Law Flashcards
What is NFA-VPS
- medicine for non-food animals that can be supplied by a veterinary surgeon, a pharmacist or a suitably qualified person
- written prescription not required
- not accessible by public in a pharmacy
What is POM-V
- POM that can only be prescribed by veterinary surgeon and supplied by a veterinary surgeon or a pharmacist with a written prescription
What is POM-VPS
- POM that can be prescribed and supplied by veterinary surgeon, pharmacist, or suitably qualified person on an oral or written prescription.
- written prescription only required if supplier is not the prescriber
What is AVM-GSL
- authorised veterinary medicine that is available on general sale
What does exempt medicines under schedule 6 of the veterinary medicines regulations - exemptions for small pet animals (SAES) mean
unlicensed vet medicine that does not need marketing authorisation because it meets criteria laid out in schedule 6 of the veterinary medicines regulations - exemptions for small pet animals
What is an unauthorised veterinary medicine
- unlicensed medicine that does not have a marketing authorisation and is not eligible for exemption through the SAES
- it can only be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon under the cascade. Including any human medicine used for animals
Prescription requirements for POM-V, POM-VPS and medicines supplied under the veterinary cascade
- name, address, phone, qualification, signature of prescriber. If S2or3 CD, include RCVS registration number
- name and address of owner
- identification and species of the animal and its address (if different to owners)
- date - valid for 6 months, all repeats must be made within 6 months. 28 days if S2,3,4 CDs.
- name, quantity, dose and administration instructions of required medicine. ‘As directed’ not appropriate
- any necessary warnings and withdrawal period (time between taking make and being used as food)
- prescribed under the cascade - or similar
- number of times it can be repeated
- if S2 or 3 CD - ‘the item has been prescribed for an animal or herd under the care of the vetinarian’
How long should veterinary prescriptions be retained
- 5 years
Difference between quantity of CDs supplied on a vet prescription compared to human
- vet = 28 days
- human = 30 days - S2,3,4
Schedule 2 and 3 CD prescription requirements for human and for Vet
- vet = RCVS registration number
- human = prescriber identification number
4 principles of medicines optimisation
- understand patient experience
- choose medicine with best evidence, clinically appropriate and cost effective
- ensure safe use
- make medicines optimisation routine practice
more about patients taking ownership of their meds (not about cost)
pharmaceutical care definition
the responsible provision of drug therapy (by a pharmacist) for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve the patient’s health and quality of life e.g PCP
what is GSL
- general sales list
- retail outlets that can ‘close so as to exclude the public’ or in registered retail pharmacy
what is P
- pharmacy only under RP
- not accessible to pubic by self selection
What is POM
- prescription only by appropriate prescriber
Which class of medicine does OTC refer to
GSL and P
what is PO
- Pharmacy only
- a GSL med that the manufacturer restricts sales to only pharmacies
Pseudoephedrine/ephedrine details
- P
- abused to make crystal meth
- no more than 720mg pseudo
- no more than 180mg ephedrine
- not both at once unless on Rx
Paracetamol and Aspirin as P details
- max 100 non-effervescent tablets/caps
- no legal limit for effervescent - use judgement
Codeine and dihydrocodeine details
- P
- licensed in acute/mod pain not relieved by OTC analgesic alone
- > 32 = POM
- sell only one pack
- “can cause addiction. For 3 days use only” on front of pack
- PIL must state indication and can cause addiction and overuse headache if used continuously > 3 days. Must contain signs of addiction
Cough/cold medicines in children details (P)
- codeine linctus 18+
- certain ingredients not for <6 years
- used second line to best practice in 6-12 years for 5 days
Name OTC antitussives
- inhibit cough through either a central or a peripheral mechanism, or mix of the 2
- pholcodine
- dextromethorpan
Name OTC expectorants
- for mucusy cough
- guaifenesin
- ipecacuanha
Name OTC nasal decongestants
- ephedrine
- pseudoephedrine
- phenylephrine
- xylometazoline
- oxymetazoline
Name OTC antihistamines
- brompheniramine
- chlorphenamine
- diphenhydramine
- promethazine
- tripolidine
- doxylamine
Emergency hormonal contraception (P) details
- ulipristal <120 hours, women of child bearing age
- levonorgestrel <72 hours, 16+
- advanced supply
- children under 13 can’t legally consent to sexual activity - report to social services
Oral isotretinoin PPP (POM)
- teratogenic
- PPP = monthly follow up, effective contraception and pregnancy tests
- Rx valid 7 days
- max 30 days supply
- dont accept fax or repeat Rx
- emergency supply ONLY if requested by phone by PPP specialist prescriber with confirmed negative pregnancy test in last 7 days
Sodium valproate PPP (POM)
- specialist use for epilepsy and bipolar
- CI in childbearing age unless PPP
- discuss risks, pt card and warning stickers when dispensing
- check if taking highly effective contraception and discussed tx with GP/specialist
