2. Prescription writing, legal aspects, scheduled drugs. Flashcards
Is latin used?
Latin is retained for certain parts of prescription (e.g. Rx ,Sig.) Mostly used as a tradition.
What are the parts of the prescription:
•Heading • Superscription • Inscription • Subscription • Signature • Veterinarians own signature • Repeat information
The most important parts of the heading:
- name and address of the practitioner (Heading 1) optional other information: consulting hours, logo
- Date
- the name and the address of the owner (Heading 2)
- food producing animals: species, name/ID number (Heading 2) Indicate age if it is neccessary (calves) and quantity.
what should be in the inscription?
- Authorised: name, dosage form and the strength of medicine
- Official/Prepared: list of the ingredients and their amounts
- Ingredients - if it is made
- major ingredient/active substances should be written first, excipients should be written later (color, stabilizers, dilution)
- adjuvant
- vehicle
What are the parts of the subscription?
The subscription are describing the: how, the inscription describes the what.
- Information for the pharmacist
- what to prepare from the ingredients, and how to dispense (strength is important, if strength is not indicated the smallest % will be used and indicate the form of the product)
- package size and original package quantity
Official or Prepared: (e.g. Amoxicillin tablets BP, ZnO suspension)
e. g.: „Send 10 tablets in a suitable package.”
e. g.: „ Prepare a suspension and send 100 ml in a suitable package.”
Authorised: (e.g. Synulox 50 mg tablets)
e.g.: „Send 1 original package, 10 tablets.”
„Send 2 original packages, 10 tablets each.”
What is very important for the vet to write and indicate at the end of the prescription if neccessary?
- Information for owner about the application of the drug e.g.: „ Give 2 tablets to dog daily for 10 days.”
- „This animal is under my care. (These animals are…)” „For animal treatment only.”
- „This prescription is written under the drug cascade.”
- „Withdrawal period: edible tissues…days, milk…days, eggs…days, (fish: … degree days).”
- Other: „For external/topical use only.” „Shake well before use.” „Keep out of reach of children”
Which records should be kept?
- All veterinary treatments
- Every product intended for use in food-producing animals, where withdrawal period must be observed
Not necessary: homeopathic medicine (at least 1:1.000.000)
Records should include:
- date
- precise identity of the medicinal product (including batch No.)
- dosage administered, duration of treatment
- name and address of farmer - name and address of veterinarian
- withdrawal period!
- Records should be made within 48 hours of the transaction and kept for a period of at least 5 years. 3. Controlled drugs (see later)
Classify the controlled drugs:
1-5 Schedules – high potential for abuse and the potential to create severe psychological and/or physical dependence 1 to 5 (decreasing order)
-Schedule 1
Examples: cannabis, the amphetamines, hallucinogenic drugs e.g. LSD
- Schedule 2 Examples: morphine, etorphine, fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, ketamine
- Schedule 3 Examples: buprenorphine, pentobarbital, phenobarbital
- Schedule 4 Examples: benzodiazepines e.g. diazepam
- Schedule 5 Certain preparations of morphine, cocaine and codeine that contain less than a specified amount of the drug
What should you include in the written requistion of controlled drugs?
- required for S2 and S3 CD-s
The followings must be included:
- The name, qualification and address of practitioner
- The date
- The purpose for which the drug is required
- The quality and quantity of the product
- Veterinarian’s own signature and qualification
- If the drug is not collected personally, an additional authorization must be included
- In emergency situation, controlled drugs may be supplied to a practitioner without a requisition -if the vet assumes an obligation to send a signed requisition within the following 24 hours
How should the register of controlled drugs be recorded?
The register must:
- be either a computerised system or a bound book
- be separated into each class of drug
- have a separate page for each strength and form of that drug, with this recorded at the top of each page
- have the entries in chronological order
- have the entries made in ink or in a computerised form in which every entry can be audited
- not have cancellations or alterations
- corrections: made by a signed and dated entry in the margin or at the bottom of the page • be available for inspection at any time
- be kept for a minimum of two years
- running balance is recommended!!
How i the controlled drugs kept safe?
-Schedule 2 + buprenorphine
They must be kept in a suitable locked receptacle, if in transport: locked car + additional locked unit. Locked receptacle can only be opened by a veterinarian/authorized person . One key to the receptacle to be kept at the auth.p. Only the minimum quantity of CD-s should be stored.
Validity of prescriptions of CDs:
- all details except the signature can be computer-generated (signature makes all prescrptions valid)
- Prescriptions for Schedule 2, 3 and 4 CDs are only valid for 28 days
- Prescriptions for Schedule 5 CDs are valid for 6 months
- Schedule 2 and 3 CDs cannot be prescribed on repeat dispensing prescriptions
