Rx News November 2008

Fax for Pharmacy Queries

At the NBPH Clinical Governance Meeting on 20th Nov 2008, the GPs agreed that fax to raise a query with a GP is an acceptable method of communication as it does not interrupt the consultations and the GP can respond when convenient. An example has been sent to Pharmacies and is available here : Fax for Pharmacy Queries

Dispensing Guidelines for Low Molecular Weight Heparin Enoxaparin Sodium injections (Clexane)

Enoxaparin Sodium injections (Clexane) are funded by PHARMAC if dispensed through the hospital pharmacy, for specific criteria. Refer to Pharmac Schedule Section H page 76 (July 08).
The problem of patients presenting these prescriptions at their Pharmacy was discussed by NBPH Clinical Governance Group. The guidelines are still under discussion, but the main points for Pharmacists to be aware of at the moment are: (Add link to Be Well website)

• If it is a hospital prescription then it can be referred back to the hospital pharmacy.
• If it is a GP prescription with a "recommended by: hospital doctor" then they can refer them to the hospital pharmacy.
• If the patients have a private prescription for Enoxaparin Sodium injections, then they need to purchase it themselves from a pharmacy, as it won't come under DCS.
• For urgent/after hour's requests, the Pharmacist can contact the on-call Pharmacist at the Hospital to arrange for the Enoxaparin Sodium injections to be dispensed.

LMWH Guidelines Nov08.pdf

Serotonin Syndrome

Clinical Governance discussed Serotonin Syndrome: When anti depressants are taken together with opioids, Lithium, 5HT1 agonists or CNS stimulants they can cause "Serotonin Syndrome". This condition is extremely rare but if it occurs it can be very serious. Patients should be advised to seek medical advice promptly if more than one of the symptoms occurs: twitching, restlessness, shaking, muscle rigidity, sweating, agitation, and confusion, lack of coordination, fast heartbeat and nausea. Patients should also be advised not to take any cough or cold remedy without checking with a Pharmacist or Doctor (avoid ingredients dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine). If affected patients should discontinue their medicines and symptoms should resolve in 24-96 hours. Serotonin antagonists and benzodiazepines may help relieve symptoms.

Language Translation Kit

If you are having difficulty communicating with your patients due to a language problem then the Pharmacy Guild produces a folder Language Translation Kit which translates common pharmacy phrases into several different languages. NBPH are in the process of producing a translator pack for Burmese Chin speakers in Nelson.

Diabetic Meters

Accu-Chek diabetic blood glucose monitors can be down loaded via a SmartPix device to produce fast and effective reports which enable pattern identification and better diabetes management. A SmartPix device for HealthCare Professionals costs $65.25, and can be purchased for individuals with diabetes at $89.90 Downloading of meters (Compass programme) is also available at Unichem, Richmond Mall.

The Accu-chek blood glucose monitor Service Centre Pharmacies in Nelson are Hurst & Taylor, Stoke; Queen Street, Richmond; Prices Pharmacy, Collingwood Street; Wakefield Pharmacy and Unichem Motueka.

List of Special Authority Drugs (November 2008)

Download the list here: Pharmac Special Authority Drugs List Nov 08

(Please Note: This is a scanned version. In future a published pdf version will be updated on a monthly basis)