Have you ever picked up a prescription, gone home, and then realized you had a question? Or maybe you've had a headache and didn't know which pain reliever would be the safest option to take with your other medications?

Your pharmacist should be your first resource to answer questions about your medications.

TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, offers access to a pharmacist 24/7. For answers to your medication questions, call Express Scripts Inc. at (877) 363-1303.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is another good resource. FDA's Division of Drug Information (DDI) will answer almost any drug question. Call (855) 543-DRUG (3784).

The top five questions DDI pharmacists receive are:

• What are the possible side effects of my medicine, and where can I find the most current information about the drugs I take?
• How do I report a bad reaction to a medicine or a medication error to FDA?
• Are generic drugs the same as brand-name drugs?
• How can I find out when a generic will be available for a medicine I take?
• How do I discard medicine that I no longer need?

If you are taking an OTC medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, cough medicines, or herbal supplements, those drugs can interfere with other medications. Because you purchased these products OTC, there is no record in the pharmacy's computer system to prevent harmful drug interactions. It is important that you tell your pharmacist about taking OTC products when you fill any prescription.