Paracetamol, Analgesic or Antipyretic?

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen or APAP, is a medication used to treat pain and fever. It is typically used for mild to moderate pain.There is poor evidence for fever relief in children It is often sold in combination with other ingredients such as in many cold medications. In combination with opioid pain medication, paracetamol is used for more severe pain such as cancer pain and after surgery. It is typically used either by mouth or rectally but is also available intravenously. Effects last between two and four hours.

Paracetamol is generally safe at recommended doses.Serious skin rashes may rarely occur, and too high a dose can result in liver failure. It appears to be safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. In those with liver disease, it may still be used, but lower doses should be taken. Paracetamol is classified as a mild analgesic. It does not have significant anti-inflammatory activity and how it works is not entirely clear.

Medical uses

Fever

Paracetamol is used for reducing fever in people of all ages The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that paracetamol be used to treat fever in children only if their temperature is greater than 38.5 °C (101.3 °F). The efficacy of paracetamol by itself in children with fevers has been questioned and a meta-analysis showed that it is less effective than ibuprofen

Pain

Paracetamol is used for the relief of mild to moderate pain. The use of the intravenous form for pain of sudden onset in people in the emergency department is supported by limited evidence.

Osteoarthritis

The American College of Rheumatology recommends paracetamol as one of several treatment options for people with arthritis pain of the hip, hand, or knee that does not improve with exercise and weight loss.A 2015 review, however, found it provided only a small benefit in osteoarthritis.

Paracetamol has relatively little anti-inflammatory activity, unlike other common analgesics such as the NSAIDs aspirin and ibuprofen, but ibuprofen and paracetamol have similar effects in the treatment of headache. Paracetamol can relieve pain in mild arthritis, but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness, and swelling of the joint. It has analgesic properties comparable to those of aspirin, while its anti-inflammatory effects are weaker. It is better tolerated than aspirin due to concerns about bleeding with aspirin.

Low back pain

Based on a systematic review, paracetamol is recommended by the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society as a first-line treatment for low back pain. However, other systematic reviews concluded that evidence for its efficacy is lacking

Headaches

A joint statement of the German, Austrian, and Swiss headache societies and the German Society of Neurology recommends the use of paracetamol in combination with caffeine as one of several first line therapies for treatment of tension or migraine headach. In the treatment of acute migraine, it is superior to placebo, with 39% of people experiencing pain relief at 1 hour compared to 20% in the control group.

Uses
Symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain.

Dosage and administration
Adults: 0.5-1 g repeated, as necessary, every 4-6 hours to a maximum of 4 g daily.
Children: 20-30 mg/kg daily in divided doses.
Dosage should be reduced in patients with renal failure.
Suppositories are available for patients unable to take the drug orally.
Treatment should not be continued for more than 5 days except on medical advice.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to paracetamol.
• Repeated administration is contraindicated in patients with hepatic insufficiency.

Adverse effects
At doses within the therapeutic range paracetamol is usually well tolerated.
Hypersensitivity, dermatological reactions, neutropenia and thrombocytopenic purpura have rarely been reported.

Overdosage

In overdosage paracetamol is dangerously hepatotoxic; potentially fatal hepatic necrosis can occur after ingestion of as little as a single dose of 10-15 g. Signs of mild gastrointestinal irritation are commonly followed 2 days later by anorexia, nausea, malaise, abdominal pain, progressive evidence of liver failure and, ultimately, hepatic coma.

Gastric lavage should be performed or emesis induced whenever there is a possibility that paracetamol remains in the stomach. When feasible, plasma paracetamol concentrations should be determined to assess the risk of liver failure. This is likely when the plasma concentration is greater than 200 micrograms/ml at 4 hours after ingestion, 100 micrograms/ml at 8 hours, 50 micrograms/ml at 12 hours, 25 micrograms/ml at 16 hours and 6 micrograms/ml at 24 hours.

Either methionine or acetylcysteine may be used as a specific antidote. To be effective the antidote must be administered within 16 hours and before signs of hepatic damage become evident. A loading dose of 140 mg/kg administered orally or through a nasogastric tube is supplemented by 70 mg/kg every 4 hours until the results of liver function tests have returned to normal. If this has not occurred within 3 days, no further improvement can be expected.

