MEP Flashcards
What are the FOUR principles of medicines optimisation?
Ensuring patients get the best possible outcomes from their medicines.
- Aim to understand patient’s experience
- Evidence-based choice of medicines (clinically & cost effective)
- Ensure medicines use is as safe as possible
- Make medicine optimisation part of routine practice
Right patient - right medicine - right time
A profession can be described as: (4)
- Recognised by the public
as a profession - Recognised
representative professional body - An occupation that benefits from professional
standards and codes of conduct - Regulated to ensure the maintenance of standards and codes of conduct
What are the 6 steps to exercise professional judgement?
- Identify ethical dilemma or professional issue e.g. deciding t supply a med or not
- Gather relevant information e.g. facts, knowledge, laws, standards etc
- Identify possible options
- Weight up benefits and risks
- Choose an option - must be able to justify decision
- Record events & decision making process. e.g. patient medication record or medical record or intervention record book
Define Medicines reconciliation
The process of identifying an accurate list of a patient’ current medicines (inc. OTC and complementary) and carrying out a comparison with current list in use, recognising discrepancies and documenting any changes.
Should take place whenever patient is transferred from one care to another.
Prevents errors & provides foundation for assessing appropriateness of pt’s current medicines.
What are sources of info for a meds rec? (11)
- Patient or patient’s representative
- Patient’s medicines
- Repeat prescriptions
- GP referral letters
- The patient’s GP surgery
- Hospital discharge summaries or outpatient
appointment notes - Community pharmacy PMR
- Care home records
- Drug treatment centre records
- Other healthcare professionals and specialist
clinics - Patient medical records where available
(e.g. in prisons or the Emergency Care Summary
(Scotland), Summary Care Record (England),
What are the REVALIDATION requirements?
SIX records each year:
4 CPD records (at least 2 planned)
A peer discussion
A reflective account
What information should you obtain when taking a medication history?
- Generic name of drug
- Brand name where appropriate
- Strength
- Form
- Route of administration
- Frequency
- Length of treatment e.g. for antibiotics
- Device and brand for e.g. insulins, inhalers
- Day/date for medicines taken on specific days of week or month e.g. methotrexate
What is a GSL medicine?
Sold in a registered pharmacy or retail outlet that can close to the public
Hold an EU/ UK Marketing Authorisation or Traditional Herbal registration or GSL homeopathic product.
Some may be marked as PO by manufacturers when they want restrict sales through pharmacies only even tho it is GSL.
Can GSL medicines be sold in the absence of the responsible pharmacist?
Yes! Providing they have signed in as RP on the pharmacy Record. Unless they have been absent for over 2 hours- then you can’t unless another pharmacist becomes the RP.
If they have not (i.e. they are late) then GSL sale can only commence once the RP has signed in.
Can P medicines be sold in the absence of the RP? What if a second pharmacist becomes RP?
NO- not in absence of RP, unless a second pharmacist is present.
NB: P medicines should not be available for self-selection!
What CANNOT take place when the Responsible pharmacist is absent for under 2 hours?
Sale of P Medicines
Handing out prescriptions and bagged meds
Handing prescriptions to delivery driver
These CAN all take place if a second Pharmacist is present.
What is the only activity that can be done if the RP is absent for over 2 hours and there is no second pharmacist?
Taking in prescriptions- the pharmacy would be closed in this situation but could take prescriptions at door.
What two drugs used in Cold and Flu must you NOT sell together at the same time?
Products containing Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine
Who can suspicions of possible misuse of OTC products be reported to? (3)
- Local GPhC inspector
- Local Controlled Drugs liaison police officer
- Accountable officer
What are the two licensed EHC drugs that can be obtained from a pharmacy?
Levonorgestrel 1500 mcg (Levonelle One Step)
Ulipristal Acetate 30mg (Ella One
How many days after unprotected sex is Levonorgestrel licensed for?
What about Ulipristal Acetate?
Levonorgestrel= 3 days (72 hours) ideally in first 12 hours.
