Transcript Pharmacology Pharmacy Aide

Pharmacy Aide
 On the job training
 NO certification or licensing
 Job outlook- Growing- WHY? Due
to larger and aging population;
increase use of meds
 Customer service and communication skills
 Computer experience
 Organized; ability to follow directions
 No prior record of drug abuse/substance abuse
 Team player
 Basic mathematical skills
 Establish and Maintain pt profiles
 Prepare insurance claims
 Stock and take inventory of prescriptions and OTC meds
 Clean equipment; maintenance of equipment/supplies
 Manage cash register
Pharmacy Technician
 Technical or college training of 6
months to 2 years
 Pharmacy Technician Certification
 Job outlook- faster than average due
to expansion of retail pharmacies as a
result of aging and growing
population
 Same as Aide
 Know basics of reading, filling, and dispensing Rx
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Receive Rx requests for refills
Verify accuracy of Rx information
Retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and mix Rx
Prepare Rx label; Select container for Rx
Clerical duties
Refer questions to pharmacist
Complete claim forms
Prepare IV meds
Establish/maintain pt profiles
Take inventory; Order supplies; Maintain pharmacy equipment
 Pharmacist
 Minimum of 6 years at accredited school of
pharmacy to earn a master’s degree or
doctorate
 Must serve an internship under a licensed
pharmacist
 Pass examination regulated by individual
state
 Job outlook- Increased need due to aging
and growing population and increased use
of meds
 Provide correct medication in the correct amount
 Advise MD’s and other health care practitioner’s on dosages,
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interactions, and side effects of meds
Counsel pt and answer questions about prescribed Rx
Provide info about OTC meds
Insurance forms
Hire and supervise personnel
Prepare sterile solutions
Purchase medical supplies
Educate pt about smoking cessation; Conditions such as DM,
HTN, asthma
Evaluate drug use patterns
Delegate responsibilities and Supervise completion
 Federal agencies- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have established laws
that are to be followed and will investigate if laws are violated.
 Examples
 Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
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requires the maintenance of physical security and strict records
The Controlled Substance Act regulates manufacture and sale of
narcotics and controlled drugs
Orphan Drug Act of 1978 speeds up drug availability for pts with rare
diseases
Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984
permits generic companies to produce generic equivalents without
costly trials
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 requires pharmacists to
perform drug reviews and offer counseling on all meds to pts
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996
protects pts health information
 Drug name- Includes trade/brand name and generic name (Ex
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Tylenol is brand name and acetaminophen is generic name)
Form of drug – Ex- PCN may be dispensed as tablets, capsules,
or liquid
Total number or volume in container
Route of administration
Warnings- “May ne habit forming”, “Not safe for pregnant
women”, “Do not operate heavy machinery when taking this
medication”, “Avoid sunlight when taking this medication”, “Take
with food”
Storing information- may need to be refrigerated or away from
light
Manufacturing info- includes name of manufacturer and
expiration date
 Placed on schedules based on their potential for abuse
 Scheduled I- no medical use in US; high abuse potential
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(Ex- heroin, LSD)
Scheduled II- high abuse potential, with severe psychic or
physical dependence (Ex- Codeine, Dilaudid, Demerol,
Ritalin, oxycodone)
Scheduled III- less abuse potential than I and II (ExFioricet, Tylenol with Codeine)
Scheduled IV- less abuse potential than III (Ex- Xanax,
Valium, Ativan, Versed)
Scheduled V- less abuse than IV- consists primarily of
limited quantities of certain narcotic and antitussive meds
 Pharmacognosy- study of drugs that are
naturally derived from plants or animals
 Ex- Poppy= Codeine and Morphine (treats
pain)
 Foxglove= Digitalis (treats CHF)
 Yew= Taxol (treats cancer)
 Thyroid gland= thyroid hormone (hormone
replacement)
 Stomach= Pepsin (digestive enzyme)
 Microscopic organisms
 PCN is produced by a mold
 Antibiotics are made from microorganisms
such as bacteria, fungi, or molds
Synthetics and Bioengineering
Aspirin was originally extracted from the bark
of a willow tree (first patented in 1899); now it is
synthetically made
 Term used to describe how drugs produce their effects
by interacting with other chemicals in the body is
called mechanism of action (MOA).
 Pharmacotherapeutics= the study of the effects of
drugs
 Drugs that have the same MOA belong to the same
therapeutic class (Ex- Benadryl and Claritin belong to
the class of antihistamines which work by binding to a
chemical known as a histamine receptor)
 Binding to and stimulating a receptor in the
body
 Binding to and blocking a receptor in the
body
 Inhibiting an enzyme
 Decreasing the movement of a chemical
across a cell membrane
 Local side effects= occur before drug is absorbed in
bloodstream (Ex- ASA can be very irritating to the
stomach; Inhalers can cause dry throat; Antibiotics can
cause diarrhea; A patch may irritate the skin)
 Systemic side effects= take place after drug is
absorbed in the bloodstream; most commonly happens
because drug is affecting cells other than the target cells
(Ex- bronchodilators stimulate epinephrine receptors in
the respiratory passages but also stimulate epinephrine
receptors in the heart R/I increases heart rate
 Analgesic (painkiller)- any member of the
group of drugs to relieve pain (Ex- acetaminophen,
ASA, NSAIDS, Morphine)
 Anesthetic- drug that causes anesthesia, which is
a reversible loss of sensation; can be local which
causes reversible loss if sensation for a limited
region of the body or general which provides
amnesia, analgesia, muscle paralysis, and sedation
 Antacid/Acid reducer- neutralize stomach acids
 Antibiotic- used to treat/prevent bacterial
infections
 Anticholinergic- blocks the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral
nervous system; help block involuntary
movements of the muscles (Ex-for incontinence,
GI cramps)(Bentyl, Vesicare)
 Anticoagulant- prevent coagulation of blood
 Anticonvulsive- used to treat epileptic seizures
 Antidepressant
 Antidiarrheal
 Antiemetic- used for N/V
 Antihistamine
 Antihypertensive
 Anti-inflammatory agent
 Antineoplastic agent- inhibit or prevent the
growth/spread of malignant tumors
 Antipyretic- reduce fever
 Antitussive- suppress cough
 Bronchodilator
 Central nervous system depressantsedatives/tranquilizers; slow brain activity (Valium,
Xanax)
 Central nervous system stimulant- increase
physical activity, mental alertness, attention span
(Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin)
 Coagulant- causes blood to coagulate
 Decongestant
 Desensitization agent- teeth
 Diuretic
 Emetic- causes vomiting (syrup of ipecac)
 Hormones
 Hypnotic- induce sleep
 Laxative
 Sedative
 Sulfonamide (sulpha/sulfa drugs)- synthetic
antimicrobials
 Vaccines/Immunizations
 Vasodilator- widen blood vessels/relaxes smooth
muscle cells within vessel wall
 Vitamins
 Minerals
 Buccal- tablet placed in cheek- used when effects of
digestion needs to be avoided
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Inhalation
Intramuscular (IM)
Intravenous (IV)
Rectal
Subcutaneous
Sublingual
Topical
Transdermal patch
Vaginal