Self medication Flashcards
What is self medication?
Self medication is taking medication without the advice of a medical professional to treat self recognised symptoms.
What is self care?
Self care is taking responsbility for the betterment of your own health and wellbeing, such as physical and mental. WHO defines it as preventative towards diseases and cope with an illness or disability without the help of a healthcare provider.
What are the benefits of self care?
Self care means there are reduced hospital visits and care is more planned. Patients are more involved in their treatment and will have a greater confidence in their own control and may improve the severity of their symptoms. However there is a risk of possible misdiagnosis.
How can self care be supported?
Ensure there are good links between practises and the pharmacy. Advice, especially about prescribing medication like antibiotics and therapies should be consistent across all practitioners.
What are self-limiting conditions?
Self-limiting conditions are those which resolve itself without any therapy or assistance, like colds or flus.
What are the most commonly prescribed drugs?
Proton pump inhibitors
Statins
Paracetomol
Beta blockers
Calcium and Vitamine D supplements
What are the most commonly prescribed drugs?
Proton pump inhibitors
Statins
Paracetomol
Beta blockers
Calcium and Vitamine D supplements
What is the majority of NHS drug spending on?
Vitamins and Minerals -> Limited evidence of its clinical effectiveness excluding medically diagnosed deficiency
Dandruff
Coughs and cold congestion
Ear wax
Acute sore throat
What do people self medicate with?
Herbal medications such as:
->Willow Bark: source of aspirin for pain releif
->Digitalis purpurea: source of digitalis to treat CHF
-> Yew tree needles: source of paclitaxel for chemotherapy
-> Autumn crocus: source of colcihine for antinflammatory
risk of interaction of herbal medicines with ocnventional medicines and possible adverse side effects.
Food supplements like vitamins and minerals
Homeopathic remedies which is the use of highly diluted substances like chamomile for specific ailments
Illict substances can be used as self medication like weed for anxiety
How is access to medicine regulated?
health food shops, the internet, counterfeit, friends and families, community pharmacy and prescribers
Medinces and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices are effective and safe for use in the UK.
What are drug monographs?
Drug monographs describe the uses, safety, doses and other considerations in the use of a drug.
What are the classifications of medicine?
Prescription only: from practitioner and dispensed from a licensed place
Pharmacy: intermediate control of purchase under a pharmacist’s supervision
General sales: available in news agents
What is a prescription medicine?
A medicine will be non-prescription until it fulfuils the prescription criteria where:
Even correct use without medical supervision may pose harm to health
must be administered parenterally (injection)
There is frequent misuse
There needs to be further investigation of a patient’s side effects to the medicaiton
What is a general sales list medication?
General Sales list medication are made wide sale because of the risk of misuse or precautions are small and its wide availability is convenient to purchasers.
What is the role of the community pharmacy?
Community pharmacy provides essential services such as dispensing medication, waste, repeat dispensing of medication and discharge medications. It was formerly referred to as a chemist.
