CHAPTER 7.docx

CHAPTER 7 For a drug to be allowed to be over the counter, the patient must be able to easily diagnose their condition and monitor effectiveness. The benefits of correct over the counter drug usage must outweigh the risks. For a drug to be allowed to be over the counter the drug must have favorable...

CHAPTER 7 For a drug to be allowed to be over the counter, the patient must be able to easily diagnose their condition and monitor effectiveness. The benefits of correct over the counter drug usage must outweigh the risks. For a drug to be allowed to be over the counter the drug must have favorable adverse event profile, limited interactions with other drugs, and low potential for abuse. The higher the therapeutic index is, the safer the drug. The practicality criteria for over-the-counter drugs are that the drugs must be both easy to use and easy to monitor. Potential hazards of OTC medication are that they: may postpone effective treatment of more chronic disease states, may delay treatment of serious or life-threatening disorders, and may relieve symptoms of a disorder but no the cause. Three concerns of OTC drug use are toxicity, interactions with other medications, and abuse. Dietary supplements are orally administered alternative medications, including herbal supplements. Herbs are plant components including bark, berries, roots, leaves, gums, seeds, stems, and flowers, used for their medicinal qualities. Herbal medicine – using herbs to heal Ginkgo interacts with anticoagulant and HTN medications. Garlic messes with insulin levels. During the assessment, you want to obtain objective information including all medication history. During the assessment you want to assess the following: Allergies level of understanding information specific to various products system functions especially renal, liver, and cardiac conditions and contraindications potential interactions between drugs and herbs or other drugs Lifespan considerations List of diagnosis: Altered GI elimination Altered need for sleep Altered physical activity Altered safety needs Altered interchange of gases Freedom from pain Ineffective health maintenance Insomnia Risk for injury Urinary retention Goals and outcomes need to be realistic, individualized, and achievable. Patient education is important for patient safety. The manufacturers of herbal products are not required to prove safety and effectiveness. Education is part of implementation. Natural does not always mean safe. Therapeutic responses are part of evaluation. Therapeutic responses will vary based on supplemental product used.