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Medication
Management
Overview
- Many of the individuals you support take medications on an ongoing basis.
- Everyone you support will need to take medication(s) at one time or another.
- The critical skills you will learn in this presentation are designed to increase safety and reduce the risk of error, thereby providing maximum protection for the individuals you assist as well as yourself.
- The Direct Care Staff (DCS) or Direct Support Professional’s (DSP) role is to assist individuals to take the right medication, in the right dose, by the right route, at the right time, for the right reason, and ensure the right documentation.
Key Words (cont.)
- Pharmacist
- Licensed person who prepare medications and is knowledge
s and sells able about their contents. A pharmacist can not prescribe medications.
- Physician
- A person licensed to practice medicine. For the purpose of prescribing medications only, the term includes health care professionals authorized by law to prescribe drugs, i.e., physician/doctor, psychiatrist, dentist, dermatologist, etc.
Key Health Care Professionals
Key Words (cont.)
- Drug
- Another word for medication; a substance used as a medicine.
- Generic Name
- The name given by the federal government to a drug; not the brand name.
- Ophthalmic
- Refers to eyes
- Otic
- Medication Interactions
- The result of drugs, foods, alcohol, or other substances, such as herbs or other nutrients, having an effect on each other
- Over-the-Counter Medications
- Medications, including aspirin, antihistamines, vitamin supplements, and herbal remedies, that may be obtained without a written prescription.
Key Words (cont.)
- Side Effects
- An extra and usually bad reaction or effect that a drug has in addition to treating an illness. Some side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction, can be deadly.
- Topical
- Put directly on the skin or a certain area of the body.
- Trade Name/Brand Name
- Name given by the company that made the medication.
Intended Effects of Medication
- Medications are powerful substances and should be used with respect and care.
- Medications affect each individual differently.
- Medications are usually taken for a specific or intended effect or action, such as controlling seizures, lowering blood pressure, or relieving pain.
Medication Interactions
- It is not uncommon for two or more medications taken together to have an effect on each other. This is called medication or drug interaction and can cause unwanted side effects.
- An example of this would be when iron or Penicillin is given with an antacid. The antacid prevents the iron or Penicillin from being absorbed in the stomach.
- Medications can also have an interaction with food or alcohol.
Knowledge Check
An individual may take a PRN medication when: (click on the correct response)
An Individual needs it
The DSP forgot to give it at an earlier time
It is 8:00 in the morning
Medication: Generic and Trade Name
- Medications have both a generic name and a trade name. The generic name is the name given by the federal government to a drug. The trade or brand name is the name given by the company that makes a medication.
- For example, acetaminophen is the generic name for Tylenol. Tylenol is the trade name.
Medication Labels
- Each prescribed medication must be kept in its original container with the pharmacy label attached.
Pharmacy Abbreviations and
Symbols
- The following abbreviations and symbols are commonly used on medication labels. In order to read and understand medication labels, the Direct Care Staff must be familiar with these abbreviations and symbols.
- Examples of pharmacy abbreviations and symbols are shown on the next slide.
- RX = Prescription
- OTC = Over-the-Counter
- PRN = when necessary, or as needed
- Qty = quantity
- q (Q) = every
- qd = daily
- b.i.d. (BID) = twice daily
- t.i.d. (TID) = three times a day
- q.i.d. (QID) = four times a day
- h. = hour
- h.s. (HS) = hour of sleep (bedtime)
- tsp. = teaspoon (or 5 mL)
- Tbsp. = Tablespoon (3 tsps or 15 mL)
- oz = ounce (30 mL)
- mg = milligram
- GM, gm = grams (1,000 mg)
- Cap = capsule
- Tab = tablet
- A.M. = morning
- P.M. = afternoon/evening
- D/C or d/c = discharge/discontinue
- mL (milliliter) = cc (no longer used)
- mcg = microgram
Pharmacy Abbreviations and Symbols
Understanding Medication Labels
- Oral medications (capsules or tablets that are swallowed) are usually prescribed in mg (milligrams) or gm (grams).
- Liquid medications are usually prescribed in mL (milliliters), or oz (ounces).
- A typical medication label looks like the one shown on the right.
ABC Pharmacy 1017 25 (123) 555-7890th^ St. Sacramento CA Dr. Diaz RX 10575 9/30/ JORDAN BIRD TAKE 1 CAPSULE 3X PER DAY ORALLY FOR 10 DAYS FORINFECTION 12 A.M., 8 A.M., 4 P.M. AMOXICILLIN 250 mg #30 CAPSULES EXPIRES: 3/31/22 No REFILLS MFG: MANY MEDICATIONS, INC. FILLED BY: BRS
Understanding Medication Labels
The medication label can ONLY
be changed by a pharmacist.