Colds And Flu

Question 0

What is a post viral cough?

Answer 0

A dry cough which may persist for up to 2-3 weeks after the cold/flu has gone

Question 1

What are the symptoms of a cold?

Answer 1

symptoms usually develop over a couple of days in a common sequence usually starting with:
- sore throat, sneezing, runny nose & watery eyes

A cough may also develop

Question 2

What are the symptoms of a flu?

Answer 2

Symptoms usually start 1-4 days after picking up virus

Question 3

What is the importance of flu vaccinations?

Answer 3

They are important for people with chronic health
conditions eg. asthma

Patients with chronic health conditions are encouraged to vaccinate every year because the virus changes and immunity can wane

Question 4

What medicine can be given for flu?

Answer 4

The Tamiflu antiviral medicine can be sold by pharmacists all year round to people with flu symptoms or who have been exposed to the flu (best when given within 48h)

Question 5

What are the main symptoms to be aware of when counselling for cold and flu?

Answer 5

sore ears,
headache,
rashes or
high
temperature

Question 6

What are the important medical conditions to look out for when counselling for cold and flu?

Answer 6

Asthma

Question 7

When should patients be referred to the pharmacist?

Answer 7

Age:.under 6 years or over 65 years

Symptoms: high temperature, cough causing chest pain, or cough for more than 10 days, coughs up coloured mucus (could be infection), rash, severe headache (refer to doctor immediately - check for meningitis), ear or face pain (possible sinus infection)

Medical conditions e.g. asthma - feels very unwell
Pregnant or breastfeeding

Question 8

What are the common ingredients in cold and flu products?

Answer 8

Analgesics
Decongestants
Saline containing nasal sprays, drops, irrigations,
Antihistamines,
Cough suppressants, 
Cough mucolytics and expectorants

Question 9

What are examples of analgesics used in cold and flu medications?

Answer 9

Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Codeine

These relieve pain and lower high temperature.

Question 10

What are examples of decongestants used in cold and flu medications?

Answer 10

Phenylephrine (oral decongestant)
oxymetazoline, (nasal decongestant, quick onset.)
xylometazoline, (nasal decongestant, quick onset.

These stop runny noses and stop congestion

Question 11

What are saline containing nasal sprays, drops and irrigations good for?

Answer 11

Help to liquefy mucus and soothe inflamed nasal passages
Safe for babies and pregnant women

Question 12

What are examples of antihistamines used in cold and flu medications?

Answer 12

Sedating:
chlorpheniramine,
doxylamine,
bropheniramine

Non-sedating:
Fexofenadine, loratadine

These help to dry up a runny nose.

Question 13

What are examples of cough suppressants used in cold and flu medications?

Answer 13

pholcodine, dextromethorphan, codeine

These stop the urge to cough, to treat a dry irritating cough.

Question 14

What are examples of expectorants and mucolytics used in cold and flu medications?

Answer 14

Expectorant: guiaphenesin
Mucolytic: bromhexine

These help to thin and liquefy mucous and phlegm in the chest.

Question 15

What is the law regarding the sale of cold and flu medications in children?

Answer 15

Medicines Act prohibits products containing the following ingredients to be sold for use in children aged less than 6 years:
– Dextromethorphan
– Pholcodine
– Guaiphenesin
– Phenylephrine
– Pseudoephedrine (now prescription only)
– Sedating antihistamines (doxylamine, brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine,
tripolidine, promethazine and diphenhydramine)

Question 16

What are the precautions associated with ibuprofen and aspirin?

Answer 16

Ibuprofen & aspirin (+ other NSAID analgesics)– avoid for asthma, stomach ulcers

Question 17

What are the precautions regarding codeine?

Answer 17

Codeine is an addictive substance and should not be used for more than 3
days
– May also cause constipation, and in some people, drowsiness

Question 18

What are the precaution regarding decongestants?

Answer 18

Oral decongestants - Caution use in people with prostate conditions or high blood pressure as it may worsen the condition

Nasal decongestants - Use for a maximum 3 days to avoid rebound congestion in nose

Question 19

What are the precautions regarding sedating antihistamines?

Answer 19

Sedating antihistamines cause drowsiness.
– Warn about driving & operating machinery and avoiding alcohol.
– Avoid in people with glaucoma, men with prostate problems, and in the elderly.

Question 20

What further advice can be given to customers regarding cold and flu?

Answer 20

• Wash hands frequently, Especially before preparing food and attending to young children
• Use disposable tissues - once, and throw away
• Cough or sneeze into crook of arm if no tissues immediately available
• Stay home while unwell to avoiding spreading the virus
• Specialised tissues – anti-viral, aloe vera or menthol impregnated – can
  help soothe the nose
• Elderberry extract, vitamin C, Zinc, Ginseng (Siberian), andrographis, and
  echinacea are natural health supplements which may help lessen the length of the colds or the flu – consider as add-on sales

• Keep up a regular fluid intake

Question 21

What are examples of add on sales that can be suggested to customers buying cold and flu medications?

Answer 21

Natural health supplements: Vitamin C, Zinc, Siberian ginseng, andrographis, Echinacea, garlic, propolis, elderberry

Tissues:
With Aloe Vera - softer on chapped noses
With menthol - helps clear nasal passages

Question 22

What does Codral4flu contain?

