Determining days supply

[radio frequency]

I feel with certain items that could likely go bad before the patient finishes them, I'm always guessing at a days supply: sparingly used creams and eye drops are the big examples.

What is your policy on these? I don't know how nit picky I need to be with this as a new pharmacist in a company known for disliking errors.

Thanks!

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[txpharmguy]

I feel with certain items that could likely go bad before the patient finishes them, I'm always guessing at a days supply: sparingly used creams and eye drops are the big examples.

What is your policy on these? I don't know how nit picky I need to be with this as a new pharmacist in a company known for disliking errors.

Thanks!

15 gtts/ml eye and ear drops. 10 gm/day on topicals (this is what Medco allows)

 

[pharmerjohn]

For the ones expiring after a certain time window after opening, we generally put in the sig: (expires X days after opening), then give them however many to hit the prescribed day supply. Those that don't expire as quickly and have non-specific sigs, we use 1gm/average area and 2gm/large area if they're creams/oint.

 

[pharmerjohn]

15 gtts/ml eye and ear drops. 10 gm/day on topicals (this is what Medco allows)

I thought Medco is Express Scripts now?

 

[radio frequency]

Thank you! Very helpful!

 

[SClENCE]

What do you guys put for day supply on a script for flonase that says to only use it for 7 days? You calculate the day supply on how long it would last and then specify 7 days in the sig correct? Same problem with eye drops where the patient only needs 1ml out of a 5ml bottle.

For example... an eye drop that says 1 drop each eye daily for 7 days. Eye drop comes in 5ml bottle patient will only use 1ml. So I specify in the sig to only take for 7 days and put in days supply as 38 days.

 

[zelman]

What do you guys put for day supply on a script for flonase that says to only use it for 7 days? You calculate the day supply on how long it would last and then specify 7 days in the sig correct? Same problem with eye drops where the patient only needs 1ml out of a 5ml bottle.

For example... an eye drop that says 1 drop each eye daily for 7 days. Eye drop comes in 5ml bottle patient will only use 1ml. So I specify in the sig to only take for 7 days and put in days supply as 38 days.

I put the duration of use.