Pharmacology

1. Pharmacology Consumer Safety & Drug Regulations CHAPTER 1

2. Patients & Doctors • Many pts don’t tell their Doctor that they don’t feel comfortable about the medication they are taking • Pts are likely to come and talk to the nurse • Nurses MUST be knowledgeable about the medication they administer

3. Who can administer medication today? • Physicians • Physician Assistants • Paramedics • Medical office assistants • Practical, vocational and registered nurses

4. Who can write prescriptions today? • Dentists • Physicians • PA’s • Registered Pharmacists • Nurse Practioners

5. Controlled Drugs • These are specific drugs ruled illegal to purchase without the use of a prescription, these drugs have a high addiction rate and tend to be abused, these include: • Depressants • Stimulants • Psychedelics • narcotics

6. Illegally made drugs • Numerous illegal labs exist and operate within the U.S. today

7. Consumer Safety • Today, there are laws that regulate the purchase of certain addictive drugs. • Overtime, people have abused these drugs

8. Drug Standards • These are rules set to assure consumers that they get what they pay for • All drugs with the same preparations must be uniform in strength, quality and purity • Example – Tylenol in it’s brand name or generic name is always acetaminophen. It’s always 325mg/1 tab, this is the standard dose

9. There are 5 schedules of controlled substances • They are arranged with the most potentially dangerous level at level 1 • The lower the number, the more restrictions there are on the med • LEVEL 1 is the most strict

10. D.E.A. • They are concerned with the addictive meds, those that are abused the most called the “controlled substances” • All of these level CII meds have a DEA number that the DEA department can watch over them • The DEA checks forms of pharmacists, hospitals and drug companies to monitor how the drugs are being used

11. Drugs • Are frequently added and deleted or moved from one schedule to another based on what the DEA thinks. • Studies are done to determine which meds are becoming a societal problem • Healthcare workers must be familiar with what schedule meds are under to know how to handle them, using a current med book gives you this information

12. CI, CII CIII, CIV, CV • Scheduled drugs are listed with a large C and a roman numeral next to the C • Remember that the lower the number, the more the med is at risk for abuse • Drug inserts and med books also contain a C and a roman numeral

13. CI • Most abused, these are not approved for medical use in the U.S. : • Heroin • LSD • Mescaline

14. CII • High abuse potential • may lead to severe dependence • There is NO PHONING IN OF THESE MEDS TO THE PHARMACY • There are usually no refills • May be faxed but actual prescription must be hand carried to the pharmacy and given to the pharmacist upon pick-up of the med

15. CII • Morphine • Codeine • Percocet • Methadone • Dilaudid • Ritalin • Cocaine • Oxycontin • Demerol • adderall

16. CIII • These may leads to dependence • May be written, faxed or phoned in BY PHYSICIAN ONLY • May be refilled up to 5xs in 6 months

17. CIII • These include: • Marinol • Tylenol with codeine

18. CIV • Lower abuse potential than CI and CII • Scripts can be written out by healthcare workers but must be signed by Dr. • Script may be phoned in • May be refilled up to 5xs in 6 months

19. CIV • These include: • Valium • Ativan • Xanax • Phenobarb • Librium • Darvocet • Restoril • ambien

20. CV • These have low abuse potential • These are primarily preparations of cough suppressants containing codeine and preparations for diarrhea such as paragoric and opium tincture

21. CV • Phenergan with codeine • Robitussin-AC • Donnagel • Lomotil

22. FDA (food & drug administration) • Their job is to: • Inspect plants where food and drugs and cosmetics are made • To review new drug applications and petitions for new food additives • To investigate and remove unsafe drugs from the market • To ensure proper labeling of foods, cosmetics and drugs

23. Way back when… • When the FDA discovered that all of these drugs were being abused, they organized a specific group to handle the scheduled drugs CI-CV

24. Some nurses… • Will work in areas of medicine where they will call in scripts to the pharmacy, they should be aware of the important guidelines to follow: • 1. Keep a current drug reference book near at all times • 2. Keep controlled substances locked up at all times in locked box and that locked box must be kept in a locked cupboard

25. Rules to follow concerning the DEA • 1. Keep a current drug reference book near at all times • 2. Keep controlled substances locked up at all times in locked box and that locked box must be kept in a locked cupboard • 3. Conceal script pads esp. if the DEA # is on them, may be kept in an unlocked designated drawer on the nursing floor. Keep away from patients at all times • 4. Keep accurate records of what was ordered, dispensed, received or destroyed AT ALL TIMES. Current records + records from previous 2 years at all times • 5. Keep current on DEA and FDA news • 6. Maintain a rapport with a pharmacist to make your job easier • 7. Maintain a rapport with the medication rep, they leave samples and can answer questions

26. THE END