Ulipristal acetate= 5 days (120 hours)
What age is Levonorgestrel licensed for?
What about Ulipristal Acetate?
Levornorgesterol is licensed for use in over 16 years. Can be given to under 16’s only if a locally commissioned PGD is in place.
Ella One can be used in any girl of child-bearing age- so can be used in under 16’s!!
Bear in mind- children under 13 are legally too young to consent to any sexual activity. Any younger requesting this should be reported to social services. Children under 16 also not legal although its may be consensual- i.e. with a boy also under 16.
Can pharmacists provide an advanced supply of EHC?
Yes as long pt is assessed to be competent
If you decided to supply a child under 16 with EHC, can patient information be disclosed without consent?
No- still need to obtain consent in order to disclose information. Info can be shared if safeguarding an issue- judge on a case by case basis.
EHC: If the patient vomits within how many hours of Levonelle/ Ella One should they take another dose?
3 hours of taking Levonorgesterel
3 hours of taking Ella One (Ulipristal acetate)
At what point in the menstrual cycle should EHC be taken? Can it be taken more than once per cycle?
Can be taken at any point.
SPC for Levonelle states It is not advisable to take more than 1 per cycle as it can disrupt the cycle.
NB: RPS guidance says that women can take more than one if appropriate but should be advised about cycle disruption.
A patient, who you are aware has alcoholic liver cirrhosis, asks for EHC. What do you do?
EHC- levonorgestrel and Ulipristal- both not recommended in severe liver dysfunction. Try and find out how severe the liver disorder is- refer.
What medication can Levonorgestrel increase the toxicity of?
Ciclosporin (immunosuppressant used after transplants)
Can EHC be used in breast feeding women?
Levonorgestrel appears in small amounts in breast milk- should not be harmful, but take tablet after a feed to allow maximal team until next feed.
Ulipristal acetate is present in breast milk for 1 week after administration. Advise mother not to BF in this time but express and discard the milk to maintain lactation.
**Which EHC drug can reduce the efficacy of COC and POP pills?
Ulipristal acetate. Patients should use barrier methods until next period as their normal contraceptive cover will be reduced
What is the max number of paracetamol non effervescent and aspirin non effervescent you can buy OTC?
100 of each
but remember they come in packs of 16 and 32 so you would not be able to sell this amount anyway!
Effervescent & other formulations like liquid, granules etc - no legal limit just professional judgement
What is OTC codeine/ dihydrocodeine products indicated for?
Max pack size available and can be sold?
What must be visible on the pack and in the PIL?
Short term (3 days max) treatment of acute - moderate pain not relieved by paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin alone.
NOT for cold, flu sore throat etc.
32 pack size.
RPS recommend- One box only even if effervescent. Anything bigger is POM
“CAN CAUSE ADDICTION. For 3 days only.
Legal requirements of labels? (6)
What is recommended?
- Name of patient
- Name and address of supplying pharmacy
- Date dispensed
- Name of medicine
- Directions for ruse
- Precautions relating to the use of the medicine
RPS recommend
Keep out of the sight and reach of children
Use this medicine only on your skin - where applicable
Pharmacists can dispense RX by Dr and Dentists from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland except for what _____?
Schedule 1, 2 or 3 or for drugs without a UK marketing authorisation.
Legal Rx requirements?
- Name and Address of Patient
- Age if pt under 12
- Address of prescriber
- Type of prescriber
- Signed in indelible ink or advanced authorised electronic signature on electronic Rx
- Date
Written in indelible ink
Is it permissible to issue carbon copies of an Rx?
Yes, as long as it is signed in ink
A prescriber has signed an Rx using computer generated signature. Is it legally valid?
Yes
Where should patient safety incident reports be sent to?
National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS)
What are the 9 GPhC standards?
- Provide patient-centred care
- Work in partnership with others
- Communicate effectively
- Maintain, develop & use their professional knowledge and skills
- Use professional judgement
- Behave in a professional manner
- Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality
- Speak up when they have concerns or when things g wrong
- Demonstrate leadership
What can pseudoephedrine and ephedrine be misused for?
