BNF Flashcards
What is the BNF?
-publication that has day to day prescribing information for healthcare professionals
-provides healthcare professionals with up to date information about use of medicines
Who is the BNF published by?
British Medical Association (BMA)
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
What is the formulary?
An official list giving details of prescribable medicines
What is a Monograph?
An approved detailed summary of standards or characteristics of a drug?
What does it mean by Therapeutic Class of medication?
Family of medication
A group of drugs that all exert the same effect
What is the indication of the drug?
What the drug is used for
What is dose?
The amount of drug required in order to exert a desired effect
What is caution?
Extra care is needed when using in certain circumstances
What are contraindications?
Reasons not to use the drug
There is either no circumstance where you would consider using that drug or it is inadvisable
What is the medicinal form?
How the medication comes e.g. tablet, liquid, injection
What is the strength?
How much of the medicine is in a tablet or liquid
What are side effects?
An unwanted effect of a medicine
May be very common, common,uncommon, rare, very rare
May be minor or serious
What are interactions?
Two or more drugs given at the same time can exert their effects independently or they can interact
What are Pharmacodynamic interactions?
Between drugs that have similar or antagonistic pharmacological effects
What are Pharmacokinetic interactions?
When one drugs alters the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of another thus increasing or decreasing the amount of drug available to produce it’s pharmacological effect
What is Renal Impairment?
Kidney Impairment
Tell me about prescribing information in Renal Impairment?
A way drugs are cleared from the body is via the kidney
If the function of the kidney is impaired, we may have reduced capacity to remove drugs- so may need to alter dose of drug/ dosing interval
What is acute renal impairment?
recent onset, short duration, may recover
What is chronic renal impairment?
persisting, long term
What is Hepatic Impairment?
Liver Impairment
Tell me about prescribing with Hepatic Impairment?
The liver is another way the drugs are cleared from the body
Liver Impairment not as easily quantified as kidney Impairment
Tell me about prescribing to someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding?
Drugs may pass into the placenta and into the foetus
Drugs may pass into the breast milk and be ingested by infant
Look at BNF if drug is safe
Why are some drugs chemically made into their salt forms?
to enhance how the drug dissolution and increase absorption
What are borderline substances?
In certain conditions some foods and toilet preparations have characteristics of drugs so can be written into a prescription