Fluid and electrolyte balance must be maintained and ventilation must be assisted when respiration is depressed.

Storage
Paracetamol tablets and syrup should be stored in tightly closed containers protected from light, below 25°C. Suppositories should be stored below 15°C.

^REFERENCE
 "International Listings for Paracetamol". Retrieved 11 January 2016.

 ^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol}

Flu Treatment: should you use antibiotics?

Antibiotics are strong medicines that can kill bacteria. But we have overused antibiotics for many years. As a result, we now have bacteria that resist antibiotics. Resistant bacteria cause infections that are harder to cure and more costly to treat.

Antibiotics are medications that fight infections caused by bacteria, but the flu is cause by a virus.

Taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that may resist antibiotic treatment.

Antivirals are medications that reduce the ability of flu viruses to multiply. When taken at the onset of flu, these drugs help decrease the severity and duration of flu symptoms. They can also be used in cases to help prevent the flu, but they are not a replacement for getting the flu vaccine

 Antibiotics can be lifesavers, but misuse has increased the number of drug-resistant germs.

What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria or other microbes to resist the effects of an antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply causing more harm.

What kinds of infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics?
Viral infections that should not be treated with antibiotics include:

• Colds
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Sore throats (except for those resulting from strep throat)
• Some ear infections; the illness can lead to serious disability or even death.

How can I prevent antibiotic-resistant infections?
It is important to understand that, although they are very useful drugs, antibiotics designed for bacterial infections are not useful for viral infections such

1. Talk with your healthcare provider about antibiotic resistance:
   • Ask whether an antibiotic is likely to be beneficial for your illness
   • Ask what else you can do to feel better sooner
2. Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or the flu.
3. Do not save some of your antibiotic for the next time you get sick. Discard any leftover medication once you have completed your prescribed course of treatment.
4. Take an antibiotic exactly as the healthcare provider tells you. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment even if you are feeling better. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect.
5. Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be appropriate for your illness. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
6. If your healthcare provider determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve your symptoms. Do not pressure your provider to prescribe an antibiotic.

Why should I be concerned about antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates, and co-workers - threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat.

Antibiotic resistance can cause significant danger and suffering for children and adults who have common infections, once easily treatable with antibiotics. Microbes can develop resistance to specific medicines. A common misconception is that a person's body becomes resistant to specific drugs. However, it is microbes, not people that become resistant to the drugs.
If a microbe is resistant to many drugs, treating the infections it causes can become difficult or even impossible. Someone with an infection that is resistant to a certain medicine can pass that resistant infection to another person. In this way, a hard-to-treat illness can be spread from person to person. In some cases, the illness can lead to serious disability or even death.

What else can I do to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance?
Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Regular hand washing will help keep you healthy and reduce the need for antibiotics.

 For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community

Drug Interactions: What You Should Know

Drug interactions overview

Whenever two or more drugs are being taken, there is a chance that there will be an interaction among the drugs. The interaction may increase or decrease the effectiveness of the drugs or the side effects of the drugs. The likelihood of drug interactions increases as the number of drugs being taken increases. Therefore, people who take several drugs are at the greatest risk for interactions. Drug interactions contribute to the cost of healthcare because of the costs of medical care that are required to treat problems caused by changes in effectiveness or side effects. Interactions also can lead to psychological suffering that can be avoided. This review discusses the issue of drug interactions and several ways to avoid them.

What are drug interactions?

A drug interaction can be defined as an interaction between a drug and another substance that prevents the drug from performing as expected. This definition applies to interactions of drugs with other drugs (drug-drug interactions), as well as drugs with food (drug-food interactions) and other substances.

How do drug interactions occur?

There are several mechanisms by which drugs interact with other drugs, food, and other substances. An interaction can result when there is an increase or decrease in:

1. the absorption of a drug into the body;
2. distribution of the drug within the body;
3. alterations made to the drug by the body (metabolism); and
4. elimination of the drug from the body.

