Describe the types of medication prescribed and administered to individuals and the routes of administration of medicines.

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Sadia Ellahi

20093700

BTEC National In Health Studies

Describe the types of medication prescribed and administered to individuals and the routes of administration of medicines (P1).

Medicine administration must be carried out correctly and sufficient knowledge of side effects of that administered medication and the reasons why an individual should be prescribed that medication is vital as if this isn’t known mistakes that can lead to death and serious injuries may occur.

The Medicines Act (1968) separated and classified the different types of medicines as Pharmacy only medicines (P), General Sales List Medicines (GSL), Prescription Only Medications (POM) and Controlled Drugs (CD).

The term medicine has been given to a drug which has the role of preventing or treating a disease.

The term drug has been given to a material when taken has the ability to change the normal function in the body.

Medicines have been further categorised in their title, they can be known as generic or trade/brand.

Generic is a non proprietary name which is based on the specific source or core ingredient of that medicine a common example of this is paracetamol.

The trade or brand name has been titled from the manufacturer’s name which in the case of paracetamol’s brand name would be panadol.

The ways in which these medicines should be administered are described below.

Pharmacy only medicines (P) are to be administered under the guided supervision of a pharmacist and can be bought from registered pharmacies and do not require a prescription from the doctor. An example of this is Benedryl which are tablets used to treat hay fever and allergies.

 

General Sales List Medicines (GSL) can be brought from licensed shops and supermarkets and do not require the supervision of a pharmacist unless they are brought from pharmacies.

Prescription only medicines (POM) are medicines prescribed by a health care professional before it can be administered in a pharmacy.

Controlled drugs (CD) can only be prescribed by the doctor and careful measures must be taken when administering this, administration has to be recorded and a record kept in a CD register, storage of these drugs must be safe and kept in a double locked cabinet. An example of this is morphine. 53

Complementary medicines can be prescribed by some health care professionals but are usually found in health shops, pharmacy and supermarkets.

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Homeopathic medicines treat the person as a whole by using a method known as ‘like curing like’. This treatment works by using the method of the same substance that is causing you harm, in tiny doses can be used to cure the ill individual, as a minor dose stimulates the body to cure itself.

Herbal remedies are in close relation to traditional medicines, however traditional medicines should always be taken before herbal remedies. The elderly, pregnant women and breast feeding women should take these remedies with warning as their maybe side effects. A frequent example of an herbal ...

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