Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences
The aim of this paper was to explore pharmacists’ views on reclassifications from pharmacy-only to general sales and their experiences with the supply of these medicines, in addition to pharmacists’ views on the reclassification of the shingles vaccine and sildenafil to be availa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Pharmacy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/59 |
| _version_ | 1818038306867249152 |
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| author | Natalie Gauld Tracey Sullivan |
| author_facet | Natalie Gauld Tracey Sullivan |
| author_sort | Natalie Gauld |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this paper was to explore pharmacists’ views on reclassifications from pharmacy-only to general sales and their experiences with the supply of these medicines, in addition to pharmacists’ views on the reclassification of the shingles vaccine and sildenafil to be available through ‘accredited’ pharmacists. New Zealand community pharmacists were surveyed in 2013 with a written questionnaire of six Likert-style or open-ended questions sent to Pharmacy Guild member pharmacies. The analysis involved descriptive statistics. Responses were received from 246 pharmacies. Two thirds of pharmacists supported the reclassification of the shingles vaccine and sildenafil, although 14% disagreed with the sildenafil reclassification. Over 90% of pharmacists disagreed with the reclassification of paracetamol and ibuprofen liquids, omeprazole, naproxen, and oxymetazoline from pharmacy-only medicine to general sales. This opinion was strongest for omeprazole. With liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen, pharmacists described consumer confusion with dosing, and particularly potentially doubling-up on liquid analgesics/antipyretics including using both prescription and non-prescription variants. Many reported giving safety advice frequently. Anti-inflammatories and omeprazole were also subject to potential double-dosing, as well as requests by consumers with contraindications, precautions, and drug interactions, and for inappropriate indications. Pharmacists described various interventions, including some that were potentially life-saving. Pharmacy availability of medicines provides the potential for intervention that would not happen in a general sales environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:40:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f373bc52bb1942c8a35ced1de8d763ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:40:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj.art-f373bc52bb1942c8a35ced1de8d763ae2022-12-22T01:57:19ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872018-07-01635910.3390/pharmacy6030059pharmacy6030059Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and ExperiencesNatalie Gauld0Tracey Sullivan1Natalie Gauld Ltd., P. O. Box 9349, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New ZealandIndependent Researcher, Wellington, New ZealandThe aim of this paper was to explore pharmacists’ views on reclassifications from pharmacy-only to general sales and their experiences with the supply of these medicines, in addition to pharmacists’ views on the reclassification of the shingles vaccine and sildenafil to be available through ‘accredited’ pharmacists. New Zealand community pharmacists were surveyed in 2013 with a written questionnaire of six Likert-style or open-ended questions sent to Pharmacy Guild member pharmacies. The analysis involved descriptive statistics. Responses were received from 246 pharmacies. Two thirds of pharmacists supported the reclassification of the shingles vaccine and sildenafil, although 14% disagreed with the sildenafil reclassification. Over 90% of pharmacists disagreed with the reclassification of paracetamol and ibuprofen liquids, omeprazole, naproxen, and oxymetazoline from pharmacy-only medicine to general sales. This opinion was strongest for omeprazole. With liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen, pharmacists described consumer confusion with dosing, and particularly potentially doubling-up on liquid analgesics/antipyretics including using both prescription and non-prescription variants. Many reported giving safety advice frequently. Anti-inflammatories and omeprazole were also subject to potential double-dosing, as well as requests by consumers with contraindications, precautions, and drug interactions, and for inappropriate indications. Pharmacists described various interventions, including some that were potentially life-saving. Pharmacy availability of medicines provides the potential for intervention that would not happen in a general sales environment.http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/59community pharmacynon-prescription drugsreclassificationself-medicationpharmacist intervention |
| spellingShingle | Natalie Gauld Tracey Sullivan Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences Pharmacy community pharmacy non-prescription drugs reclassification self-medication pharmacist intervention |
| title | Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences |
| title_full | Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences |
| title_fullStr | Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences |
| title_short | Double-Dosing and Other Dangers with Non-Prescription Medicines: Pharmacists’ Views and Experiences |
| title_sort | double dosing and other dangers with non prescription medicines pharmacists views and experiences |
| topic | community pharmacy non-prescription drugs reclassification self-medication pharmacist intervention |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/59 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nataliegauld doubledosingandotherdangerswithnonprescriptionmedicinespharmacistsviewsandexperiences AT traceysullivan doubledosingandotherdangerswithnonprescriptionmedicinespharmacistsviewsandexperiences |