Chapter 7

Question 1

What are OTC drugs?

Answer 1

Drugs not prescribed by a doctor

• use for short-term treatment of common minor illness
• more than 300,000 OTC drugs availible

Question 2

OTC drug review

Answer 2

• safety and efficacy
• appropriate labeling standards
• reclassification

Question 3

Hazards of OTC drugs

Answer 3

• may postpone effective treatment of more chornic disease states
• may delay treatment of serious and/or life-threatening disorders
• may relieve symptoms of a disorder but not the cause
• toxicity
• interactions with current prescription medications may occur
• abuse

Question 4

Herbal and dietary supplements

Answer 4

• dietary supplement - orally administered alternative medicines including herbal supplements
• herbs - plant componenets, including bark, berries, roots, leaves, gums, seeds, stems, and flower, used for their medical qualities

Question 5

Are herbal medicines safe to use during pregnancy?

Answer 5

-Not approved by FDA

Question 6

Commonly used herbal products

Answer 6

• aloe
• feverfew
• gingko
• goldenseal
• St.John’s wort
• Valerian
• Echinacea
• garlic
• ginseng
• hawthorn
• saw palmetto

Question 7

Alternative medicine

Answer 7

use of herbal products and other nontraditional remedies

Question 8

complementary medicine

Answer 8

-simultaneous use of both traditional and alternative medicine

Question 9

Nursing implications

Answer 9

Obtain thorough medication history, documenting all medications used (prescription, OTC, herbal products, vitamins, minerals, other dietary supplements)
Assess level of education and understanding
Assess for information specific to various products
Assess system functions (especially renal, liver, and cardiac)
Assess for conditions that are contraindications
Assess for potential drug-drug and drug-herb interactions
Provide thorough and individualized patient education
Ensure that patients recognize that manufacturers of herbal products/dietary supplements are not required to prove safety and effectiveness
Herbal products may not be safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants, children
“Natural” does not mean safe
Teach patients to monitor themselves for unusual or adverse reactions as well as therapeutic responses

Question 10

Are herbal supplements and dietary supplements approved by the FDA?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

micrograms

Answer 11

mcg

Question 12

milligrams

Answer 12

mg

Question 13

grams

Answer 13

g

Question 14

kilograms

Answer 14

kg

Question 15

Does heparin have a trade name?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

alternative medicine

Answer 16

herbal medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, reflexology, and other therapies traditionally not emphasized in Western medical schools

Question 17

Complementary medicine

Answer 17

Alternative medicine when used simultaneously with, rather than instread of, standard Western medicine

Question 18

Dietary supplement

Answer 18

a product that contains an ingrediant intended to supplement the diet, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals

Question 19

herbal medicine

Answer 19

the practice of using herbs to heal

Question 20

herbs

Answer 20

plant components including bark, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers, fruit of trees, and extracts of these plants that are valued for their savory, aromatic, or medical qualitites

Question 21

iatrogenic effects

Answer 21

unintentional adverse effects that are caused by actions of a prescriber, other health care professional, or by a specific treatment

Question 22

integrative medicine

Answer 22

simultaneous use of both traditional and alternative medicine

Question 23

legend drugs

Answer 23

medications that are not legally availible without a prescription from a provider

Question 24

over-the-counter drugs

Answer 24

medications that are legally availible without a prescription

Question 25

phytochemicals

Answer 25

the pharmacologically active ingredients in herbal remedies