Most of the important drug interactions result from a change in the absorption, metabolism, or elimination of a drug. Drug interactions also may occur when two drugs that have similar (additive) effects or opposite (canceling) effects on the body are administered together. For example, there may be major sedation when two drugs that have sedation as side effects are given, for example, narcotics and antihistamines. Another source of drug interactions occurs when one drug alters the concentration of a substance that is normally present in the body. The alteration of this substance reduces or enhances the effect of another drug that is being taken. The drug interaction between warfarin (Coumadin) and vitamin K-containing products is a good example of this type of interaction. Warfarin acts by reducing the concentration of the active form of vitamin K in the body. Therefore, when vitamin K is taken, it reduces the effect of warfarin.

Change in absorption

Most drugs are absorbed into the blood and then travel to their site of action. Most drug interactions that are due to altered absorption occur in the intestine. There are various potential mechanisms through which the absorption of drugs can be reduced. These mechanisms include:

1. an alteration in blood flow to the intestine;
2. change in drug metabolism (breakdown) by the intestine;
3. increased or decreased intestinal motility (movement);
4. alterations in stomach acidity, and
5. a change in the bacteria that reside in the intestine.

Drug absorption also can be affected if the drug's ability to dissolve (solubility) is changed by another drug or if a substance (for example, food) binds to the drug and prevents its absorption.

Change in drug metabolism and elimination

Most drugs are eliminated through the kidney in either an unchanged form or as a by-product that results from the alteration (metabolism) of the drug by the liver. Therefore, the kidney and the liver are very important sites of potential drug interactions. Some drugs are able to reduce or increase the metabolism of other drugs by the liver or their elimination by the kidney.
Metabolism of drugs is the process through which the body converts (alters or modifies) drugs into forms that are more or less active (for example, by converting drugs that are given in inactive forms into their active forms that actually produce the desired effect) or that are easier for the body to eliminate through the kidneys. Most drug metabolism takes place in the liver, but other organs also may play a role (for example, the kidneys, intestine, etc.). The cytochrome P450 enzymes are a group of enzymes in the liver that are responsible for the metabolism of most drugs. They are, therefore, often involved in drug interactions. Drugs and certain types of food may increase or decrease the activity of these enzymes and therefore affect the concentration of drugs that are metabolized by these enzymes. An increase in the activity of these enzymes leads to a decrease in the concentration and effect of an administered drug. Conversely, a decrease in enzyme activity leads to an increase in drug concentration and effect.

What are the consequences of drug interactions?

Drug interactions may lead to an increase or decrease in the beneficial or the adverse effects of the given drugs. When a drug interaction increases the benefit of the administered drugs without increasing side effects, both drugs may be combined to increase the control of the condition that is being treated. For example, drugs that reduce blood pressure by different mechanisms may be combined because the blood pressure lowering effect achieved by both drugs may be better than with either drug alone.
The absorption of some drugs is increased by food. Therefore, these drugs are taken with food in order to increase their concentration in the body and, ultimately, their effect. Conversely, when a drug's absorption is reduced by food, the drug is taken on an empty stomach.
Drug interactions that are of greatest concern are those that reduce the desired effects or increase the adverse effects of the drugs. Drugs that reduce the absorption or increase the metabolism or elimination of other drugs tend to reduce the effects of the other drugs. This may lead to failure of therapy or warrant an increase in the dose of the affected drug. Conversely, drugs that increase absorption or reduce the elimination or metabolism of other drugs - increase the concentration of the other drugs in the body - and lead to increased amounts of drug in the body and more side effects. Sometimes, drugs interact because they produce similar side effects. Thus, when two drugs that produce similar side effects are combined, the frequency and severity of the side effect are increased.

How often do drug interactions occur?

The prescribing information for most drugs contains a list of potential drug interactions. Many of the listed interactions may be rare, minor, or only occur under specific conditions and may not be important. Drug interactions that cause important changes in the action of a drug are of greatest concern.
Drug interactions are complex and chiefly unpredictable. A known interaction may not occur in every individual. This can be explained because there are several factors that affect the likelihood that a known interaction will occur. These factors include differences among individuals in their:

• genes,
• physiology,
• age,
• lifestyle (diet, exercise),
• underlying diseases,
• drug doses,
• the duration of combined therapy, and
• the relative time of administration of the two substances. (Sometimes, interactions can be avoided if two drugs are taken at different times.)