To make methylamphetamine (crystal meth) Class A
What are the restrictions on supply of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine without a Rx?
Can’t supply or sell a product or combo of products that contain more than:
720mg of pseudoephedrine
OR
180mg of ephedrine
Can’t sell or supply pseudoephedrine and ephedrine at the same time without Rx.
If a woman is taking enzyme inducing drugs (CYP34 mainly) and asks for Levonogestrel. What is the advise and why?
Same for EllaOne
The metabolism of levonorgestrel is enhanced by concomitant use of liver enzyme inducers.
For women who have used enzyme-inducing drugs in the past 4 weeks and need emergency contraception, the use of non-hormonal emergency contraception (i.e. a Cu-IUD) should be considered.
Or if not willing/can’t then - a double dose of levonorgestrel (i.e. 3000 mcg within 72 hours after the unprotected intercourse)
Examples of drugs that can reduce plasma levels of levonorgestrel? (9)
Same for EllaOne
- Barbiturates (inc. primidone)
- Phenytoin
- Carbamazepine
- Herbal medicines contains st johns wort
- Rifampicin
- Ritonavir
- Rifabutin
- Griseofulvin
- Efavirenz
What is the effect of taking levonorgestrel and cyclosporin together?
levonorgestrel may increase the risk of cyclosporine toxicity due to possible inhibition of cyclosporin metabolism
How does Ella One work?
It postpones or inhibits ovulation. If ovulation has already occurred then it is ineffective.
A woman asks for ellaone but is asthmatic?
Yes or No…?
Use in women with severe asthma treated by oral glucocorticoid is not recommended.
How does Levonorgestrel work?
by preventing ovulation and fertilisation if intercourse has taken place in the preovulatory phase
Levonorgestrel is not effective once the process of implantation has begun
What are some of the reclassified medicines?
Amorolfine nail lacquer • Anti-malarials as Pharmacy medicines • Chloramphenicol eye drops and eye ointment • Emergency contraceptives • Mometasone 0.05% nasal spray • Proton pump inhibitors • Oral lidocaine-containing products for teething in children • Orlistat • Sildenafil • Sumatriptan • Tamsulosin • Tranexamic acid
How many times can a repeatable Rx be repeated if prescriber hasn’t specified a number?
Usually private Rx NOT FP10 etc
Repeated once (dispensed twice)
Oral contraceptive 5 times (dispensed 6 times)
CD sch 2 and 3 ARE NOT REPEATABLE.
CD sch 4 and 5 ARE OKAY.
How long are repeatable RX valid for?
First dispensing must be made within 6 months and there is no legal time limit for remaining repeats.
Schedule 4 CD must be dispensed within 28 days and then same no legal time limit for the rest.
Pts can have repeatable Rx dispensed from different pharmacies. To keep an audit trial what should u record on the Rx?
Name and address of pharmacy and date of supply
How long are ownings valid for ?
POM, P, GSL & CD 5
CD 2, 3, 4
POM, P, GSL & CD 5 - 6 months from date on Rx
CD 2, 3, 4 - 28 days from date on Rx
How long should records be kept for private Rx for POM ?
How long should private Rx be kept for?
If it’s for CD 2 and 3 what else should be done?
Records must be made in POM register. Register must be retained for 2 years from last entry.
Kept for 2 years from date of supply/sale or if it is repeatable then from the date of last supply.
If Sch 2 and 3 must be submitted to relevant NHS agency
What should a record for a private Rx include in the POM register?
- Date of supply
- Date on Rx
- Medicine details - name, quantity, formulation, strength
- Prescriber details - name and address
- Patient details - name and address
Rx records are exempt for which meds?
- Oral contraceptives
2. Sch2 as they need separate CD register record
What is FMD and when did it come into force?
Falsified Medicines Directive is a system to ensure medicines supplied are safe - reduce risk of fake meds coming to the uk
Feb 2019
Are faxed Rx legally valid?
