Order 1860126_QUALITY USE OF MEDICINES

QUALITY USE OF MEDICINESStudent’s NameInstitutional Affiliations Quality Use of MedicinesQuestion 1Felodipine and Ramipril are combination drugs used to treat high blood pressure through a blend of the two hypertensive medication. When a patient with high blood pressure is prescribed to uptake a combination of Felodipine and Ramipril, there are numerous risk factors that should be avoided to ensure that the treatment of the condition is managed, and health complications monitored. However, there are potential risks that might arise in case the patient do no follow the doctor’s prescription to the latter. One of the risk factors is likely to arise from the relationship the double medication has with food. Uptake of Felodipine and Ramipril with either grapefruit juice increases the blood level of the patient that is jeopardizing the functionality of the Felodipine medication (NHS Choices, 2019). On the other hand, consuming foods high in potassium content is risky to the Ramipril function, because when the quantity of potassium rises in the bloodstream, the drug loses its effectiveness in fighting the bacteria in the bloodstream (Australian Medical, 2017). The combination of the drugs is used only under minimum health circumstances because of the higher health risks likely to be developed compared to the beneficial state of the drugs. Besides, the use of the drug is contraindicated in patients undergoing extracorporeal treatment leading to contact of blood with negatively charged surfaces may lead to severe anaphylactic reactions. A combination of esomeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin can be used to prevent cases of stomach ulcers for Helicobacter pylori eradication. A piece of important information before the prescription of the combination is to determine whether the patient has had cases with severe allergic reactions when taking the dosage of other antibiotics. Without proper consideration of the drug combination prescription, severe cases that are closed to life-threatening can be posed to the patient (Medical Life Science, 2017). A combination of the medication can cause changes in the patient’s moods leading to hallucination, confusions, and at times, depression. Besides, infection of severe chills, developing mouth ulcers, blood in urine, and fever are likely to develop. Most of the times after the drug uptake, the patient is likely to experience fatigue, stomach pains, and nausea. Severe skin reactions, stomach pains, and diarrhea might lead the patient to take other medications for these side effects without a doctor’s prescription; hence, the chances of eradicating H. pylori could become inevitable. However, when taken together in the right doses, they will kill the bacteria in the stomach and let peptic ulcer heal.Question 2The combination of hypertension drugs, Felodipine, and Ramipril have a great impact on the patient if not properly handled or not properly administered. Therefore, to avoid further health complications to the patient, the nursing assessment of the patient is important to the intervention of the possible health risks. A nurse should be careful when diagnosing the patient to ensure that the prescribed medications are the only available option in managing the patient’s condition. For instance, checking previous medical records of the patient and inquiring of the drugs used apart from the ones prescribed offers a clear scope that aids in a proper intervention. Besides, through nursing assessment criteria, the nurse is charge can offer their patient education concerning the drugs being prescribed. This is important because the patient understands the risk and dangers if the prescription is not followed; thus, making them responsible for their health condition. In case the patient has a caregiver, including them in the education process is helpful to the patient and the nurse. Treatments to lower blood pressure are easy to take and aids in preventing other health complications such as heart attack, heart failure or even stroke if the medication is not taken properly, therefore, the health practitioner should intervene before the situation worsens. On the other hand, a combination of esomeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin when not properly prescribed leads to severe complications, and the desired treatment is often not achieved. Therefore, the first preventive measure incorporates nursing assessment and intervention of the patient’s previous medications and the current drugs that they are using. The nurse should assert to the patient that in case they delete information about the drugs, they lead to severe consequences might occur to jeopardize their recovery. Apart from the wrong using the drugs combination incurring severe complexions, mixing the drug with other antibiotics could worsen the condition. In case the patient is holding back some information, the nurse should provide patient education not only on the use of the drugs but also on the dangers that can occur in case the drugs are not taken appropriately. The patient, in this case, is old and might need regular check-ups and help on how to handle the drugs. The doctor should then prescribed the medicine in a more easier way to remember and also inform the caregiver.Question 3AInteraction of medicines is not healthy to the recovery of a patient, especially when it concerns high blood pressure medications and over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen. Using ibuprofen as a pain