Section 5: How to Access Information About Medication ...

1 42 LaW Ltd 2011 Approved national sources of Information About Medication Please read the following as it will help you answer questions 20 and order to minimise the risk of error and to ensure that Medication is correctly administered you will need to be familiar with the medicines you administer. It is therefore important to learn About the medicines you handle. As a minimum you should be aware of: what the Medication is used for (the therapeutic use) any side effects to look out for any special instructions/precautions, for example take on an empty stomach or if there are any foods or drinks the individual should avoid whilst taking the Medication any precautions or contra-indications, for example if the service user is pregnant, has liver problems, low blood pressure or is diabetic (there are also many other contra-indications)

2 The normal dosage that should be administered the form in which the Medication should be administered the route and timing of the administration any special storage instructions Practice tipDid you know that grapefruit juice and cranberry juice can affect the way in which some medicines work? Section 5: How to Access Information About MedicationIn addition to your manager, the prescribing officer and the pharmacist, there are a number of places where you can Access Information About the medicines being used within your workplace. The main national sources of Information relating to Medication include: Information supplied with the Medication depending on its classification, the medicine will either have a Patient Safety Data Sheet (PSDS)/a Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC); a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL); or instructions on the box/label Reference Information the two most frequently used reference sources are the British National Formulary (BNF) or Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS).

3 These can also be accessed online at or Service user Information and documentation often, service users themselves will be able to provide a lot of the Information that you need regarding the medicines they are taking. Every service user within your care should have a care plan; a Medicines Profile (MP); and a Medicine Administration Record (MAR). These documents will provide up to date Information About the service user s Medication Websites but be careful, not all Information on the web is correct. Make sure the site relates to the UK (the Information on European or worldwide sites may not meet UK guidance and regulations or may describe different dosages or formulations than here).

4 Drug companies most pharmaceutical companies have dedicated medical Information departments who should be able to answer any queries you may have About their productsSection 5: How to Access Information About Medication43 Unit 01 Workbook44 LaW Ltd 2011 Information which should be supplied with Medication Please read the following as it will help you answer questions 22 and Information Leaflet (PIL)The Information supplied with Medication is very important. It is a requirement of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), that every medicine should include a Product Information Leaflet (PIL).

5 This applies to all medicines, including those bought over the counter or from a pharmacist, and those supplied on prescription. Product Information Leaflets (PILs) should even be supplied when medicines are provided in a Monitored Dosage System (MDS). This Information should always be readily available to your service law, the Information which must be supplied with all Medication must include: Ingredients this includes the active ingredients of the medicine, as well as the ingredients used to make the tablet/capsule coating or the flavour/colour of the liquid Dosage and administration this describes the strength of the medicine and how frequently it should be taken Indications (uses) this should identify what the drug can be used for ( to manage asthma or to treat certain types of infection)

6 Contra-indications these are situations when the medicine should not be taken, or things that should not be done when taking the Medication . For example: do not drink alcohol during the course of the Medication (it may alter its effectiveness); not suitable for certain age groups ( children under 12) or if the person has another condition ( is pregnant or has diabetes) Special precautions any special precautions that should be taken in order that the medicine is effective ( take with food, or take on an empty stomach) or for certain groups of people ( regular monitoring needed in individuals with renal/kidney failure) Side effects any undesirable effects that the medicine may produce in some people ( a rash, or drowsiness)

7 Interactions any interactions (reactions between two products) that the medicine may have with other drugs, which could be dangerous or make the treatment less effective What to do if too much of the Medication is accidentally takenSection 5: How to Access Information About MedicationThe Product Information Leaflet (PIL) should be written in clear and understandable terms, that both you and your service users can easily read. It should also contain the manufacturer and Product Licence Holder s names and addresses. Electronic copies of some Product Information Leaflets (PIL) are available at Data Sheets In addition to the Product Information Leaflet aimed at service users, companies are also required to produce a Data Sheet and Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for each medicine.

8 These are much more detailed Information sheets for use by health professionals. Copies of data sheets and SPCs are available from the Manufacturer and are also available electronically from Medicine InstructionsThe pharmacist has overall responsibility for checking the prescription and ensuring it is written correctly. When the pharmacist dispenses the Medication against a valid authorised prescription, the container in which the Medication is supplied must be clearly labelled. By law, the label of any prescribed medicines dispensed by a pharmacist must include ALL of the following Information .

9 The service user s full name The name of the Medication The Dosage and frequency of the Medication (ie how much and how often it should be taken The date of supply The route to be taken/administered Any special instructions for administration (for example take with food ) Any warnings or cautions (for example avoid alcohol ) Directions for use Expiry date Name and address of supplier / pharmacy The wording Keep out of reach of children Section 5: How to Access Information About Medication45 Unit 01 Workbook)