MEP 3.2 Professional and legal issues: pharmacy medicines

Question 1

what are Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are widely used in pharmacy

Answer 1

decongestant

Question 2

how is Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine misused

Answer 2

production of methylamphetamine (crystal meth) – a class A drug

Question 3

when is it unlawful to supply Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine

Answer 3

> > supply a product or combination
of products that contain more than 720mg of
pseudoephedrine OR 180mg of ephedrine at any
one time, without a prescription

> > pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products at the same time without a prescription

Question 4

who should make sales of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine

Answer 4

by pharmacist of trained pharmacy staff

Question 5

what are signs of possible misuse of Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine

Answer 5

> > lack of cold, cough flu symptoms

> > rehearsed answers

> > impatient or aggressive

> > opportunistic

> > wants certain brands that contain only pseudoephedrine or ephedrine

> > large quantities requested

> > frequent reguests

Question 6

who do you report to

Answer 6

local GPhC inspector,

local controlled drugs liaison police officer

accountable officer

Question 7

when is paracetamol restricted

Answer 7

> > no more than 100 non effervescent tabs or capsules (no more than 96 )

> > no legal limit on effervescent tabbs, granules , powders or liquid but use judgement

Question 8

when is paracetamol and aspirin restricted

Answer 8

> > no more than 100 non effervescent tabs or capsules (no more than 96 )

> > no legal limit on effervescent tabbs, granules , powders or liquid but use judgement

Question 9

what are the changes to codeine and dihydrocodeine medicines to reduce overuse and addiction

Answer 9

> > indiciations restricted to short term treatment of pain , not cold cough etc

> > any pack containing more than 32 dose units is a POM

> > PIL has warning about addiction

Question 10

what are the 2 methods of emergency contraception

Answer 10

• copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD)
• oral ulipristal acetate
• oral levonorgestrel.

Question 11

which of these oral emergency contraceptives are Pharmacy medicines

Answer 11

> > Levonorgestrel 1500 microgram tablet

> > ulipristal acetate 30mg tablet a

Question 12

who is Levonorgestrel licensed for

Answer 12

> > women ages 16 and over
for emergency contraception
within 72 hrs of unprotected sex or failed contraception method

Question 13

who is Ulipristal acetate
is licensed

Answer 13

> > women ages 16 and over
for emergency contraception
within 120 hrs (5 days) of unprotected sex or failed contraception method

Question 14

can advance (prior to unprotected sex) supply or oral emergency contraception be supplied

Answer 14

YES

The patient should be assessed to ensure that they are competent, they intend to use the medicine appropriately and it is clinically appropriate.

Question 15

is it illegal to supply oral emergency contraceptives to under 16

Answer 15

NO

Question 16

what should you consider when supplying oral emergency contraceptives to under 16

Answer 16

> > children. under 13 are legally to young to consent to sexual activity

> > sexual active with children under age 16 is an offence exept same age etc

Question 17

when can a pharmacist provide advice to a child under 16 requesting oral emergency contraceptives / sexual health advice

Answer 17

> > meets fraser criterial

Question 18

does confidentiality apply to under 16 using oral emergency contraceptives

Answer 18

yes

Question 19

when is confidentiality breached for under 16 using oral emergency contraceptives

Answer 19

• to prevent harm

Question 20

what are the other mechanism for supply of oral emergency contraceptives

Answer 20

Other providers
include family planning clinics, general practice
clinics and providers of PGDs for oral emergency
contraception and genitourinary medicine
(GUM) clinics.