Community Pharmacy (OTC) Flashcards
(328 cards)
What organism causes RING WORM?

Tinea Corporis
Main symptom of ringworm is a rash. It may look red, silver or darker than surrounding skin
It’s fine for your child to go to school or nursery once they have started treatment.
It can be passed on through close contact with:
- an infected person or animal
- infected objects
- infected soil
A patient presents with the following at your pharmacy. They ask for some Brolene eye drops. What do you do?

This is a subcojunctival haemorrhage
Ask them if it is painful- any pain then refer
Ask them if they are on WARFARIN- if yes seek medical attention ASAP
Have you had any injury to the eye recently?
If no to the above- reassure the patient that it is self limiting, usually better within 2 weeks and no OTC products are recommended
What kind of medication is Guaiphenesin?

Cough EXPECTORANT for productive chesty cough
These claim to make the coughing easier while enhancing production of mucus and phlegm.
− 6+ (guaifenesin, ipecacuanha – Covonia herbal mucus cough, ammonium chloride - Unicough, squill – Buttercup original cough mixure)
Do not give cough suppressants as they may lead to accumulation of mucus in lungs and ↑ risk of infection
What kind of medicine is Dextromethorphan?

Cough suppressant (antitussive)
Dry, irritating, non-productive cough – usually viral cause (self-limiting)
Cough suppressants/antitussives 6+ (pholcodine1st line, codeine 18+ , dextromethorphan1st line), SE = sedation and constipation
What antihistamine do we usually give to children?

Chlorphenamine maleate
Suitable for 1 year and over
drowsy (sedating) antihistamine
− Antihistamines: PRN and work within 1 hour
Older more sedating and anticholinergic (diphenhydramine, chlorphenamine – Piriton tab 6+ ; 1+ liquid, promethazine – Phenergan tab 5+; 2+ liquid). Avoid up to 14 days after stopping MAOI.
What age are steroid nasal sprays e.g. beconase, flixonase, not suitable in?

Under 18’s
Topical corticosteroids18+; max 3 months
mometasone – Nasonex,
fluticasone – Pirinase/Flixonase,
beclomethasone – Beconase
Take few days to work. SE: dryness, irritation of throat
What drugs can be given on instalment prescriptions (FP10MDA) other than Methadone?
Schedule 2 Controlled Drugs;
Buprenorphine;
Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone); and
Diazepam
How is payment for Instalment precriptions worked out?
Payment is based on each occasion the pharmacist provides an instalment to the patient; i.e. each time the patient collects their drug from the pharmacy
Pharmacy needs to fill out back of prescription each time the patient picks up an instalment
What formulations have more potential for abuse by addicts?
Sugar free
Syrup base less liable to abuse
Is it pharmacologically rational for a cough/cold remedy to contain dextromethorphan and guanefenesin? What about dextromethorphan and ammonium chloride?
No
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant so person coughing less
Guanefenesin and ammonium chloride both cough expectorants which means they make it easier to cough things up: work against each other
What is the medication causing drowsniess usually included in cough/ cough rememdies to help people sleep?

Diphenhydramine
A sedating antihistamine, found in things like Night nurse.
Sedating antihistamines
diphenhydramine – Nytol1 6+
promethazine HCl – Sominex
promethazine HCl Phenergan16+
to take at bedtime
What is cinnarazine and what is it used in?
Can last 8 hours and need to take 2 hours before ____ ?
characterized as an antihistamine and a calcium channel blocker
Used for travel sickness and vertigo and tinnitus (problems with inner ear)
Very sedating
Found in Stugeron- 2 tablets 2 hours before travel
5+
Promethazine – Phenergan 2+ 25mg can last 6-8 hours and need to take night before or 2 hours before journey. (also cyclizine)

If a specific brand is stated on a prescription (e.g. Losec capsules- Omeprazole) can you give the generic if you run out of the branded?
No
Must legally prescribe that brand unless you ask the prescriber to change the Rx to generic
What does sodium Citrate do to the pH of urine?

Cystitis sachets
It increases the pH- makes urine more alkaline
Acidic urine in cystits- hence the burning feeling
Treat MILD symptoms cystitis present for <48 hours for TWO days only. − Alkalinising agents neutralise the acidic urine to reduce irritation. Take 1 sachet (or solution) TDS for 2 days: Sodium citrate – Cymalon/CanesOasis: can cause fluid retention, ↑ BP.
Avoid in HTN, CVD, diabetes, pregnancy, impaired renal function, and patients taking lithium.
Can pseudoephidrine cause drowsniess?
Can guaifenesin cause drowsiness?
Can dextromethorphan?
No
Remember pseudoephidrine (SUDAFED) can be abused- stimulating- side effects include restlessness and insomnia, and hallucinations!
Guaifenesin does not cause drowsiness
Dextromethorphan can cause a little bit of drowsiness

