A Doctor's Note

It read: BP 120 over 80. It's normal. Do not question the doctor's prescription.

The customer was buying Symdex tab for his cold. Symdex contains phenylpropanolamine, a decongestant  not advised for people with uncontrolled or high blood pressure.

Impossible Prescriptions: What to do with These?

No potency: 300mg or 600mg?

Seriously?

Cetirizine 25mg tab?

Antibiotics Dispensing Dilemma

My colleagues and I finally agreed that we should NOT  TOTALLY  give antibiotics without prescriptions anymore. Not only that we are apt to endanger the health of people,  our drugstore is likely to pay its penalty once we are busted by the FDA, for not complying.

Unfortunately, we tend to encounter wholesalers from time to time. These usually comprise of small sari-sari stores who also sell emergency medications - like paracetamol, a cough-cold preparation, anti-diarrheal medicine, antacid etc. Emergency medications are generally OTC or Over-the- Counter meds. However, people are becoming accustomed to antibiotics like amoxicillin, cloxacillin, erythromycin and others as OTC as well.

For regular customers, it is easy not to give them antibiotics if they do not have a written order. But, for wholesalers who buy an item per box, dispensing a 100pcs of antibiotics to them can be tempting. And to think, most of them have no idea about  antibiotics and their hazards.

It's quite a dilemma for someone who wants to make profit. Then again, we will be breaking our own rules.

Sometimes, I wish that I'm selling clothes instead. Of course, I'm joking.

phoenix35 05 21 14

*Update as of 2017: NO RX NO ANTIBIOTICS

Drug: Loperamide

Image by the author

Cute brand name: Byerrhea

'Bye Diarrhea' 😁😁😁

Product Mix-ups: Whitfield’s Ointment for Burn Ointment

Dispensing errors do occur. What can happen when a salicylic ointment is given to an unsuspecting customer instead of an ointment for burns?

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The case

A middle-aged woman-lawyer bought an ointment for a tiny burn on her wrist. Arriving home, she applied a thin film of the ointment on her blister. But instead of experiencing a soothing feeling from the drug, she felt a sting from it that slowly became painful.

Examining the ointment, she realized she was given United Home Whitfield’s ointment instead of United Home Burn ointment.

The woman-lawyer had to sue the drugstore for its negligence.

Whitfield’s VS United Home Burn ointment

Whitfield’s and United Home Burn ointments are both over-the-counter products of Amherst Lab and distributed by United Home. However, these two are very different from one another. Whitfield’s ointment contains salicylic acid and benzoic acid. It is a topical antifungal drug indicated for tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch) and ringworm. Whitfield’s is usually applied 2 to 3 times daily and contraindicated in open wounds.

On the other hand, United Home Burn ointment, as revealed by its name is indicated for healing shallow burns. It is used to protect the affected area from infection. United Home Burn ointment also soothes itchiness and pain. It contains benzocaine, eucalyptus oil and boric acid. Like Whitfield ointment, United Home Burn ointment is also applied 2 to 3 times daily.

Boric acid as an ingredient of United Home Burn ointment can be absorbed from the skin that this topical drug is not advised for prolonged use especially in infants and in children.

Whitfield’s ointment for Burn ointment: Alarming result

As cited, Whitfield’s is contraindicated in open wounds, including blisters because of its salicylic acid content. Salicylic acid usually works as a peeling agent. It normally causes stinging that cannot be good for lesions.

A reminder: Although, dispensing error is normally the fault of the pharmacy, consumers should also be careful – read the label and ask questions if necessary.

© Phoenix Montoya @ September 13, 2011

When Antibiotics Wouldn't Work Anymore

In time, simple wounds cannot be treated by an ordinary antibiotic. Sadly, drug manufacturers won't develop new antibiotics anymore. So, what can we do if this happens?

In the Philippines, a lot of drugstores are becoming strict concerning antibiotic dispensing. The 'no prescription, no dispensing policy' is slowly being practiced. While people particularly the older generations are questioning this action (mentioning the older days), there are those that understands the consequences of an antibiotic misuse. With the latter type of individuals, the antibiotics campaign can indeed work. 

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Unfortunately, since a drugstore is still categorized as a business establishment, there are some pharmacies that ignore the law of prescription drug dispensing. For a small price, they will dispense antibiotics. With this, people won't take the antibiotic dangers seriously.  If one drugstore won't give them antibiotics, they will only buy from another drugstore then to the next. Until, some greedy pharmacy dispenses their order.

It is sad to reflect upon the situation when an antibiotic won't work for a simple infection. And worst, to realize that even the strongest antibiotic won't cure a scratch. Death can only be the option for this.

Don't self medicate yourself with antibiotics. Only registered doctors can diagnose your disease, if you do have one. Please, spread the word. Finally, don't feel bad at a pharmacy for not dispensing antibiotics at your own request.

phoenix35 06 20 14