Principles of Pharmacy Practice: Drug Info Resources Flashcards
Package inserts
- FDA requires drug manufacturers to supply a package insert for all prescription meds
- Also known as “prescribing information” or “PIs”
- Intended for use by healthcare professionals NOT patients
Sections of package inserts, 1 (in order)
- highlights
- table of contents
- indications and usage
- dosage and administration
- contraindications
- warnings and precautions
- adverse reactions
- drug interactions
- use in specific populations
Highlights
- Contains most important prescribing information about benefits and risks of using the drug
- Helps find important information quickly
- Contains boxed warnings, the most serious safety alerts
Table of contents
• A reference area for the location of detailed or specific prescribing information
Indications and usage
- Lists disease states/conditions the medication is approved to treat
- Off-label uses are NOT listed on the package insert
Dosage and administration
• Contains recommended doses, dosing schedules, and administration requirements
Contraindications
• Lists situations when the medication should NOT be used
‒ Certain disease states
‒ Interacting drugs
‒ Allergic reactions
Warnings and precautions
- Lists situations that require caution while taking the medication
- Contains boxed warnings
- Lists lab tests that can affect the drug
Adverse reactions
• Lists reported side effects from the drug’s testing phases
• Contains postmarketing experience
‒ Side effects reported AFTER the drug hit the market
Drug interactions
- Lists the most significant drug-drug interactions involving the medication
- Lists lab tests that can affect the drug
Use in specific populations
• Lists safety concerns when using the drug during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, while
breastfeeding, in children, and in the elderly
Drugs that were approved BEFORE Just 30, 2001…
…are not required to follow the same formatting.
The adverse reactions area of the Highlights section contains a phone number and web address for…
…FDA’s MedWatch Program.
Reminder: off-label indications are…
…NOT listed in the package inserts. Inserts only list FDA-approved indications.
The dosage forms and strengths section provides…
…info about the forms the medication comes in, such as tablets or capsules, plus the strength for each form.