Assignment 1 - At Your Service Lesson 1 - Introduction to Pharmacology Assignments Review the At Your Service scenario on page 171 of the Pharmacy Technician Practice and Procedures textbook. Then answer the following question. Is this a side effect of naproxen and what should she do? Assignment 2 - Critical Thinking Questions 1. A patient picks up a prescription from the pharmacy and begins to read the drug monograph that accompanies the prescription. He or she becomes disturbed after reading the side effects associated with the prescription. How would you handle the situation? What would you say to the patient? 2. A 180-lb man is picking up a prescription for Coumadin for both his wife (110 lb) and himself. He notices the strength for his prescription is for 2.5 mg each day and his wife s prescription is 7.5 mg every day. He is perplexed at the differences in the dosing on the prescription and asks if a mistake was made. You check the original prescriptions the man presented to the pharmacy and the prescriptions were filled correctly. How would you explain this situation to the man regarding the dosing? 3. A pregnant woman is having an antibiotic prescription filled for a respiratory infection. She did not mention to her physician that she was pregnant. What would you do to find out if the prescription is safe for her to take? Where would you find the information? 4. A diabetic patient is purchasing strips for his glucometer. He mentions to you that because of the cost of the test strips, he is testing his blood only every other day. What would you do after hearing the patient s statement?
5. A customer presents a prescription for Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. The physician has approved the use of a generic product. The patient is surprised that the cost of the prescription is 65% less than the brand name product. The patient wants to know if it is the same drug. What type of testing occurs to ensure that it will provide the same results as the brand name? Assignment 3 - HIPAA Scenario Paul is a pharmacy technician who was recently hired to work in a small retail pharmacy. His friends stop by occasionally to chat with him when they shop at the store. One day his friend Sam asks him if he can refill his wife s prescription for her pain medication. When Paul asks Sam for the name of the medication, Sam tells him that it is Tylenol with codeine #3. Paul checks the wife s profile, sees a prescription for acetaminophen with codeine #3, and processes the refill for Sam. Later in the day, Sam calls the pharmacy and informs the pharmacist the wrong medication was dispensed to him and the medicine is not controlling the pain. The pharmacist speaks to Sam and informs him the generic medication was dispensed. Two days later, Sam s wife calls in a refill for the same medication. After several minutes Paul learns that Sam s wife never received the refill he gave to Sam. Afraid to admit that he allowed Sam to refill the prescription without any authorization from his spouse, Paul goes to his supervisor for help. Discussion Questions: 1. How would you explain to Sam the difference between a brand name drug and the generic drug? 2. What factors could affect how the medication works in the body? 3. Could someone have an addiction in this situation and if so, what type?
Assignment 4 - Internet Activities 1. Visit www.fda.gov and identify 10 medications that have recently been approved to be available as a generic drug. 2. Visit www.fda.gov and find information on adverse event reporting. What type of information is required when filling out this form? 3. Visit your state board of pharmacy web site and review the regulations regarding generic drug substitution. What conditions must be met in dispensing generic medications in your state? 4. Visit www.fda.gov and identify medications that have had medical and clinical pharmacology review conducted. Assignment 5 - Apply Your Knowledge Using the following website: http://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/rectiv?druglabelid=1469 1. Identify the different dosage forms for nitroglycerin, their strengths, and routes of administration. What conclusions can you make regarding dose and route of administration? 2. Select an antibiotic and finds the correct dosing for an infant, a child, an adult, a patient with liver problems, and the patient with kidney problems. What conclusions can you make regarding this medication?
3. A doctor prescribed the following medication for a patient: Zithromax #6 Two caps stat, then one cap po d What type of dose is the first dose taken by the patient? Why would a physician prescribe it this way? 4. John Doe is prescribed Coreg 6.25 mg twice a day. What would you call this type of dose? 5. Make a list of foods that interact with Coumadin. 6. A pharmacy patient is dropping off his prescription and you ask if he would like the generic medication if one is available. The patient asks what the difference is between the brandname and the generic medicines. How do you respond? Assignment 6 - Practice Your Knowledge This assignment will help you to become aware of the various warnings and drug interactions of over-the-counter medications. 1. Visit a local retail pharmacy and select a medication from each of the following categories. 2. Record the warnings found on the back of the box for each product. Medication Drug Interactions Warnings Advil Afrin Nasal Spray Aleve Alka-Seltzer
Bayer Aspirin Benadryl Chlor-Trimeton Claritin Cortaid Imodium AD Lotrimin Melatonin Metamucil Milk of magnesia Mylanta Neosporin Pepcid AC Robitussin Saint John s wort Sudafed Tavist-D
Tylenol Vicks cough syrup Vitron C Zostrix