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 remedy is St Johns wart which is administered to treat epilepsy and depression.
Chinese medicines are administered usually by a medical practitioner of a Chinese background by can be purchased over the counter. The disproportion in the body that resulted in the disease will be restored.
Classification of controlled drugs depends on the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971), conditions of storage; prescribing and record keeping are limited compared to other drugs.
The storage of these drugs will be kept in a special cupboard which fulfils the conditions of the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations (1973). The cupboard appears to be a metal cabinet which is double skinned and double locked with an internal hinge.
It must not be placed on a partition wall, but a solid wall with a strong rag bolt.
Along with the drug chart, a CD register must be completed noting down all transactions, page numbers must be included in the bound CD register in order to ensure no pages have been ripped out.
Only certain professionals are by law able to administer and hold the drugs in the CD cupboard.
For each transaction, their must be a witness present who can confirm any queries that may be raised.
There are many various directions in which medicine can be administered these are,
- Injection
- Ingestion(orally)
- Infusion
- Topically
- Inhalation
- Transdermally
- Vaginally
- Rectally
- Instillation
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube. (PEG)
There are a further three directions for administration of injections they are Intravenous injection, Intramuscular injection and Subcutaneous injection.
An Intravenous injection is the medicine being directly inserted into the veins by a trained professional such as a doctor or nurse as this must be done quite rapidly so complications can occur if the individual administering it isn’t trained properly.
An intramuscular injection is the medicine being inserted directly into the larger muscles of the body such as the buttocks and can only be done by a trained professional as so no complications occur.
A Subcutaneous injection is the medicine being inserted into the fatty layer beneath the skin, this doesn’t have to be preformed by a trained professional but training and instructions may be given so it can be correctly administered a common example of this is insulin used for sufferers of diabetes.
Ingestion is when the medicine is administered orally by the mouth, such as tablets, liquid solutions and capsules.
Tablets and capsules are created to slowly release the medicine because if it was released at once it may cause an overdose.
Liquid solutions suspensions and syrups are really useful for those who have difficulties swallowing due to other numerous illnesses. This exceptionally good for young children. They are administered and measured using a 2.5 or 5ml spoon, oral syringes or medicine pots.
It is very dangerous for individuals to crush tablets and consume them as this can cause numerous side effects in later life. This also takes away the license of the medicine and makes it illegal only medical, dental and nursing practitioners can modify the unlicensed medicines. Therefore the prescriber’s permission is required in order to crush a tablet.
They can be taken in two ways, by forms of swallowing or sublingually, this is where the tablet is dissolving under the tongue in order to be taken.
There are available in various sizes, colours, tastes and shapes.
Infusion is the process where medicines and fluids are administered to the patient for a period such as 6 hours into a muscle or vein. These patients will be handled by trained nurses. An example of medicine administered through infusion is blood or intravenous glucose.
Medicines administered topically are those applied directly to the skin such as ointments, creams and gels. This form of medicine is beneficial to those, who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema.
In order to prevent cross- contamination gloves must be worn and other relevant PPE equipment when handling and applying these medicines to patients as it may be absorbed into the skin otherwise.
Inhalation is the method where the medicine is inhaled into the body through the nose to reach the lungs, where it is most required.
Common instruments to administer this type of medication is an inhaler or nebules which are used in a nebuliser. Inhalers are either aerosol or dry powder; these are available on the market. There are numerous aids available that accomplice these inhalers such as a compliance aid for example a spacer. This form of administration is really beneficial for those who have problems with their respiratory system such as asthma.
Medicine administered transdermally is through a patch also known as
(Administered in pharmacology is a path which a drug, fluid, poison or any other substances is taken into the body) Medicine administered transdermally is a patch that is placed on the skin. The medicine is absorbed from the patch into the skin and into the bloodstream over some time. It is design to give a specific dose of medication. This method of treatment promotes the body to heal to an injured area of the body. One of the advantages to this drug it replaces common treatment such as oral, topical, etc. A disadvantage is the patch is always on the delicate skin area causing irritation.
A common route of administration is through the transdermal patch.
One of the most popular administered used in the U.K is nicotine patches. One of the benefits of nicotine patches is the way it delivery’s the nicotine to the body. The bloodstream absorbs the nicotine slow, steady pace and it remains in the body throughout the day.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a tube placed in the stomach for patients who are unable to eat.
There are various methods are available for vaginally treatment such as pessaries or vaginal cream inserted using a special applicator. Only a qualified trained nurse or member of staff should administer medication this route. A common medicine administered vaginally is clotrimazole (canestan) this is to treat a fungal infection of the vagina which may occur, due to a course of antibiotics.
There must be more than one site to place a patch as the skin is at risk of becoming sensitive and irritated. There must be a record of the site being placed to assist with the rotation of sites.
These patches aren’t reusable and in order to prevent reapplying these patches the patch must be folded in half after use, this also deactivates it.
Another way of administration is through a PEG tube which is a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy Tube.
Present information on this route of administering should be checked with the drug company or manufacturers as well as the specific medication that needs to be administered this is to identify what the most appropriate formulation is.
Another factor which should be taken into account is other drugs and the interactions they will cause with the drugs that need to be administered and the food taken.
Health professionals such as hospital pharmacists can advise on what may be the best formulation of medicine administration via a PEG Tube.
Medication through this route should be given on an individual named basis by trained staff such as nurses.
Adverse reaction sis the term given to side effects caused bythese medicines. These can be minor to start off with and can stop over time but they can also develop and cause you to stop taking that medication altogether.
The individual must be able to recognise if the side effects are minor or major and what to do in emergency situations.
Individuals should seek professional help such as calling an ambulance, inform the manager, when the individual is taken in his heart rate, pulse, colour, temperature etc. will be monitored. Treatment for theses symptoms will be given after advice is provided to the individual on what went wrong, information and response of the treatment should be recorded in the drug chart in order to prevent it reoccurring. The individual’s doctor should then be informed.
Frequent side effects of drugs are as follows;
- Swelling
- Rash
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Difficulty in breathing
- Weight gain/loss
- Stiffness
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Shaking
There are some remedies known as home remedies which can be administered to an individual without being prescribed.
Each of these home remedies contain a home remedy policy which is individually detailed. These are administered and purchased for specific clinical conditions and for a maximum length of time and maximum doses per day.
Administration must again be recorded in the drug chart for that individual.
It is recommended that a health professional such as clinician checks and signs the policy of the home remedy and ensures dosage and administration methods are correct.
A common example of a home remedy is paracetamol and an example of its policy is take 1-2 tablets every 4 hours do not exceed more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Take for minor headaches, period pains and pain. And do not administer if taking any other medication containing paracetamol.