Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medicine Abuse and Addiction Flashcards
What are some harmful outcomes from drugs prescribed in primary care?
Benzodiazepines/Opiates - Addiction Alcohol, illicit drugs - Follow-on abuse Laxatives - Electrolyte imbalances SSRIs - Withdrawal symptoms Chlorphenamine/antihistamine - Convulsions/Acidosis Ibuprofen - Indigestion bleed, death, hypokalaemia & acidosis Paracetamol - Hepatotoxicity, rebound headache, death
What is the difference between drug misuse and abuse?
Misuse is taking the wrong dose of drug or for the wrong indication, which is unintentional Abuse is deliberately exploiting the side effects or experimenting with the drug
What are some prescribed and OTC drugs associated with drug abuse and dependency?
What are some risk factors for OTC drug abuse?
Female gender
Personal psychosocial profile
Personal or family history of addiction
Psychiatric disorders
High pain level
Multiple pain complaints
High opioid doses
Concurrent use of tobacco, alcohol and benzodiazepines
What are some measures to reduce OTC abuse?
Pharmacy-based: hide products, refuse sales, pack warnings
Harm-reduction intervention pilot – GP referral