Children under __ should not be given cough and cold medication OTC containing
PSEUDOEPHEDRINE
PHENYLEPHRINE
DEXTROMETHORPHAN
PHOLCODINE
GUAIFENESIN
Chlorphenamine, brompheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine and triprolidine.
Children under 6 years old
Medicines containing:
ANTITUSSIVES (suppressants) dry cough (DEXTROMETHORPHAN
PHOLCODINE)
Expectorants (GUAIFENESIN, ipecacuanha)
Nasal decongestants (pseudo, phenylephrine, ephedrine, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline: otravine child)
Antihistamines: Chlorphenamine, brompheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine and triprolidine.
For use in 6-12 years they should be SECOND LINE and be used for no more than 5 DAYS
A patient with a productive cough for the last week requests a product containing dextromethorphan because they have heard good things. What do you do?
They may have requested Benylin Dry Cough
Similar product: Benadril Tickly Cough containing Pholcodine
These are cough SUPPRESSANTS
Should NOT suppress a productive cough- need to get the mucous out- so recommend an expectorant (Guaiphenesin)
It is recommened people include oily fish in their diet to help reduce CV risk. Can you think of any examples of these?
Mackerel
Salmon
Sardines
What is the organism causing athletes foot? How is athletes foot treated?
TINEA PEDIS
Options include terbinafine cream or an imidazole such as clotrimazole, miconazole, or econazole cream
Topical imidazole (Miconazole) can be used- Apply BD x 10 days after the lesions have healed
Bnf states under topical antifungals: to prevent relapse these should be continued for 1-2 weeks after healing
alt: undecenoic acid cream or topical preparations containing tolnaftate.
Main symptom of ringworm is a rash. It may look red, silver or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.
The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy.
Ringworm can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis) and groin (jock itch).
Amorolfine 5% (Curanail, Loceryl) can be used for fungal nail infections. What is the directions for this?
Apply 1-2 times ONCE weekly for:
6 months for finger nails
9- 12 months for toe nails
Apply after filing and cleansing
BNF age limit: 12, OTC age limit: 18. 3 ml pack is a P
(only beneath tips or sides of nail affected). − Maximum of 2 infected nails at one time
Refer: Pregnancy and lactation ▪ Hypersensitivity ▪ Peripheral circulatory diseases ▪ Diabetes mellitus ▪ Immunosuppression ▪ Nail dystrophy or destroyed nail plate
Why has the safety of using medicines containing codeine to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 18 been reviewed?
Because of the potential for serious problems like slowed or difficult breathing.
Children, especially those who already have breathing problems, may be more prone to these effects
Differences in metabolism of codeine: codeine is converted to Morphine in the body, this cause cause respiratory difficulties.
This use in under 18’s only applies to codeine linctus for colds/ cough;
codeine containing products for pain relief can still be used in
> 12 years, sold to > 16 years.
What do we use to treat Oral thrush?
White patches on tongue and mucosal surfaces inside mouth that cannot be scraped off easily. It is raw and sore underneath the patches
Topical Miconazole gel- Daktarin oromucosal gel
4 months+
apply QDS after meals and continue for at least 1 week after symptoms disappear.
Do not apply gel to back of the throat – possible choking. − Prevent re-infection by using sterilize bottle teats.
If breastfeeding, apply miconazole cream to nipple and wipe away before a feed.
− Significant interaction: warfarin + miconazole = bleeding. −
Alternative is Nystatin oral suspension 1ml (100000 units) QDS for 7 days and continue 48 hours after lesion has resolved. − Severe cases give Fluconazole 50mg OD for 7 days.
Fluconazole 3rd line if topical preps can’t be used/ patient has a dry mouth
What is Lyme disease caused by? What does the rash present as?

Caused by bacterial infection from Tick bites
An early symptom of this condition is a characteristic “bulls eye on a dartboard” rash (called erythema migrans) that isn’t itchy
Usually treated with Doxycycline 100mg BD x21 days
or
amoxicillin or azithromycin
Is sunlight a good cure for cold sores (herpes simplex virus 1)?
− It is highly contagious and will be no longer contagious after crusts form.
Sunlight can trigger cold sores so direct sunlight should be avoided and sun screen should be applied.
Prodromal phase (tingling, itchy, numb) → 6-24h → small fluid-filled blisters → break down to reveal raw area underneath → 4 days → crusting over. Most lesions heal within 7-10 days.
Trigger factors: sunlight, fever, local trauma, menstruation and stress
− Aciclovir cream (Zovirax) is available OTC (2g pack size). Apply 5 x DAILY for at least 4 days, max. 10 days starting at first sign of cold sore.
Penciclovir 12+ (Fenistil) is applied every 2h up to 8 times a day for at least 4 days. Wash hands after applying cream or touching lesion.






