Safe prescribing

Question 1

A mnemonic for safe prescribing

Answer 1

PReSCRIBER

Patient details
REactions (allergy +reaction)
Sign the front of the chart 
Contraindications - check for each drug 
Route - check for each drug 
IV fluids - prescribe if needed
Blood clot prophylaxis 
antiEmetic if needed
pain Relief if needed

Question 2

In which instance is it acceptable to use the trade name for a drug rather than generic name?

Answer 2

Tacrolimus - for immunosuppression to prevent transplant rejection, because interchanging between brands can result in toxicity or rejection if relative levels increase

Question 3

What is tazocin made up of and how should it be written in a drug chart?

Answer 3

Piperacillin + tazobactam - should be written out as this because ‘tazocin’ masks the fact that there is penicillin in there - important for allergies

Question 4

If a drug is being prescribed on an ‘as required’ basis, what two pieces of information are key?

Answer 4

1. Indication

2. Maximum frequency/ total dose in 24 hours

Question 5

If an antibiotic is being prescribed, what is it important to include?

Answer 5

1. Indication

2. Stop/ review date