Question

1. Read: Discussion Background: Cold winter weather may cause additional breathing issues for those with respiratory problems if they catch a cold or the flu. Your family member, who has asthma, contacts you and tells you they have a cold and could hardly breathe but that she visited her doctor and were prescribed an inhaler and she feels much better now. When she picked up the prescription from the pharmacy there were two inhalers in the bag. Your family member thought the pharmacy made a mistake.

2. Initial Post: Create a new thread and answer all three parts of the initial prompt below

A. Would or would you not provide any medical advice to your family member?
B. Pharmacy technicians working in a retail pharmacy need to be able to help patients locate over-the-counter (OTC) nonprescription treatments for the common cold . How will you assists a patient that asks for an OTC medication for their common cold?
C. Pharmacy technicians fill prescriptions for inhalers and must be able to calculate how many to dispense to the patient based on the prescriber’s dosing instructions. Explain why it is important to accurately calculate and dispense the correct amount to a sick patient.

Answer 1

A. It depends on the individual's knowledge and expertise in the medical field. If the individual is not a medical professional, it would be best to refrain from providing medical advice and instead encourage the family member to consult with their doctor for any medical concerns.

B. As a pharmacy technician working in a retail pharmacy, I would assist a patient asking for an OTC medication for their common cold by first asking about their symptoms and any pre-existing medical conditions or allergies. Based on this information, I would then recommend appropriate OTC medications that could help alleviate their symptoms.

C. It is important for pharmacy technicians to accurately calculate and dispense the correct amount of medication to a sick patient because incorrect dosages can result in ineffective treatment or even harm the patient. Ensuring that the patient receives the correct amount of medication as prescribed by their doctor is crucial for their recovery and well-being.