- if planning/unplanned preg - tell GP - don’t stop
- report side effects via yellow card scheme
What is a biologic (POM)
medicine made from human, animal or microorganism e.g. blood
What is a biosimilar (POM)
- medicine similar to an already licensed biologic
- not a generic because identical can’t be produced
- rx by brand
- ADR = give batch no and brand
- dont switch between brand for biologics/similars
- e.g. glargine (biologic), Absalgar (biosimilar)
UK prescribers
- doctors, dentists, vets
- IP within their competence:
nurse or pharmacist
optometrist (no CDs or parenteral POMs)
podiatrists, physios, therapeutic radiographer IPs (POMs, only certain CDs, and Off-label medicines) - supplementary prescribers according to clinical management plan - all of the above
- community practitioner nurses (not CDs/unlicensed meds, only limited POMs)
EEA/Swiss prescribers
- doctors/dentists/pharmacists/nurses (not CDs 1, 2, 3 or UK unlicensed meds)
General prescription requirements
- pt name and address
- age if under 12, DOB
- prescriber signature
- particulars of prescriber
- address of prescriber
- prescriber signature in indelible ink or advanced electronic signature
- 6 month expiry from appropriate signature (28 days if CD 1, 2, 3, 4)
- owings last until expiry date
Private prescription requirements
- same general prescription requirements. No standardised form
- private POMs valid for 6 months from date signed
EEA/Swiss prescription requirements
- legally recognised in UK (excepts CDs 1, 2, 3, and UK unlicensed medicine)
- can accept Rx in a different language
1. Patients full name and DOB
2. Prescribers full name, professional qualifications, work address with country
3. direct contact details: email and tel/fax, number with international pre-fix
NHS dental prescriptions
- yellow FP10D
- can only prescribe medicines listed under dental prescribers formulary
Are faxed prescriptions valid
No
Military prescriptions details
- written on FMED 296 military form
- handled by community pharmacies with a dispensing contract with the Ministry of Defence otherwise treat as a private prescription
- particular attention to handwritten FMED, unusual as most are computer generated. If in doubt check registration details of prescriber
What is a repeatable prescription
- where medicines can be dispensed more than once against the same prescription
- not the same as repeat requests or NHS repeat dispensing
- NHS prescriptions, Schedule 1, 2, 3 CDs NOT repeatable
Repeatable prescription requirements
- Private Rx’s must state it is repeatable e.g. repeat x3 = dispense 4 times total
- if number of repeats not stated only repeat once (2 total)
- exception for oral contraceptives, can repeat x5 all within 6 months
- first dispensing within 6 months (28 days S4 CD) then no legal time for remaining repeats
- for audit trail of number of repeats dispensed - stamp the pharmacy name, address and date supplied on the prescription each time it is dispensed
Emergency supply not allowed under patient or prescriber request
- CDs 1, 2 , 3 except phenobarbital for epilepsy by a UK prescriber
- Swiss/EEA prescriber cannot prescribe or request any CD 1, 2, 3 or UK unlicensed medicine
Emergency supply patient request record keeping
- record in POM register on day of supply or day after
- Date (POM supplied)
- Medicine details (name, strength, formulation, quantity)
- name & address of patient
- nature of emergency
Emergency supply prescriber request record keeping
- record 3 dates (POM supplied, Rx received and date on Rx)
- medicine details (name, strength, formulation and quantity)
- name and address of prescriber and patient
emergency supply - patient request
- previously prescribed by appropriate practitioner
- pharmacist must know the dose needed
- CD (4, 5, Phenobarbital) = 5 days
- POM = 30 days
- oral contraceptives = full treatment cycle i.e. 28 days
- inhaler, insulin, creams; packs that cannot be broken = smallest pack size
- liquid abx = smallest quantity to complete course
emergency supply - prescriber request
- receive prescription within 72 hours
- make supply according to the direction of the prescriber
Define emergency for an emergency supply
- an immediate need and not practical to get Rx without undue delay
- conduct patient interview for patient requests
Record keeping general rule
- vet and RP = 5 years
- everything else e.g. CDs, private Rx’s for 2 years
Private prescription record keeping
- retain for 2 years from last date of supply (private S2, 3 sent to NHS agency at end of month)
- POM register - record supply of private POMs
- keep POM register for 2 years from date of last entry except for oral contraceptives and S2 CD (recorded in CD register)
- record following info on the day or day after:
1. dates of supply and on prescription
2. medicine name, strength, formulation, quantity
3. patient and prescriber name and address
Legal requirements of a dispensary label
- medicine name
- directions of use
- any precautions/warnings
- patient name
- pharmacy name and address
- date of dispensing
- “emergency supply” for emergency supply under patient request
- recommended: “keep out of sight and reach of children”
Labelling broken bulk containers
- name and medicine and quantitative particulars i.e. the ingredients
- quantity
- handling and storage requirements
- expiry date and batch no.
