Stability of meds in compliance aids

[philly]

What is your view on transferring solid dosage forms into compliance aids? Most of the commonly prescribed drugs are marked as not suitable for putting into a monitored dosage system, according to the article published in PJ in 2006 which all of you have probably read. However, the multiple I work for insist that we offer this service to our patients. What can I do about it?

[johnep]

Ikorel, soluble aspirin, epilim. I have seen all these in MDS. Would not worry if done on weekly basis.
johnep

[mrmeds]

Ikorel, soluble aspirin, epilim. I have seen all these in MDS. Would not worry if done on weekly basis.
johnep

same here, because if you don't put them in the patient dosn't get them. None of the home helps in our area are allowed to give ANYTHING that isn't in an mds

[Pharmanaut]

same here, because if you don't put them in the patient dosn't get them. None of the home helps in our area are allowed to give ANYTHING that isn't in an mds

Some of the things I'm not happy within MDS - patient record noted that prescriber contacted and discussed.
Bisacodyl.
Senna
Quinine (see recent MHRA safety update)
Analgesia

Damned if we do (risk of drug stability), and patient harm.
Damned if we don't - patient harm through lack of medication.

Therefore pharmacy is just damned. QED.

[bleepholder]

what about alendronate...have seen them in MDS boxes and out of them..can't see the point in them going INTO the box, given there is about a half a page of instructions on how to take them

but i just assume, its better they take them then not at all.....even if hardly any of it is absorbed alongside the concoction of other tablets in the mornings box....

[johnep]

Naturally calcium supplements often in same compartment as alendonate.
johnep

[bleepholder]

indeed...and i don't believe for a minute that patients fish them (the alendronate) out and take it as they should do..

Interestingly, never seen warfarin in a dosette box....makesyou think, patients and their families are adamant that a MDS style box aids compliance, yet they ahve their warfarin seperately...do MDS boxes really aid compliance??? because at the end of the day, the patient still needs to remember to pop them out the blister pack...

also whilst i'm on a bit of a rant.....risk of overdose..seen people take the full 7 day supply in 1 go as well..and it wasn't your usual aspirin, clopidogrel etc...we're talking high dose quetiapine, trazadone, procyclidine and clobazam!! and the patient was complaining he had no more tablets left at home...hmmm..wonder why???

[SolomonQ]

"None of the home helps in our area are allowed to give ANYTHING that isn't in an mds"

more like they won't employ anyone qualified enough according to their guidelines who can give meds not in an mds. Cost saving measures.