Week 2 Palliative care

Question 1

Define Palliative Care

Answer 1

Palliative care is a specialised approach to healthcare that focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals facing serious, life-limiting, or life-threatening illnesses.

The goal of palliative care is to provide comprehensive, holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Palliative care is not limited to end-of-life care but can be introduced at any stage of a serious illness to alleviate suffering and enhance the patient’s well-being.

Question 2

Define Palliative pharmacology

Answer 2

Refers to the use of medications in the field of palliative care.

Palliative care is a specialized approach to healthcare that focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals facing serious, life-limiting, or life-threatening illnesses. The goal of palliative pharmacology is to alleviate symptoms, relieve suffering, and enhance the overall comfort and well-being of patients receiving palliative care.

Question 3

What is Polypharmacy?

Answer 3

Polypharmacy is a healthcare term that refers to the simultaneous use of multiple medications (usually five or more) by an individual, particularly when these medications are used to manage multiple medical conditions or symptoms. Polypharmacy is a common issue in healthcare, especially among older adults who often have complex medical needs. While the use of multiple medications can be necessary to manage various health conditions, polypharmacy can also pose several risks and challenges

Question 4

What challenges are faced in regards to Polypharmacy?

Answer 4

• Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)
• Medication Errors
• Increased Healthcare Costs
• Non-Adherence
• Reduced Quality of Life
• Drug-Drug Interactions
• Cognitive Impairment
• Fall Risk

Question 5

Strategies to mitigate the risks of polypharmacy include:

Answer 5

• Medication Review
• Deprescribing
• Medication Reconciliation
• Patient Education
• Consultation with a Pharmacist
• Communication.

Question 6

Define Geriatric pharmacology

Answer 6

Is a specialized field of study within pharmacology that focuses on the use of medications in older adults. This field recognises the unique physiological, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic changes that occur with aging and how these factors can impact the safety and effectiveness of medications in older individuals.

Question 7

Define Paediatric pharmacology

Answer 7

Is a specialised field of study within pharmacology that focuses on the use of medications in children and adolescents. It recognizes the unique physiological, developmental, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of paediatric patients and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of drugs in this population.

Question 8

Define schedule I medication:

Answer 8

Description: These substances have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety for use under medical supervision.

Examples:
- Heroin
- LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
- MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Psilocybin mushrooms

Regulation: Illegal for use in medical treatments in many countries.

Question 9

Define schedule II medication

Answer 9

Description: These substances have a high potential for abuse, but they have accepted medical uses with severe restrictions. There is a high risk of dependence.

Examples:
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Fentanyl
- Methamphetamine (used for medical purposes, like ADHD treatment)
- Cocaine (used in medical settings for local anesthesia)

Regulation: Prescriptions for these medications must be written (not phone prescriptions) and can have no refills without a new prescription.

Question 10

Define schedule III medication

Answer 10

Description: These substances have a moderate to low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule I or II. They have accepted medical uses and may cause moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Examples:
- Anabolic steroids
- Tylenol with codeine
- Buprenorphine

Regulation: These medications can be prescribed by a healthcare provider and refilled up to five times within six months.

Question 11

Define Schedule IV (CIV) medication

Answer 11

Description: These substances have a low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule III. They have accepted medical uses and may cause limited physical or psychological dependence.

Examples:
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Clonazepam

Regulation: These medications can be prescribed and refilled up to five times in six months.

Question 12

Define Schedule V (CV) medication

Answer 12

Description: These substances have the lowest potential for abuse and are typically used for medical purposes with very limited risk of dependence.

Examples:
- Cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams (e.g., Robitussin AC)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica)

Regulation: These medications can be prescribed and refilled up to five times in six months.