Question

Who is the DEA and what role does this organization have with regards to medications?

DEA scheduled drugs

Schedule I
Schedule II
Schedule III
Schedule IV
Schedule V

Pregnancy Categories

Category A
Category B
Category C
Category D
Category X

The nurse needs a legal prescription from the healthcare provider before delivery of medication to a client; however, nurses are responsible for their actions even when there is prescription. Nurses need to be aware of incorrect prescriptions i.e. dosages interactions and contraindications. The nurse MUST question any inappropriate prescriptions and get clarification before administration.

List the 7 points that should be included in a prescription?

Answer 1

DEA refers Drug Enforcement Administration is a U.S federal law agency under the United States Department of Justice.The task of DEA is inhibiting drug trafficking and distribution within U.S

DEA Schedule Drug.

The U.S drug Enforcement Administration has divided substance into five categories called " schedules" based on safety,addictive and abuse potential.

Schedule I drugs are drugs with high potential for abuse and lead to both physical and psychological deoendence

Example: heroine,cannabis.

Schedule II drugs are drugs with less abuse potential than schedule I but woth use may lead to dependence

Example:Cocaine,Fentanyl,Methamphetamime

Schedule III drugs are those with moderate to low potential for dependenceIts drug abuse potential is less than Schedule I and schedule II but more than Schedule IV

Example: ketamine,testosterone

Schedule IV drugs are those with low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence.

Example : Atiwan

Schedule V drugs are chemicals/ drugs with lower potentia for abuse than schedule IV,it consist of preparation containing limited quantity of narcotics.

Example: cough syrup which has kess than 200 milligrams of codeine.

Pregnancy Categories

It is an assessment of the risk of injury due to use of pharmaceutical,when the drugs are used by mothers during pregnancy.But it dies not include any risk due to drug or any metabolites in the breast milk.

It is in use since 1979 and categorized into different sections  A,B,C,D and X which based on risks are now replaced with narrative sections and subsections.

Pregnancy Category- Category description

A -No adverse effects in human.

B -No effects in humans with adverse effects in animals or no effects in animals without human data

C -Adverse effects in animals without human data

D -Adverse effects demonstrated in humans,but the benefits may be acceptable despite potential risk

X -Adverse effects in humans or animals without indication for use during pregnancy.

Prescription is the main factor through which the treatment is initiated,infact prescription error leads to 70% of medication error which results in harm.So in order to provide medication the eight principles should be followed that is right patient,right dose,right medication,right route,right time,right reason,right response,and right documentation.

The 7points that should be included in prescription are

1.Proper prescribers information

Usually it is found at the top of the prescription.It generally consists of doctors name,address,contact number and register number

2.Patient information

It should include the patients name,age,complaints and vital signs.It should also include the date of consultancy.

3.Treatment details

iIt includes the name of the drug,dose,route,frequency and duration.

4.Signatura

It is the doctors instruction to patient regarding how and when to use the medication.Example Tablet.Pantoprazole should be taken 30mimutes before food.

5.Dispensing instruction

It include the amount of medication that should be dispenses and the form that sgould be released in.For example if actemenaphine is prescribed with frequency of 3times a day for 5days than 15tablets should be prescribed to dispense.

6.Number of refills

After the dispensing instruction specify how many times you wpuld like your patient to be able to use the prescription to refilk the medication.Specify the refills to prevent from misuse of drugs.

7.Prescribers signature

At the bottom the prescribers signature with name should be mentioned.