OTC Medicines

[hibernia]

So in short i would use it....when selling it, would you really ask the patient if they smoked as part of your WWHAM questioning???

NO.
If somebody has made a choice to do something as risky to their health as smoking then the miniscule, theoretical, additional risk from taking ibuprofen will be acceptable to them.

[happy_bunny]

This is quite an interesting thread, there often isn't a lot of information out there about the best products to recommend/reasons for particular choices. What do you say when patients want 'something for a chesty cough'? I hate this particular question because there doesn't seem to be any evidence for chesty cough mixtures in any case, never mind helping you to pick one over another...
Also, what do you recommend for nausea/vomiting?

[crit care]

its all the placebo effect isn't it...for chesty coughs i would sell the shops own chesty cough medicine...i think they are all the same...generic and branded...doubt any are superior...they probably all do nothing, but keeps the patient happy....they are taking something which will "cure" their cough, even though the mixture has done nothing for them lol...also depends if patients ask for a branded product

Makes me chuckle inside when they request nurofen, and say the cheap ibuprofen does nothing for them....its the advertising on the tv!!

[rafhelp]

This is quite an interesting thread, there often isn't a lot of information out there about the best products to recommend/reasons for particular choices. What do you say when patients want 'something for a chesty cough'? I hate this particular question because there doesn't seem to be any evidence for chesty cough mixtures in any case, never mind helping you to pick one over another...
Also, what do you recommend for nausea/vomiting?

Nausea an vomiting....Depending on what other symptoms present and duration/severity of symptoms (also age and pregnancy should be considered) you would refer to GP or treat symptomatically. BUccastem 3mg can be sold for N/V if associated with migraine for example.

Buccastem M tablets contain the active ingredient prochlorperazine, which is a type of medicine called a phenothiazine. In lower doses it is used in the management of nausea and vomiting.

I normally sell pepto bismol for nausea (but check if they are not allergic to aspirin or NSAIDS or already taking aspirin). The bottles have changed see here

Also maybe reccomend oral rehydration salts such as diorolyte and take plenty of fluids? In terms of eating would you reccomend eating light foods such as soup and maybe bread.

[Steven]

i used the book Minor Illness or Major Disease: The clinical pharmacist in the community by Clive Edwards for my pre-reg, it is very useful and contains summary of the referral criteria. might want to give it a read. steven

[rafhelp]

a guy whos fallen down and grazed his elbow presents. The wound is fresh but not bleeding he wants something to cover the wound. You would think a simple antipseptic wash or spray and a plaster woudl do but as the graze is on the elbow a plaster would not be very convenient due to elbow bending etc.. so what would be better? Would something like a small dressing to cover the wound with a bandage wrapped around the elbow be better as this would would allow for better movement of the joint as well as covering the open wound.

[johnep]

Perhaps a spray dressing.
johnep

[crit care]

or something like mepore..thats ore common sense than pharmacy really?

[hibernia]

..thats more common sense than pharmacy really?

True crit care BUT the trouble with common sense is that it isn't that common.

I've lost count of the number of people who come into a pharmacy and don't know that when a healthy child gets a very minor cut you stick a plaster on it and give them a bit of loving care. Most think they will need a consultant in emergency medicine to deal with it!

[rafhelp]

A patient comes into your chemist for some cerazette but has not got prescription. She wants an emergency supply. You give her one full cycle (28 tablets). How much would you charge her?