- e.g. dispensing 60 tablets from pack size of 100
Parenteral POMs administration
- the law prevents a person from administering a parenteral POM to another person unless acting under directions of an appropriate practitioner
- Exceptions:
1. emergency e.g. adrenaline anaphylaxis
2. midwives and paramedics for specified parenteral POMs under certain conditions
3. smallpox vaccine or after medical exposure
Non-parenteral POMs administration
- legislation does not restrict thee administration of non-parenteral POMs
- but it should only be done under the authority of a prescription, PGD, or PSD
Patient specific directions details
- written instructions from a prescriber for a medicine to be supplied or administered to a named patient after they are individually assessed e.g. inpatient drug chart
- for purpose of administration (not supply) - directions can be verbal or telephone from appropriate practitioner
POM supply without prescription
- emergency supply
- PGD
- pandemic exemptions
- optometrist and podiatrist signed orders
- signed order of salbutamol inhalers to school
- supply of naloxone by individuals providing drug treatment services
PGD details
- written direction to supply or administer specified medicines by authorised health care professionals to a well-defined group of patient requiring treatment for specific condition
- e.g. doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis
Pandemic declared by the department of health
- pharmacist don’t need to interview patient who required emergency supply of a medicine
- allows supply from designated collection points when a disease is pandemic and there is a serious or potentially serious risk to human health
- collection points need to be registered pharmacy premises or under the supervision of a pharmacist
Optometrist and podiatrist signed orders
- certain POMs supplied directly to patients via signed order by a registered podiatrist or optometrist
- signed order is not a prescription, rx requirements are not needed
- must be a med they can legally supply
- still label properly, provide PIL and record in POM register
Signed order for supply of salbutamol inhalers to schools
- schools can purchase from pharmacies, for use in emergencies
- signed order from head teacher including school name, purpose, total quantity and their signature
- retain signed order for 2 years OR make entry into POM register and record date given, medicine details, name, address and profession of person supplied to and purpose
Supply of Naloxone by those who provide drug treatment services
- can be supplied to anyone for purpose of saving a life in an emergency opioid overdose
- e.g. community pharmacies that provide needle exchange services can supply naloxone for a friend or family member to administer in heroin overdose
Wholesale Dealing
- Pharmacist exempt from requiring a wholesale dealer’s license in certain circumstances:
1. occasional basis
2. small quantity of medicines
3. profit is not made
4. not for onward wholesale distribution - if wholesale dealer license is required - this means that if supplies include CDs 2-5, a home office license is also needed
Drugs and Driving
- offense to driver whilst impaired through drugs regardless if they are used legitimately
- a statutory medical defence can be raised if driving not impaired, lawfully obtained, Rxed or purchased OTC, taken in accordance with advice of HCP or written instructions
- keep suitable evidence whilst driving to show the medicine is being take as it should e.g. PIL
Group 1 driving drugs
- commonly abused - lower limits
- cannabis (THC)
- MDMA (ecstasy)
- ketamine
- methylamfetamine
- cocaine (and a cocaine metabolite, BZE)
- lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
- heroin/diamorphine metabolite (6-MAM)
Group 2 driving drugs
- licensed medicines - higher limits
- clonazepam
- diazepam
- lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam
- methadone
- morphine
- amfetamine
- selegiline (metabolised to amfetamine)
use before/use by
use before the beginning of the month e.g. 06/2017 = expires 1st June 2017
Expiry date
do not use after the end of the month e.g. 06/17 expired 30th June 2017