Nevertheless, important drug interactions occur frequently and they add millions of dollars to the cost of health care. Moreover, many drugs have been withdrawn from the market because of their potential to interact with other drugs and cause serious health care problems.

How can drug interactions be avoided?

1. Give health care practitioners a complete list of all of the drugs that you are using or have used within the last few weeks. This should include over-the-counter medications, vitamins, food supplements, and herbal remedies.
2. Inform health care practitioners when medications are added or discontinued.
3. Inform health care practitioners about changes in lifestyle (for example, exercise, diet, alcohol
4. intake).
5. Ask your health care practitioners about the most serious or frequent drug interactions with the medications that you are taking.
6. Since the frequency of drug interactions increases with the number of medications, work with your health care practitioners to eliminate unnecessary medications. 

Reference
 http://www.rxlist.com/drug-interaction-checker.htm

Antibiotic for Pediatric: What do you need to know.

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infection and they target bacteria, not viruses. Before prescribing an antibiotic, your child's doctor will find out if it is the right medicine to treat your child's infection. Parents need to know that using antibiotics when they are not the right medicine will not help and may even cause harm to children.

Read on for answers from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to common questions about the use of antibiotics. T

1.  My child has a really bad cold. Why won't the doctor prescribe an antibiotic?  

Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are used specifically for infections caused by bacteria. In general, most common cold symptoms—such as runny nose, cough, and congestion—are mild and your child will get better without using any medicines. 

2.  Don't some colds turn into bacterial infections? So why wait to start an antibiotic?  

In most cases, bacterial infections do not follow viral infections. Using antibiotics to treat viral infections may instead lead to an infection caused by resistant bacteria. Also, your child may develop diarrhea or other side effects. If your child develops watery diarrhea, diarrhea with blood in it, or other side effects while taking an antibiotic, call your child's doctor. 

3.  Isn't a nose draining yellow or green mucus a sign of a bacterial infection?  

During a common cold, it is normal for mucus from the nose to get thick and to change from clear to yellow or green. Symptoms often last for 10 days.
Sinusitis is a term that means inflammation of the lining of the nose and sinuses. A virus or allergy can cause sinusitis and in some cases, bacteria can be the cause.
There are certain signs that bacteria may be involved in your child's respiratory illness. If your child has a common cold with cough and green mucus that lasts longer than 10 days, or if your child has thick yellow or green mucus and a fever higher than 102°F (39°C) for at least 3 or 4 days, this may be a sign of bacterial sinusitis.
If your child has developed bacterial sinusitis (which is uncommon), an antibiotic may be needed. Before an antibiotic is prescribed, your child's doctor will ask about other signs and examine your child to make sure an antibiotic is the right medicine. 

4.  Aren't antibiotics supposed to treat ear infections?  

Not all ear infections are treated with antibiotics. At least half of all ear infections go away without antibiotics. If your child does not have a high fever or severe ear pain, your child's doctor may recommend observation initially.
Because pain is often the first and most uncomfortable symptom of ear infection, your child's doctor will suggest pain medicine to ease your child's pain. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are over-the-counter pain medicines that may help lessen much of the pain. Be sure to use the right dose for your child's age and size. In most cases, pain and fever will improve within the first 1 to 2 days.
There are also ear drops that may help ear pain for a short time. You can ask your child's doctor if your child should use these drops. Over-the-counter cold medicines (decongestants and antihistamines) don't help clear up ear infections and are not recommended for young children.
Your child's doctor may prescribe antibiotics if your child has fever that is increasing, more severe ear pain, and infection in both eardrums. 

5.  Aren't antibiotics used to treat all sore throats?  

​​No. More than 80% of sore throats are caused by a virus. If your child has sore throat, runny nose, and a barky cough, a virus is the likely cause and a test for "strep" is not needed and should not be performed.
Antibiotics should only be used to treat sore throats caused by group A streptococci. Infection caused by this type of bacteria is called "strep throat." Strep throat generally affects school-aged children and not children younger than 3 years.
If your child's doctor suspects strep throat based on your child's symptoms, a strep test should always be performed. If the test is positive, antibiotics will be prescribed. 

