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DR HENRY LEE RECOMMENDS CRYPTOMONADALES

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

MISUSE OF TOPICAL CREAMS/MEDICATION


The following have been reported to the MPS during the campaign "to request feedback on misuse of topical steroids". Many community pharmacists may have come across such situation as examples below. In short, pharmacists should not simply just supply any medication upon request but must always ask the reason for usage by patients, some patients may not like it but many can appreciate the professionalism behind such gesture and it will help to strengthen pharmacists image.

  1. Clobet cream requested by patients for face-fungal infection. Pharmacists should ask them the reason and explain to them it is a strong steroid cream instead of antifungal. Therefore, pharmacists should change steroid to antifungal cream e.g. miconazole

  2. Econazine cream for allergy, some of the patients buy it every week. Therefore, pharmacists should advise and change econazine to antihistamin e.g. zyrtec 10mg, polaramine

  3. Prednisolone 5mg, some of the patients take 3 tablets during any allergy reaction. Therefore, pharmacists should advise and change it to antihistamine pill e.g. chlorpheniramine.

  4. Glibenclamide 5mg to reduce weight which is suppose to control sugar level. As a pharmacist, please advise them to stop medication.

  5. Betamethasone ointment requested by patients to cure itch fungal infection. Therefore, pharmacists should advise and change it to combination antifungal+hydrocortisone cream.

  6. Fucicort cream requested by patients for open wound. Therefore, please advise them to change to fucidin cream.

  7. Betnovate-N requested by patients for burn. Therefore, pharmacists should advise and change it to antiseptic.

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