Patient needs product without animal product?

[pharmer7]

Not had to deal with this myself, but inevitably I will have to due to patients religion, they are vegetarian/vegan,etc. What do you do when you cannot see from the ingredients that there is any animal product, or if you cannot find a product in the pharmacy which matches their requirement?

[andrew paxton]

Suggest to the prescriber that he prescribe a mixture or a tablet (helpful if the patient is Muslim, as capsules are generally Haram). Enquire of the patient how essential it is that they get Vegan products. (Some will accept animal if no practical alternative)

[johnep]

Pig insulin identical to human except for one amino acid. This can be changed so human identical.
Heparin prepared from pig mucosa.
So, does the pt die from diabetes or pulmonary embolism?.
Capsules can now be made with modified starch. Remember had lots of problems when list of contents gave wool alcohols or cetostearyl alcohol as ingredients. eventually the manufacturers just used a different name.
A blood transfusion may have been donated by a Jewish person.
johnep

[Ap0thecary]

To the best of my knowledge, religious obligations are omitted on medical grounds. All my Muslim friends have told me that.

[andrew paxton]

To the best of my knowledge, religious obligations are omitted on medical grounds. All my Muslim friends have told me that.

True, but the stricter Muslims would welcome the availability of a Halal version, as they should only use Haram if Halal is completely unavailable

[johnep]

Problem with Insulins and Heparin is that the pig is such a convenient animal for production. Why Holland/Denmark such big producers.
johnep

[Ap0thecary]

Becomes a moral decision in the end...

[Nik]

Have encountered a similar situation in hospital a few months ago. Muslim pt on a surgical ward was prescribed volplex to be given stat. Volplex is a colloidal plasma expander in the gelatin group and these fluids are produced from bovine collagen. Pt refused to have the fluid bag because of animal origin.

[Ap0thecary]

^ I am assuming an alternative was given?

[johnep]

Vaguely remember there was a plasma extender fluid based on a polymer also Dextrans?
johnep