Intro to Minor Ailments & Self-Medication

Question 1

What are four examples of some of the most common conditions in primary care?

Answer 1

-Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

-Back / Spinal Pain

-Dermatitis

-Cough

Question 2

What are some factors that may influence a patient’s decision to deal with “annoying” symptoms as they pertain to minor ailments?

Answer 2

1) They have a child… More likely to ask on behalf of the kid in terms of what to do for treatment.

2) Patient Health Status… Are there other illnesses or diseases that may escalate the severity of the minor illness?

3) Insurance Barriers… Traveling abroad & overall costs.

4) Age of the patient.

5) Cultural approaches to healing.

Question 3

What are the four most common OTC agents in Pharmacies?

Answer 3

-Vitamins & Minerals

-Cough & Cold Meds

-Analgesics

-Dermatology Agents

Question 4

What category of OTC’s are Pharmacists most concerned of with regards to patients self-medicating safely?

Answer 4

Analgesics

Question 5

How does OTC legislation in Canada differ from that in the United States?

Answer 5

Canada: Intermediary Positions (Schedule I / II / III / Unscheduled).

US: No Intermediary Positions (straight from Prescription to Unscheduled).

Question 6

Describe the four Canadian OTC legislative stages.

Answer 6

Schedule I: Prescription Meds.

Schedule II: Behind the counter.

Schedule III: Out front & in Pharmacies only.

Unscheduled: Sold anywhere.

Question 7

Provide two drug examples that jumped between OTC stages.

Answer 7

1) Pseudoephedrine… Pulled from Schedule II due to its use in Crystal Meth labs.

2) Ibuprofen… Was initially a Schedule II drug, but is now Unscheduled.

Question 8

What is another name for Schedule III drugs?

Answer 8

“Lock & Leave” drugs… Require a pharmacist to be in the building in order to be administered to the public.

Question 9

What are the Rx & OTC medication behaviors of patients with regards to whom they go to for information?

Answer 9

Rx: Physicians&raquo_space;> Pharmacists.

OTC: 50/50 split.

Question 10

Why are pharmacists concerned about the public’s current perceptions of OTCs?

Answer 10

OTCs are beginning to become “de-medicinized”… Because you can buy them almost anywhere means they’re 100% safe (absolutely not the case).