Retail Pharmacy Question

[UICPharmD2011]

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Simple Question:

Can the strength of a medication be changed without verifying with the MD (example: MD wrote for Simvastatin 40mg daily and we change to Simvastatin 20mg 2qd if the 40's aren't in stock)

I'm curious as to how people handle this? Do you call and document? Not call and not document? Not call and document you made the change yourself?

 

[rx2010]

Simple Question:

Can the strength of a medication be changed without verifying with the MD (example: MD wrote for Simvastatin 40mg daily and we change to Simvastatin 20mg 2qd if the 40's aren't in stock)

I'm curious as to how people handle this? Do you call and document? Not call and not document? Not call and document you made the change yourself?

We change them all the time without calling, as long as the patient is fine with it.

 

[Ackj]

In that example, we would probably give them two, four, or six of the 20mg tabs, counsel, and then have them pick up the remainder of the 40mg when it came in. A whole month of the 2x20mg doesnt seem like the best approach. Might lead to errors (confused patient taking too many/not enough) and certainly not good for your inventory, since you're essentially giving #60 for the reimbursement of #30 since they are a similar cost for either strength.


But my vote is yes, you can change them if you need to, as long as they get the same dose in the end. If it's a whole month's supply, I might leave the Dr. a voicemail to let them know, although that is rarely the case.

 

[snopharm]

.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Do all the time. Or I change abx suspension concentrations if the one that was ordered requires what I consider too much volume for a kiddo to take.

Why waste prescriber's time calling about stupid crap like that?

 

[kvl1027]

Simple Question:

Can the strength of a medication be changed without verifying with the MD (example: MD wrote for Simvastatin 40mg daily and we change to Simvastatin 20mg 2qd if the 40's aren't in stock)

I'm curious as to how people handle this? Do you call and document? Not call and not document? Not call and document you made the change yourself?

Do it all the time, not a big deal. Calling Dr's to get approval for crap like this is what makes physician's look at us like a bunch of incapable dispensing monkeys.

 

[Chris co2012]

Just be sure not to do it with an controlled release product or a control.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Just be sure not to do it with an controlled release product or a control.

We frequently have patients take 2 metoprolol succinate 25 mg to make 50 mg or split the 25 mg to make 12.5 mg. Depends on what we have in stock.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Do all the time. Or I change abx suspension concentrations if the one that was ordered requires what I consider too much volume for a kiddo to take.

Why waste prescriber's time calling about stupid crap like that?

Agreed!

 

[npage148]

You'd be better off calling and getting them 1/2 80mg qd. You'd also maybe get them 1/2 copays like some companies are doing to promote splitting