What are some of the risks involved?
No they are not - not in indelible ink and not signed in ink by the prescriber
Risks
- Poor reproduction
- Uncertain that supply made in accordance with a legally valid Rx
- Non-receipt of original Rx
- Original Rx can be amended
- Faxed Rx sent to multiple pharmacies
- Rx not genuine
- Fax system not secure
Dentists can legally write prescriptions for any POM.
Can they do this using an NHS dental prescription?
No, they are restricted to items in the Dental Prescriber’s Formulary
What are the Rx requirements from EEA/Switzerland prescriber?
ONLY ALLOWED POM & SCH 4
- Patient details - full name and DOB
- Prescriber details - full name, professional qualifications, direct contact number + work address (inc. country they work in)
- Medicine details - Name (brand if appropriate), form, quantity strength and dosage details.
- Prescriber signature
- Date of issue - valid for 6 months / 28 days for Sch 4
Can an emergency supply be made at the request of a patient & or an EEA/Swiss prescriber?
Yes - POM & Sch 4 and 5
Same requirements as UK emergency.
Rx to be received within 72 hours.
What type of Rx do the military use?
Do all community pharmacies handle them?
FMed 296
Only pharmacies contracted under the Ministry of Defence should dispense them
What happens if a military Rx is presented to a non-contracted pharmacy?
Can be dispensed but treated as a PRIVATE rx.
Invoice should not be sent to the MOD directly but to charge the patient . The patient can then recover any costs from their military unit.
A CD has been prescribed on an FMed 296. Can this be dispensed?
No, it should be on a pink FP10CD
What is a PSD?
PSD = Patient Specific Directions
Outline exemptions to the restrictions on the sale, supply and administration of medicines.
Could be written instructions from a Dr/Dentist etc for a medicine to be suppled to a named patient after the prescriber has assessed that patient on an individual basis.
What is a PGD?
Patient Group Direction
Written direction that allows the supply /administration of a specified medicine/s by a named authorised health professional to a well-defined group of patients requiring treatment for a specific condition.
Can pharmacists supply/offer to supply/administer diamorphine or morphine under a PGD?
In what case?
Yes - for the immediate necessary treatment of sick or injured persons
What are the conditions for an emergency supply at the request of a prescriber?
- Relevant prescriber
- Emergency reason
- Written Rx agreed to be supplied within 72 hours
- Directions in accordance with prescriber
- Not for CDs 1, 2 and 3 except for phenobarbital - for epilepsy (authorised by Dr, dentist, nurse, pharmacist independent/supplementary prescriber)
- Record kept - POM register on the day of supply or next day if impractical
- Usual labelling
What needs to be recorded for an emergency supply at the request of prescriber? (6)
POM record:
- Date of supply
- Name (strength and form) and quantity of medicine
- Name and address of prescriber
- Name and address of patient
- Date on prescription
- Date on which the Rx is received
What are the requirements of an emergency supply at the request of a patient?
- Interview patient
- Pharmacist needs to be satisfied with the need
- Medicine must have been previously be prescribed and used as treatment
- Dose - need to know the dose (look at PMR, repeat slip etc)
- Not for CDs (1,2,3) except for phenobarbital
- Length of treatment: POM = max 30 days except if POM is insulin, cream, inhaler - smallest packs should be provided
Abx liquid - smallest quantity to cover full course treatment
Oral contraceptive - full treatment cycle should be supplied
CD 4/5 or phenobarbital = max 5 days supply - POM record kept
- Labelling = EMERGENCY SUPPLY needs to be added
What should be recorded in POM register for emergency supply at request of patient?
- Name and address pf pt
- Date of supply
- Medicine name/form/strength/quantity
- Reason for emergency supply & why rx can’t be obtained
Who can provide a signed order for salbutamol / adrenaline auto injectors for a school?
Written signed order by principal/head teacher must be provided
What information should be included on signed order for salbutamol/adrenaline for schools?
- Name of school
- Purpose for product required
- Total quantity needed
- Signed