help. pharm student with a dumb, dumb question

[fornoone]

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Homework question....

so pt. walks into the hospital with bacterial strep. and is symptomatic.

theyve been taking an OTC products(analgesic, expectorant, antipyretic) for the symptoms(fever, pain, cough) for the past day or two.

my question is (and its really dumb), but would you recommend continuing the OTC drugs in the hospital or would the antibiotic be enough? In other words, whats the usual course of action in this situation? Would you d/c the OTC drugs or continue them?

im just not sure what to do,,im just a pharm. student and have never worked in a hospital environment

so any help is much, much appreciated..thanks in advance

 

[StallionRx]

Supportive care is often given. ABXs would be started in the hospital, but it will take time before the patient begins to feel relief from them. If the patient complained of a sore throat/body aches they will be treated accordingly. Often with simple OTCs.

 

[bananaface]

We'd need more information to answer your question. The diagnosis, duration of symptoms, type of strep, and which antipyritic the patient is on will all affect the answer. As it is, we don't even know if the guy has strep throat or pneumonia.

 

[StallionRx]

We'd need more information to answer your question. The diagnosis, duration of symptoms, type of strep, and which antipyritic the patient is on will all affect the answer. As it is, we don't even know if the guy has strep throat or pneumonia.

I see where your going and I think your right in asking more questions to determine the root problem. However, when a patient comes in complaining of symptoms they are treated immediately. Their is no sense in making them wait for you to discover what kind of strep they have or duration of symptoms in determing if a cough suppressant or analgesic should be on board.

Often a diagnosis is made of an upper respiratory tract infection (in this case), chest-x rays are done, and empiric therapy is started. Once we get back cultures/sensitivies we adjust accordingly and monitor the patients outcome.

The question posed (I believe) is a broad question on OTC use in a hospital setting. Granted my initial response was general, but so was the question. Face is right to gather as much info as possible. However, if a patients compaints are as menial as a cough and pain associated with a cold, OTC meds are on board rather quickly ,without much medical questioning.

 

[sdn1977]

In real life, if a pt has a bacterial strep infection serious enough to get placed as an inpt, the OTC stuff is stopped.

There will be an apap order, but not expectorants (they don't even work in the otc environment - no point in using them in a hospital environment).

The pt will be put on IV antibiotics, have fluids replaced, be given opiates if a cough is serious enough to inhibit proper intercostal functioning & be out in 3 days.

(btw - all otc analgesics are also antipyretics - nsaids & apap...)

 

[Requiem]

There will be an apap order, but not expectorants (they don't even work in the otc environment - no point in using them in a hospital environment).

I agree with that. Expectorants/Cough Suppressives are largely a joke.

I think if this was in an outpt setting I [as a student mind you] would've said drink a ton of hot liquids, ibuprofen 400mg [I don't like Tylenol, but if it works for them go for it], start ABx [pen V?] and skip the cough meds.

Sucking on a mint is just as effective as a lot of cough meds.

 

[fornoone]

its pneumonia with cough productive of purulent sputum.
duration of symptoms - 1-2 days.

thankyou for the responses, my children, all very helpful..as a tribute to you all, if i have a fabulous gay male child i shall name him:

Banana-Stallion Requiem 1977
[he will be a pharmacist by day and a go-go dancer by night. FABULOUS]

 

[PharmDstudent]

thankyou for the responses, my children, all very helpful..as a tribute to you all, if i have a fabulous gay male child i shall name him:

Banana-Stallion Requiem 1977
he will be a pharmacist by day and a go-go dancer by night. FABULOUS

It just so happens that I'm posting today...

WTF! Is there a screw loose?

 

[fornoone]

lol sorry, i have an odd sense of humor

 

[PharmDstudent]

lol sorry, i have an odd sense of humor

Same here...but I use satire. It isn't always received well. Eh, whatever...I'm just a troublemaker, what can I say?