6.  Do antibiotics cause any side effects?  

Side effects can occur in 1 out of every 10 children who take an antibiotic. Side effects may include rashes, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Make sure you let your child's doctor know if your child has had a reaction to antibiotics.
Sometimes a rash will occur during the time a child is taking an antibiotic. However, not all rashes are considered allergic reactions. Tell your child's doctor if you see a rash that looks like hives (red welts); this may be an allergic reaction. If your child has an allergic reaction that causes an itchy rash, or hives, this will be noted in her medical record. 

7.  How long does it take an antibiotic to work?  

Most bacterial infections improve within 48 to 72 hours of starting an antibiotic. If your child's symptoms get worse or do not improve within 72 hours, call your child's doctor. If your child stops taking the antibiotic too soon, the infection may not be treated completely and the symptoms may start again. 

8.  Can antibiotics lead to resistant bacteria?  

The repeated use and misuse of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacteria. Resistant bacteria are bacteria that are no longer killed by the antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial infection. These resistant bacteria can also be spread to other children and adults.
It is important that your child use the antibiotic that is most specific for your child's infection rather than an antibiotic that would treat a broader range of infections. 
If your child does develop an antibiotic-resistant infection, a special type of antibiotic may be needed. Sometimes, these medicines need to be given by IV (vein) in the hospital. 

9.  What are antiviral medicines?  

​Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that can cause cold symptoms for which an antiviral medicine will work. An antiviral medicine may be prescribed for children that are at higher risk of becoming severely ill if they get the flu. For most other viruses causing cough and cold symptoms, there are no antiviral medicines that work or are recommended. 

10.  How can I use antibiotics safely?

• Antibiotics aren't always the answer when your child is sick. Ask your child's doctor what the best treatment is for your child.
• Ask your child's doctor if the antibiotic being prescribed is the best for your child's type of bacterial infection. For instance, certain antibiotics such as azithromycin are no longer effective for the bacteria causing most ear and sinus infections.
• Antibiotics work against bacterial infections. They don't work on colds and flu.
• Make sure that you give the medicine exactly as directed.
• Don't use one child's antibiotic for a sibling or friend; you may give the wrong medicine and cause harm.
• Throw away unused antibiotics. Do not save antibiotics for later use; some out-of-date medicines can actually be harmful. 

Source

Antibiotics and Your Child (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 05/2014)

Drug Information Services: The Answer to Your Drug-Related Questions

Drug Information Services: The Answer to Your Drug-Related Questions

 

Patient counseling at the pharmacy counter is an acquired skill. Yes, filling prescriptions accurately and expeditiously is paramount to the community pharmacy profession; however, assuring that the patient understands the therapy is just as critical.
Without a discussion with the pharmacist, the patient leaves the pharmacy with nothing more than the directions on the label and the consumer medication information flyer that may or may not make it into the patient's prescription bag.

Pharmacists play a vital role in the health care system through the medicine and information they provide.

Although drug information(DI) is readily available in books and drug databases accessed via the Internet or personal digital assistants, there are still some situations in which verbal communication with a knowledgeable source is often the quickest strategy for answering clinical questions about medications. A noncommercial, pharmacist-operated drug information service can be a useful information alternative that offers a personalized approach.

The primary goal of a drug information service is to improve patient care by providing objective and unbiased information for drug-related questions. Drug information services are facilities or personnel dedicated to and specializing in the provision of written or oral information about drugs and pharmacotherapy, in response to a request from other health care professionals, organizations, committees, or patients. A drug information expert can estimate how much time may be necessary to perform the research, consider the urgency of the requestor, and prioritize requests. There is no special accreditation or licensing for drug information services; it is the pharmacist who is licensed.

One resource that provides an excellent guide to patient counseling is the ASHP Guidelines on Pharmacist-Conducted Patient Education and Counseling. This document was developed specifically to help pharmacists provide effective patient education and counseling.

 

 

Drug Information Activities

 

To be an effective provider of DI, the pharmacist must exercise excellent oral and written communication skills and be able to

1. Anticipate and evaluate the DI needs of patients and health care professionals;
2. Obtain appropriate and complete background information as described under the section  

Systematic Approach for Responding to Drug InformationRequests;
3. Use a systematic approach to address DI needs by effectively searching, retrieving, and

critically evaluating the literature (i.e., assessment of study design, statistics,bias, limitations,   

applicability); and
4. Appropriately synthesize, communicate, document, and apply pertinent information to the

patient care situation

Answering Drug Information Questions

 

These are the steps you should go through when you are asked a question:

•Step 1: Identify the requester. This will help you get an idea of the depth and detail of information the requester is probably expecting.

