How to take a drug history Flashcards
What are the legal ways to obtain drugs?
Legal ways to obtain drugs include:
From a shop: For over-the-counter medications (e.g., general sale medicines).
From a pharmacist: With or without a prescription, depending on the classification.
From a prescription: Medications prescribed by a healthcare provider for specific conditions.
What are illegal ways to obtain drugs?
Illegal ways to obtain drugs include:
Borrowing or stealing: Taking someone else’s medication without permission.
From a dealer: Purchasing drugs from illegal drug dealers.
Online (unlicensed pharmacies): Buying drugs from unregulated or illegal online pharmacies.
Why do we have drug regulation?
Drug regulation exists to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medications, protect public health, and prevent harm. A key historical example is the Thalidomide Disaster, where a medication caused severe birth defects and other health issues in babies, highlighting the need for strict drug regulation.
What is the Medicines Act of 1968?
The Medicines Act 1968 provided a statutory framework for the manufacture, import, export, supply, and control of medicines. It also categorized medicines into different classes and set restrictions on their sale and distribution. This law was introduced after the Thalidomide disaster to improve drug safety.
What are the different classifications of drugs?
Drugs are classified into three categories:
General Sale Medicines (GSM): Available in shops for common, short-lived ailments with minimal side effects.
Pharmacy Medicines: Available over-the-counter in pharmacies, often with advice from a pharmacist on correct usage.
Prescription Only Medicines (POM): Available only with a prescription due to their potential risks or need for medical supervision.
What are General Sale Medicines (GSM)?
General Sale Medicines (GSM) are over-the-counter medications available in shops for common, short-lived, easily recognized ailments. They have minimal side effects when used as directed and are generally safe for the public. However, they often carry advice to seek medical help if the condition worsens or doesn’t improve.
What are Pharmacy Medicines?
Pharmacy Medicines are medications for common, short-lived conditions that are available in pharmacies. These medicines require consultation with a pharmacist to ensure they are appropriate for the patient’s condition, used correctly, and that no further medical consultation is needed.
What are Prescription Only Medicines (POM)?
Prescription Only Medicines (POM) are drugs that can only be dispensed with a prescription. These drugs may:
Pose a direct or indirect risk to human health even when used correctly without medical supervision.
Be subject to frequent incorrect use.
Require further investigation into their effects or side effects.
Be intended for parenteral administration (injection or intravenous use).
How can drugs cause harm?
Drugs can cause harm in several ways, including:
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR): Unintended, harmful effects occurring at normal doses. They are often dose-related and can be managed by adjusting the dosage or stopping the drug.
Allergy: An immune response to a drug that can cause severe reactions, including rashes or anaphylaxis. Allergies are less predictable and can be life-threatening.
Sensitisation: A mild allergic reaction that becomes more severe with repeated exposure.
Adverse Drug Events (ADE): Any untoward medical occurrence in a patient taking a drug, which may not necessarily be caused by the drug but is still an undesirable effect.
What is an Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)?
An Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) is a harmful, unintended reaction that occurs at normal therapeutic doses. ADRs are typically dose-related and predictable based on the drug’s pharmacology. They are often temporary and can be managed by reducing the dose or discontinuing the drug.
What is an allergy to a drug?
A drug allergy is an immune system reaction to a substance (the drug) that the body has become hypersensitive to. It is often immunologically mediated and can range from mild reactions, like rashes, to severe reactions like anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.
What is sensitisation in the context of drug allergies?
Sensitisation occurs when a person who has had a mild allergic reaction to a drug experiences a much more severe reaction upon subsequent exposure. The immune system becomes more sensitive to the drug after the initial exposure.
What is an Adverse Drug Event (ADE)?
An Adverse Drug Event (ADE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a patient administered a drug, regardless of whether the event is causally related to the medication. ADEs include side effects, drug interactions, overdoses, or mistakes in drug administration.
