62
P A R T 1
Introduction to nursing pharmacology
KEY POINTS
■■
An overwhelming amount of readily accessible
information is available to consumers. This
information has changed the way people approach
the healthcare system.
■■
Consumer advertising of prescription drugs, mass
media health reports and suggestions, and the
Internet influence some people to request specific
treatments, to question therapy and to challenge the
healthcare provider.
KEY POINTS
OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
OTC medications allow people to take care of simple
medical problems without seeking advice from their
healthcare providers. Although OTC drugs have been
deemed to be safe when used as directed, many of these
medications were “grandfathered in” as drugs when
stringent testing and evaluation systems became law and
have not been tested or evaluated to the extent that new
drugs are today. Aspirin, one of the non-prescription
standbys for many years, falls into this category.
Slowly, the TGA in Australia and MEDSAFE in New
Zealand are looking at all of these drugs to determine
their effectiveness and safety. Increasingly, drugs that
were available only by prescription are becoming avail
able OTC. Some well-known approved OTC drugs are
ranitidine (
Zantac
) for decreasing gastric upset and
heartburn; various vaginal antifungal medications for
treating yeast infections; and chloromycetin eye drops
(
Chlorsig
).
Each year several prescription drugs are reviewed
for possible OTC status. One factor involved in the
review process is the ability of the person for
self-care
,
which is the act of self-diagnosing and determining one’s
treatment needs. OTC drugs can also mask the signs
and symptoms of an underlying problem, making it dif-
ficult to arrive at an accurate diagnosis if the condition
persists. These drugs are safe when used as directed, but
many times the directions are not followed or even read.
The idea that “if one makes me feel better, two will
make me feel really good” is not always safe in the use
of these drugs. Many people are not aware of the drugs
contained in these preparations and can inadvertently
overdose when taking one preparation for each symptom
they have. Table 6.1 gives an example of the ingredients
that are found in some common cold and allergy prepa-
rations. People who take doses of different preparations
to cover their various symptoms could easily wind up
with an unintended overdose or toxic reaction.
Address identification
•
.com or .co:
commercial, advertising, selling, business
site
•
.edu:
education site—school system, university, college
•
.gov:
government site
•
.net:
part of a linked network system, may include any
of the above
•
.org:
sponsored by an organisation, including
professional, charitable and educational groups
Site evaluation
• Navigation—Is the site easy to access and navigate or
confusing?
• Contributors—Who prepared the site? Is it reviewed?
Is it purely commercial? What are the qualifications
of the person(s) maintaining the site? Is there a
mechanism for feedback or interaction with the site?
• Dates—Is the site updated frequently? When was the
site last updated?
• Accuracy/reliability—Is the information supported
by other sites? Is the information accurate and in
agreement with other sources you have reviewed?
Does the site list other links that are reasonable and
reliable?
■■
BOX 6.1
Evaluating Internet sites
■■
TABLE 6.1 Ingredients found in some common cold and flu OTC preparations*
Drug name
Ingredients
Use
Codral Original Cold & Flu
paracetamol, pseudoephedrine,
codeine phosphate
Fever control, nasal congestion, aches
Demazin Cough Cold & Flu
pseudoephedrine, paracetamol,
dextromethorphan
Cough, nasal congestion, aches
Dimetapp Cough Cold & Flu
pseudoephedrine, paracetamol,
dextromethorphan
Cough, nasal congestion, aches
Nurofen Cold & Flu
ibuprofen, pseudoephedrine
Nasal congestion, aches
Panadol Cold & Flu + Decongestant
paracetamol, phenylephrine
Fever control, nasal congestion, aches
Sudafed Sinus Day & Night Relief
pseudoephedrine, paracetamol,
triprolidine
Aches, nasal congestion, sinus pressure
*Safety Precautions: A person, if poorly advised, could take one preparation for cough, a second to cover sinus pressure, a third to cover aches and
pains and a fourth to stay awake or fall asleep—when the total amounts of the drugs contained in these products are calculated, a serious overdosage
of certain ingredients could easily occur.
