OTC Flashcards
GI red flags
- blood in stool/vomit
- dysphagia
- unexplained weight loss
- vomiting with constipation
- babies projectile vomiting
- sustained alteration in bowel habit
- medicines causing stomach pain: nitrates, CCBs, NSAIDs, alendrotnic acid, corticosteroids, opioids
Oral thrush symptoms
- creamy white patches on oral mucosa
- burning sensation in mouth
- change in taste
- refer a healthy adult presenting with oral thrush
Oral thrush OTC treatment
- daktarin oral gel (miconazole)
-licensed from 4 months old - apply after food
- continue for 48 hours once lesions have healed
- if CI, refer for nystatin
Causes of mouth ulcers
- vitamin B/folic acid deficiency
- stress
- IBD
- poor nutrition
- trauma
- carcinoma
- smoking
- ADR
Mouth ulcers symptoms
- small lesions with a distinct outer edge
- painful/ stinging
- if irregular shape = due to trauma or something sinister
- normally resolve within 7-14 days
When should you refer mouth ulcers
- painless
- > 3 weeks
- clusters of 5 or more
- pregnant/breastfeeding
- diabetic
OTC treatment of mouth ulcers
- paracetamol
- anbesol (lidocaine) - one ulcer, infant age +
- corsodyl (chlorhexidine) - 1 + ulcer, 12 years +, don’t swallow
Dyspepsia causes
- hurried meals
- spicy food
- H. pylori
- overweight
- NSAIDs
- Iron
- Nitrates
- CCBs
- pregnancy
- bisphosphonates
- steroids
Dyspepsia lifestyle advice
- decrease fat in diet
- reduce alcohol intake
- smoking cessation
- weight loss
- reduce caffeine intake
- raise head of bed
- eat 4 hours before going to bed
Dyspepsia OTC treatment
- antacids e.g. gaviscon
- 12 years +
- magnesium = diarrhoea
- aluminium = constipation
- omeprazole/esomeprazole
OTC constipation summary
- 1st = always lifestyle advice
- bulk forming (ispaghula) - not in sedentary or not before bed
- osmotic (lactulose/macrogol) - safe in preg/breasfeeding, lactulose in children = cavities
- stimulant (senna/glyc/bisa) - avoid in preg, glycerol most effective in children moisten before use works in 30 mins, useful in opioid induced
- stool softeners (docusate)
Diarrhoea
- self-limiting
- must stay off school/work for 48 hours
- referral: babies > 24 hours, elderly and children > 48 hours, adults > 72 hours, traveller’s diarrhoea, chronic/recurrent, fatigue
Diarrhoea OTC treatment
- oral rehydration therapy
- immodium (loperamide)
Oral rehydration therapy details
- used from 3 months old
- sip little and often
- sachets keep for 24 hours in fridge once made up
- max 6 sachets daily
Immodium details
- loperamide
- used from 12 years
- max 8 tabs daily
- 2 tablets initially then one tablet after each loose stool for up to 5 days
- MHRA: cardiac ADRs (QT prolongation) with high doses of loperamide associated with abuse and misuse
IBS symptoms
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- alteration in defecation
- must be diagnosed by Dr for OTC tx
IBS OTC treatment
- buscopan IBS relief - GSL
- buscopan cramps - P
- both hyoscine butylbromide
- avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding
- caution in glaucoma/BPH
- peppermint oil = can cause heart burn, avoid in breastfeeding
Haemorrhoids symptoms
- pain on defecation/sitting down
- small amounts of bright red blood on toilet paper
- itching
- internal haemorrhoids = painless but will bleed
- external = more painful and visible
- referral: > 3 weeks, internal pain, large volumes of blood, blood mixed in stool, first time
Haemorrhoids OTC treatment
- anusol
- ointment = external, suppositories = internal
- over 16s
- hydrocortisone products = 18+, no more than 7 days, don’t use if skin broken/infected
Respiratory red flags
- COPD
- asthma
- very old
- very young
- pleuritic chest pain
- diabetes
- diabetic = check blood sugars every 2-4 hours, may need to adjust insulin dose, drink plenty fluids, check ketone levels, aim for BG 6-10mmol/L
Cold and flu OTC treatment
- paracetamol
- sudafed (pseudoephedrine/ephedrine)
- from 12 years
- max: 720mg pseudo, 180mg ephedrine
- don’t take at night - stimulant properties
- don’t sell to diabetics (increase BG or HTN)
- interacts with MAOIs
Cough summary
- no evidence for cough products
- referral: > 3 weeks, SOB, purulent sputum, haemoptysis, wheezing, drug induced, frothy sputum (HF)
Cough OTC treatment
- simple linctus = paediatric and SF available, suitable for diabetics and preg
