Medical Practice

Mrs Choudry is collecting her regular repeat prescription for antihypertensive treatment. You ask how she and the family are, and she tells you that several members of the family have been suffering with diarrhea on and off.

A man comes into the pharmacy and asks for some good laxative tablets. Further questioning by the pharmacist reveals that the medicine is for his dad who is aged 72 years.

Mrs Jean Berry wants to stock up on some medicines before her family sets off on their first holiday abroad; they will be going to Spain next week. Mrs Berry tells you that she has heard of people whose holidays have been ruined by holiday diarrhoea and she wants you to recommend a good treatment.

My adult son has schizoaffective disorder. He has been on almost every antipsychotic medication, but none has eliminated the voices sufficiently to permit him to function. This past year he was taken off Olanzapine and put on Clozaril.

M.’s) may be infrequent and passing them may be difficult, painful or impossible. You may also have bloating or cramping. Disease, side effects of treatment, decreased activity, lack of liquid in the diet and emotional stress can all cause constipation.

In my work assessing brain damage and dementia in adults, carbamazepine (Tegretol) in low doses (50 -100 mg per day) has often been effective. Particularly in cases where possible fronto-limbic lesions have caused unprovoked aggression, confusion, shouting or wandering.

A 19-year-old man is brought to the physician’s office by his very concerned mother. He has been kicked out of the dormitory at college for his “bizarre” behavior.

THE QUESTION Stimulants, which have a calming effect on children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are the medication most often prescribed for this condition. How do two of these drugs — Ritalin and Focalin, a refined version of Ritalin — compare? THIS STUDY randomly assigned 132 children diagnosed with ADHD to take either Focalin, Ritalin or a placebo twice daily for four weeks.

I need some information about risperidone. Can you tell me about its pharmacologic properties, its intended use and its impact on patients?

Mr Johnson is a middle-aged man who occasionally visits your pharmacy. Today he complains of constipation, which he has had for several weeks. He has been having a bowel movement every few days; normally they are every day or every other day.

This clinical trial was performed at Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, New York. Monroe Community Hospital is a 560-bed long-term care facility that has a unique patient mix.

I am suffering from severe depression and a mild case of schizophrenia. I am currently undergoing rehabilitation and medical treatment, including homeoepathic medicine and antipsychotics.

Emma made an appointment for her 27-year-old brother, David, to visit his doctor and persuaded him to keep the appointment. She has been very concerned about his recent behaviour and thoughts.

I am interested in your opinion on the use of Depakote and BuSpar, as opposed to benzodiazepines, in the treatment of agitation and aggression in dementia. What dosages would you suggest? Do you know of any articles reviewing these topics?Answer.

I am writing to see if you have any advice for an 89-year-old female that seems to be falling apart. She’s been on anti-depressants for quite a few years and has 24-hour companions helping her at home. Over the last three weeks, she had become unmanageable at home.

Your counter assistant asks if you will have a word with a young woman who is in the shop. She was recognised by your assistant as a regular purchaser of stimulant laxatives. You explain to the woman that you will need to ask a few questions because regular use of laxatives may mean an underlying problem, which is not improving.

In my private practice, I have been seeing a woman for three years who is obsessive-compulsive with totally resistant depression. She also has a 10-year history of mild anxiety and migraine headaches. Her husband’s infidelity led to posttraumatic stress disorder.

Jo had been asked to give a seminar as part of her final-year project. She was anxious to perform well and spent one month preparing for the presentation.

As paramedics, we have written protocols that allow us to administer Haldol in the appropriate situations. After observing patients who are long-term recipients of the drug, I began to notice the appearance of Parkinson’s disease-type tremors.

Mr Benjamin is a 75-year-old man with no close relatives who has lived alone since he lost his wife three years ago. He has become increasingly frail over the past two years.

I am taking Paxil for social phobia and panic attacks. After the first 20mg dose, I felt quite high and nauseous.

Laxatives are a group of different drugs, which may be used to treat constipation. Laxatives may be purchased with or without a prescription. Laxatives are available as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, oral liquid, rectal suppositories and enemas.

Mr Radcliffe is an elderly man who lives alone. Today, his home help asks what you can recommend for diarrhoea, from which Mr Radcliffe has been suffering for 3 days. He has been passing watery stools quite frequently and feels rather tired and weak.

Yes! Although preparations differ, all require you to be on a liquid diet for at least one full day prior to your examination. You will also need to pick up the medication listed on your preparation about one week prior to your procedure.

Mrs Robinson asks what you can recommend for diarrhea. Her son David, aged 11 years, has diarrhoea and she is worried that her other two children, Natalie, aged 4 years, and Tom, aged just over 1 year, may also get it.