BOX: TOO MANY PILLS? James Rybacki, a clinical pharmacist who is author of The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs 2005, has this advice for patients worried about taking too many prescription drugs: Ask questions. If you don't get them answered, stay in the doctor's office until you do. Tell your doctor if you're worried about "pill burden." Say, for instance, "I'm not sure I can take pills three times a day." There may be alternatives. Ask for specific goals for medications, and what the time the- counter, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, alcohol and recreational drugs. There could be unwanted interactions. If money is a problem, visit the Web site helpingpatients.org, which lists programs that can help with costs. Other useful sites: needymeds.com, rxassist.org and medicare.org (click on "Online Databases" and then "Drug Search").