Sale and Supply of Medicines - OTC

Question 1

Self selected medicines

Answer 1

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
• Herbal products
• Vitamins
• Dietary supplements
• Recreational drugs (e.g. alcohol and tobacco)

Question 2

Human Medicines Regulations 2012

Answer 2

• Authorisation of medicinal products for human use
• Manufacture, import, distribution, sale and supply
• Labelling and advertising
• Pharmacovigilance - effects of medical drugs after they have been licensed for use

Question 3

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

Answer 3

• Ensures medication have been assessed for safety, quality and efficacy
• Approval for sale as either a GSL, P or POM medicine

Question 4

General Sales List (GSL)

Answer 4

• May be bought from retail stores, such as a newsagent, a supermarket or a vending machine in a shop.

Question 5

Pharmacy (P)

Answer 5

• An intermediate level of control, can be bought only from pharmacies and under a pharmacist’s supervision.

Question 6

Prescription-only medicine (POM)

Answer 6

• Has to be prescribed by a doctor or other authorised health professional and it has to be dispensed from a pharmacy or from another specifically licensed place.

Question 7

Benifits of Catagories (GSL)

Answer 7

• Quick relief of the disorder
• More autonomy in choice
• Rapid and convenient acess to medications

Question 8

Barries of Catagories (GSL)

Answer 8

• Potentially troublesome or serious side effects
• Possible self misdiagnosis
• Potential harm or misuse

Question 9

Medicines Counter Assistants

Answer 9

• To assist in the sale of non-prescription medicines, receipt of prescriptions, handing out of completed dispensed items and giving advice on health matters.

Question 10

Dispensing Assistant

Answer 10

Assist in the functions involved in dispensing

Question 11

Pharmacy technicians

Answer 11

technical functions involved in the preparation and supply and dispensing of medicines. They are also qualified to sell OTC medicines and provide information to customers on symptoms.

Question 12

Accuracy Checking Technicians

Answer 12

Check the accuracy of prescriptions dispensed by another staff member before the medicines are given out to patients

Question 13

Cautions when recently converted to Pharmacy medication

Answer 13

• Alert to requests for large quantities and abnormally frequent requests
• Care when supplying products for children, the elderly and other special groups
• Sensitive handling of requests for certain medicines
• See if substance is subject to substance misuse

Question 14

POM to Pharmacy medication

Answer 14

• A direct or indirect danger exists to human health, even when used correctly, if used without medical supervision
• There is frequently incorrect use which could lead to direct or indirect danger to human health
• Further investigation of activity and/or side-effects is required
• The product is normally prescribed for parenteral administration

Question 15

Legal issues and quantities

Answer 15

• Pseudoephedrine 720mg and ephedrine 180mg
  decongestant medicines can’t sell more than that
• Used in the production of methylamphetamine

Question 16

Signs of misuse

Answer 16

• Lack of symptoms
• Rehearsed answers
• Opportunistic - distraction from WWHAM questions
• Specific products
• Paraphernalia - cleansing of drugs what’s bought with the drugs other components
• Quantities
• Frequency

Question 17

Legal issue quantity

Answer 17

• Not more than 100 non effervescent tablets or capsules can be sold to a person at any one time.
• maximum 96 sold 3 box of 32 for Paracetamol and Asprin
• Codine 1 box 32 due to repeat addiction