- codeine linctus = MHRA: restricted under 12 (respiratory side effects), not for 12-18 years with respiratory problems, restricted in children - morphine toxicity
Sore throat referral
- > 2 weeks
- hoarsness > 3 weeks
- immunosuppressants
- exudate on tonsils
- airway compromise
Sore throat OTC treatment
- paracetamol
- ibuprofen
- topical preparations (little evidence)
Allergic rhinitis symptoms
- allergic conjunctivitis, runny nose, itchiness
- referral: sinus/ear pain that doesn’t resolve after 7 days, wheezing, purulent sputum
- lifestyle: wear sunglasses, keep windows/ doors closed, avoid hanging out washing at midday
Allergic rhinitis OTC treatment
- oral antihistamines
1. chlorphenamine - 1 yrs (liquid), 6 yrs (tablet)
2. cetirizine, loratidine - 2 yrs (liquid), 6 yrs (tablet) - Beconase nasal spray (beclometasone)
– over 18s, start 2 wks before hay fever season, max: 3 months - sodium cromogylate eye drops
– over 6 yrs, see GP if needed > 14 days
Paediatric paracetamol doses
- 120mg/5mL
- 2 months = stat 2.5mLat time of men B vaccine + 1 further dose if required OR one 60mg suppository
- 3-5 months = 2.5mL QDS
- 6-23 months = 5mL QDS
- 2-4 yrs = 7.5mL QDS
- 4-6 yrs = 10mL QDS
- 250mg/5mL
- 6-8 yrs = 5mL QDS
- 8-10 yrs = 7.5mL QDS
- 10-12 yrs = 10mL QDS
- Tablet: 12-16 years 750mg QDS
Paediatric ibuprofen doses
- 100mg/5mL
- 3-5 months = 2.5mL TDS
- 6 - 11 months = 2.5mL TDS-QDS
- 1-3 yrs = 5mL TDS
- 4-6 yrs = 7.5mL TDS
- 7-9 yrs = 10mL TDS
- 10-11 yrs = 15mL TDS
- 12-17 yrs = 200-400mg TDS
Teething symptoms
- temperature
- swollen gums
- excessive dribbling
- nappy rash
- reduced sleep
Teething OTC treatment
- paracetamol
- anbesol (lidocaine) - topical tx - apply undiluted max 6x day
Cradle cap symptoms
- yellow, scaly skin on scalp and eyebrows
- slight redness around area
- referral: signs of infection
Cradle cap OTC treatment
- baby shampoo and a soft brush
- apply oil at night and wash in morning with baby shampoo
Colic symptoms
- babies crying > 3 hours per day
- worse on evening
- pulling legs towards chest
- referral: not gaining weight
Colic OTC treatment
- infacol (simeticone) - 0 yrs +
- one drop before each feed
- soothe baby
- burping after meals
- ensure correct teat size
Chicken pox symptoms
- varicella zoster
- small, red, itchy spots on scalp, trunk, upper limbs that develop into vesicles, fever, general malaise
- infectious 1-2 days before and 6 days after vesicles
- not infectious once crust over - can return to school
- referral: pregnant, immunocompromised, secondary infection, wheezing/rapid breathing
- counselling: lukewarm baths, loose clothes, nails short, fluids
Chicken pox OTC treatment
- Paracetamol (fever)
- calamine lotion and chlorphenamine (itch)
- NEVER IBUPROFEN
Headlice details
- must see live louse to diagnose
- only tx family if they have live lice - tx on same day
Headlice OTC treatment
- Hedrin (Dimeticone)
- apply to dry hair from roots to tips
- leave on for max 8 hours
- repeat after 7 days
- wash out with normal shampoo
- wet combing essential to remove eggs
- suitable for asthmatics and those aged 6 months +
- MHRA: severe burns if in contact with flames
Threadworm details
- symptoms: nocturnal perianal itching, visible worms in stools
- no need to keep children off school
- referral: secondary infection, tx failure
Threadworm OTC treatment
- Ovex (mebendazole)
- 1 x 100mg - repeat after 14 days
- keep nails short and clean, wash bed linen daily
Measles symptoms
- white/grey spots on inside of cheeks (koplik spots)
- flu like symptoms
- sore eyes sensitive to light
- red/brown rash starting on back of neck
- lasts 7 days
- stay off school
Measles OTC treatment
- paracetamol
** notifiable disease
Rubella (German measles) symptoms
- symptoms: rash starts behinds ear, flu-like symptoms - lasts 3 days
- spotty rash that starts on the face or behind the ears and spreads to the neck and body
- stay off school
Rubella OTC treatment
- paracetamol
** notifiable disease
Mumps symptoms
- painful swelling of parotid glands
- avoid school/work for 5 days
- highly contagious viral disease
Mumps OTC treatment
- paracetamol
- ** notifiable disease
Scarlett fever symptoms
- flu-like
- swollen neck glands
- sore throat
- sand paper rash
- white coating on tongue
- flushed cheeks
- strawberry tongue