Answer 22

Each tablet contains
Paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief
Codeine Phosphate 9.5mg- analgesic for pain relief
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg - oral decongestant
Chlorpheniramine maleate 2 mg - sedating antihistamine to aid sleep and dry up runny nose

Question 23

What should patients be warned about if purchasing Codral4flu?

Answer 23

Codeine is an addictive substance and should not be used for more than 3 days at a time

Chlorpheniramine may cause drowsiness and affect ability to drive or operate machinery.

Question 24

What does Codral Nighttime contain?

Answer 24

Each Tablet contains: paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief phenylephrine HCL 5mg - oral decongestant which works throughout the night. chlorpheniramine 2mg - sedating antihistamine aids sleep

Question 25

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Codral Nighttime?

Answer 25

Not for children aged under 12 years | Chlorpheniramine is a sedating antihistamine and may cause drowsiness and/or affect ability to operate machinery

Question 26

What does Codral PE Cold & Flu contain?

Answer 26

Each tablet contains paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief codeine phosphate 9.5mg - analgesic for pain relief phenylephrine HCL 5mg - oral decongestant

Question 27

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Codral PE Cold & Flu?

Answer 27

Not for children aged under 12 years. | Codeine is an addictive substance and should not be used for more than 3 days at a time

Question 28

What are the examples of cold and flu medications in the form of tablets/caplets/capsules?

Answer 28

``` Codral4Flu Codral Nighttime Codral PE Cold & Flu Dimetapp PE Sinus Pain Dimetapp PE Sinus Pain & Allergy Maxiclear Hayfever/Sinus Relief Nurofen Cold & Flu PE Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant Sudafed PE Sinus & Allergy and Pain relief Sudafed PE Sinus and Pain ```

Question 29

What does Dimetapp PE Sinus Pain contain?

Answer 29

Paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for sinus pain relief Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg - oral decongestant This is non drowsy

Question 30

What does Dimetapp PE Sinus Pain & Allergy contain?

Answer 30

Paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for sinus pain relief Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg - oral decongestant Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2mg - sedating antihistamine to dry up a runny nose

Question 31

What should patients be warned about if they are purchasing Dimetapp PE Sinus Pain & Allergy?

Answer 31

Chlorpheniramine may make people drowsy and affect driving and operation of machinery

Question 32

What does Maxiclear Hayfever/Sinus Relief contain?

Answer 32

Each tablet contains Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 10mg - oral decongestant to clear up sinuses Loratadine 2.5mg - non sedating antihistamine which dries up a runny nose without causing drowsiness

Question 33

What does Nurofen Cold & Flu PE contain?

Answer 33

Each tablet contains: ibuprofen 200mg - analgesic for pain relief phenylephrine HCL - oral decongestant

Question 34

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Nurofen Cold & Flu PE?

Answer 34

Not for children aged under 12 years

Question 35

What does Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant contain?

Answer 35

Each tablet contains: phenylephrine HCl 10mg - oral decongestant to reduce swelling and secretions in nasal passages to free up breathing, relieve pressure on sinuses to help headache. Targets runny nose and congestion

Question 36

What should patients be warned about if purchasing Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant?

Answer 36

Not for children aged under 12 years.

Question 37

What does Sudafed PE Sinus & Allergy and Pain Relief contain?

Answer 37

Each tablet contains: paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief and fever phenylephrine 5mg - oral decongestant chlorpheniramine 2mg - sedating antihistamine to dry a runny nose.

Question 38

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Sudafed PE Sinus & Allergy and Pain Relief

Answer 38

Not for children aged under 12 years Chlorpheniramine may cause drowsiness and affect driving and operation of machinery

Question 39

What does Sudafed PE Sinus & Pain contain?

Answer 39

For non drowsy relief. Each tablet contains: phenylephrine HCL 5mg - oral decongestant paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief

Question 40

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Sudafed PE Sinus & Pain?

Answer 40

Not for children aged under 12 years

Question 41

What are examples of products which provide cold, flu AND cough relief?

Answer 41

Codral PE Cold, Flu & Cough | Panadol Cold & Flu Relief PE

Question 42

What does Codral PE Cold, Flu & Cough contain?

Answer 42

Each Tablet contains: Day: Paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief Phenylephrine 5mg - oral decongestant Dextromethorphan 10mg - cough suppressant Night: Paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief Chlorpheniramine 2mg - sedating antihistamine to aid sleep and dry up a runny nose Dextromethorphan 10mg - cough suppressant

Question 43

What does Panadol Cold & Flu Relief PE contain?

Answer 43

Each Caplet contains: paracetamol 500mg - analgesic for pain relief dextromethorphan HBR 15mg - cough suppressant phenylephrine HCI 5mg - oral decongestant.

Question 44

What should patients be warned about when purchasing Panadol Cold & Flu Relief PE?

Answer 44

Not for children aged under 12 years

Question 45

What is the benefit of Panadol Cold & Flu Relief PE?

Answer 45

Comes in caplets which are easier to swallow

Question 46

What are examples of hot remedies for cold & flu (+/-cough)

Answer 46

Coldrex Hot Remedy Cold & Flu Lemsip Max All in One Cold & Flu Lemon Lemsip Max Cold and Flu with Decongestant Panadol Cold & Flu Max + Decongestant (hot lemon)