pre-split” for your ease. The pharmacy carries a simple pill splitting device you can purchase as well.

Are there special medication bottle tops for older people, for ease of use? Yes. In fact, new vials may be easily converted back and forth from elder ease to child safety.

Who is checking your prescriptions for adverse reactions with your other medicines? Computerized record-keeping helps a lot. Even your insurance company monitors what you’re taking and can alert people to an issue. Your best bet, though, is to be certain your doctor and your pharmacist know what you’re taking, including over the counter drugs and nutritional supplements. Be sure to tell them yourself.

A divers array of other products is available for purchase at the Mesa Winds pharmacy including the following: OTC cold and flu drugs, vitamins, supplements, first aid supplies, skin care products, pill boxes and pill reminders, knee braces, crutches, back benches, shower chairs, canes, elevated toilet seats, and pre-surgery soap. There is also a blood pressure machine that has been a staple in his store for years and is quite popular.

The pharmacy is now able (on its own) to prescribe and administer the shingles and RSV vaccines. This is done on Tuesdays and Fridays by appointment.

The pharmacy is also the only local drop off point for UPS packages. This is a convenience the pharmacy is happy to offer as a community service since the UPS office has closed.

They do offer a prescription delivery service in town. One delivery run is made after 3:30 pm daily, and the cost is only one dollar.