reliever often do not help with high blood pressure medications if not prescribed by the doctor. The patient, in this case, is at a higher risk from recovery because of the stomach ulcers medications and hypertension drugs. Ibuprofen increases blood pressure in both normal blood pressure and hypertension patients (Conrad, 2018). Therefore, using these drugs with other medication affects the signaling system of the blood. The effect on blood pressure occurs because the ibuprofen causes a reduction in sodium excretion and increasing water retention. Thus, the drug reduces the effectiveness of the prescribed medication for reducing hypertension. Moreover, using natural products with hypertension medication hinders the effectiveness of the prescribed drugs. For instance, using St John’s wort increases the level of sodium in the blood and reduces potassium lowering the effectiveness of the drug. St. John’s wort has been associated with its effectiveness in treating mild to moderate depression; however, the supplement interacts with many medications and can cause serious side effects (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Using St john’s wort do not impose beneficial factors to the patient because of the numerous side effects it has on the condition. Besides, the medication is not prescribed by the doctor to help the patient with her depressing condition. Keeping off the medication is important in ensuring that the hypertension drugs are effective. Using St. John’s wort might increase the sensitivity to sunlight and lower the blood sugar level in the body. Also, the patient is likely to diarrhea, experience fatigue, stomach discomfort, and irritability. Therefore, the patient will consider other over the counter medicines to reduce the pain inserted by the St. John’s wort medicine against the doctor’s prescription.Question 3BOver the counter medications are easily accessible to the general public with a huge population, especially adults considering these drugs as the first option in managing a health condition. However, it is important to take precautions before purchasing the OTC medicines without proper knowledge of the patient’s health conditions and the side effects posed by the medicines. One of the key points for taking OTC medication is to consult the pharmacist about the potential adverse of the medicine being inquired. Similarly, the pharmacist should be able to advise the patient on the mode of using the medication, assess previous drugs used by the client, and assess the health condition that the drug aims at treating. The pharmacist intervention is key to avoiding medication errors, and the development of other health complexions are a result of the drugs. Also, the pharmacist should equip patients to use OTC analgesics safely by teaching them how to read labels correctly and safely store their medications, along with other important practices (Crawford, 2018). When considering over the counter medicine, the patient should inform the pharmacist only to administer drugs that treat only the symptom being displayed. Certain drugs are multipurpose treating more than one symptom, while other drugs focus on the only displayed symptom. Therefore, selecting a medicine that treats only the symptoms displayed may not have hindrance with other medicines that the patient is taking. In this case, the patient is likely to reduce the side effects caused by the multipurpose drugs if they were taking other medications. Besides, the patient should start by reading the label of the drug and affirm that they align with the symptoms displayed. Thus, in case the patient doubts the medication, they can consult the pharmacist.Combining a doctor’s prescription with over the counter medications is not healthy for the patient recovery and the full functionality of the drugs prescribed for treating the diagnosed condition. The patient should understand common OTC analgesics such as liver concerns, kidney concerns, and stomach ulcers concerns when considering these medications. Besides, once a doctor has prescribed a medicine to treat a certain health condition, taking OTC drugs is an unavailable option without the doctor’s consent. However, in case the doctor is aware of certain side effects caused by the prescribed medication, they can offer OTC drugs alternatives that can be used by the patient. Furthermore, it is important to visit a health care doctor in case the prescribed medicine is causing discomfort to the patient. References Australian Medical. (2017). AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT INFORMATION -TRIASYN (RAMIPRIL/ FELODIPINE). Retrieved from http://www.medicines.org.au/files/swptrias.pdfConrad, M. (2018). Do Pain Relievers Worsen High Blood Pressure? Retrieved August 16, 2019, from MedicineNet website: https://www.medicinenet.com/high_blood_pressure_everyday_pain_relief/views.htmCrawford, C. (2018). AAFP Webinar: Educating Patients on OTC Drug Safety. Retrieved August 16, 2019, from Aafp.org website: https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20170208otcwebinar.htmlMayo Clinic. (2017). St. John’s Wort. Retrieved August 16, 2019, from Mayo Clinic website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-st-johns-wort/art-20362212Medical Life Science. (2017). Nexium Hp7. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from News-Medical.net website: https://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Nexium-Hp7.aspxNHS Choices. (2019). Felodipine. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/felodipine/‌