•Step 2: Determine and categorize the “real” question. It is remarkably common for the question you are asked to not be the requester’s “real” question. Determining the true question involves answering the question with some questions.     

•Step 3: Choose an appropriate resource (or resources) to consult.

 

Initially, as I approach the pharmacy counseling counter, I ask patients whether they are familiar with the medication their doctor has prescribed, how they are going to take it, and what it is being used for specifically. This is an important step in order to assess the patient's current knowledge of the therapy.
I have developed a simple acronym that helps keep me focused while providing a patient medication counseling session. We all need some sort of tool to help us remember to cover all of the important medication counseling aspects of the specific drug. The acronym I use is DRUG, and it goes as follows:
Dosage: I discuss the dose of the medication, how it should be taken, any specific dosage timing issues, and what to do if the patient misses a dose.
Results: What should the patient expect while taking this medication? How is the drug working in the body, and how can the patient tell if the medication is working? It is also important for the patient to understand the consequences of nonadherence.
Underlying Issues: I present potential issues that the patient needs to be aware of when taking the medication, including:

         Does this medication have any Black Box Warnings?

         Is t patient allergic to this medication?

         Is the patient taking any other medications that may interact with this medication?

          Does his medication have any specific alcohol, grapefruit, or sun sensitivity warnings?

 Does this medication have an effect on any other disease states that the patient may    have?

          Are there any special precautions with the elderly, young, pregnant, or breast feeding patients?

          Are there any other medication specific cautions or precautions that should be discussed?

         General information:  Assess the patient's understanding of the above information. Discuss how to properly store the medication, what to do about refills, how to dispose of unused meds, and assure that the patient knows who to call for questions.

         Speaking as a community pharmacist, many patients rely on us for medication information and education. Therefore, we need to stay current on our understanding of the important counseling topics with each and every medication we dispense, and it is our duty to maintain our skills as patient educators so that we may convey such information in an appropriate manner to our patients.

Source :

 ASHP Guidelines on Pharmacist-Conducted Patient Education and Counseling

Pharmacy times, Practical Information for Pharmacist

       

How Overweight and Obesity Cause Diabetes

Why is Obesity Associated with Diabetes??

Pharmacist: What they do??

Do You Ever Wonder
What Pharmacists
Even Do ? 

Pharmacists are medication experts, responsible to patients for achieving the best medication treatment outcomes at the same time assuring cost-effective and safe therapy.

Pharmacists working with health care teams advise other health professionals on the proper dose, availability, side effects and monitoring parameters for effective medication usage. In some settings pharmacists work independently or within collaborative practice agreements to manage patients’ drug therapy.


Pharmacy is not just about filling prescriptions.  it is about promoting health awareness and contributing to the betterment of the community.


Pharmacists are responsible for:

prepare or supervise the dispensing of medicines, ointments and tablets

advise patients on how their medicines are to be taken or used in the safest and most effective way in the treatment of common ailments

advise members of the public and other health professionals about medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter medicines), including appropriate selection, dosage and drug interactions, potential side effects and therapeutic effects

select, give advice on and supply non-prescription medicine, sickroom supplies and other products

develop legally recognised standards, and advise on government controls and regulations   

     concerning the manufacture and supply of medicines

work in the research and development of medicines and other health-related products

be involved in the management of pharmaceutical companies.

Community pharmacists dispense prescriptions, provide advice on drug selection and usage to doctors and other health professionals, primary healthcare advice and support, and educating customers on health promotion, disease prevention and the proper use of medicines..


Hospital pharmacists  operate as part of a healthcare team and are involved in monitoring medication usage, counseling patients, providing drug information and advice to health professionals and the community, conducting clinical trials and preparing products for patient use. They usually have a lot of contact with other health professionals and members of the public.


Industrial pharmacists undertake research and the development, manufacture, testing, analysis and marketing of pharmaceutical and medical products.


Pharmacist aren't just vendor who hand you your pills from behind the counter.

Pharmacists: They Do More Than Fill Prescriptions