Pharmacy Advice for sore Throats and Cold

Common Symptoms of Colds & Sore Throat

Both these conditions are self limiting. That is to say most will get better on their own in a short period of time.

Throats-upper respiratory

About 70% of sore throats are viral and so antibiotics are not suitable. A lot of inflamed throats only last a few days, but ones lasting more than a week should see their GP. Also repeated sore throats and ones lasting more than a week, especially in teenagers and young adults, should also see their health provider.

If there is redness and inflammation along with white spots on the tonsils, then this is probably a bacterial infection and a penicillin-type antibiotic will help. Again, time to see your health care provider. Other times you’ll need to visit your Doctors surgery are if you have large and tender lymph nodes in the neck and if there is difficulty in swallowing liquids or saliva. There are other rarer causes such as quinsy, but these are seen much less in community pharmacy setting.

Other accompanying conditions can be present are

• Earache– which should be seen at your surgery can be caused by bacterial infections.
• Fever– is quite common to both bacterial/viral infections. Combine, with a long-term sore throat & swollen glands with night sweats – see your GP.
• Hoarseness– or Laryngitis can be quite common, but if lasting over a week or is getting worse you’ll be better off going to see your Doctor at the surgery.
• Skin Rash– with sore throat, if you have just started a new medicine pop over to your local pharmacy and ask about potential drug interactions.
• Malaise– is where you feel tired, really run down and unwell. Often accompanied with viral infections. If you have a severe malaise with other signs or symptoms go to see your GP.
• Myalgia– is common in viral infections and is where you feel lots of aches and pains.

Head Cold-upper respiratory

It can often be present with a sore throat as discussed above. It’s also called infectious Rhinitis. Most colds last a few days but sometimes can last up to a fortnight. You get similar symptoms with allergy especially in summer when it’s call Hay Fever.

If you are unsure drop into your local Pharmacy and speak to the Pharmacist.

The main symptoms are

• Sneezing– continuous through infection. If it comes on suddenly for a short period and leaves your nose runny and itchy, then this will probably be allergic rhinitis.
• Congestion– excess mucus in the nasal passage often starts clear then can turn discoloured and purulent. In an allergy, the mucus stays clear.
• Rhinorrhoea– a runny nose comes with congestion

All of these symptoms can be helped by a visit to your community pharmacy where there are various medicines that you can buy over the counter.

Other symptoms may include

• Conjunctivitis
• Myalgia
• Cough
• Sinusitis

The general advice for colds and sore throats are just symptomatic. That is to take some Aspirin(not under 16 years of age) or Paracetamol, keep warm and rested, drink fluids.

The pharmacy has many choices to help alleviate the severity of the symptoms. Topical or oral decongestants, Antihistamines, Intranasal sprays, rubs or inhalations, Lozenges and anaesthetic/anti-inflammatory sprays.

 

Over The Counter Medicines this winter

What Medicine To Buy Over The Counter

General Sales List

There are two categories of medicine you can buy. The first falls into what’s called the General sales List (GSL). These are as the name suggests having no exclusions in where they are sold, such as a supermarket or a local convenience store. There are restrictions on quantities and in some cases strength.

Pharmacy Only Medicines

Then there are Pharmacy only medicines (P), which mean there will always be a more controlled selling environment. The staff are trained to ask a series of questions, which will identify how suitable the medicine is. Then if there is any uncertainty the Pharmacist can intervene and use his professional judgement to identify the best over the counter medicine for the patient.

Topical or Internal

Certain ailments may have a choice of preparations to buy. For example, painful and or swollen joints where there are tablets or capsule which work through the whole body system, here the potential for side effects need to be considered, or a topical application such as a cream or gel. Topicals get absorbed where its needed and start to work fairly quickly. Although there will be some systematic absorption so you still need to be sure it’s still a suitable choice. If the treatment is long term then the patient will be referred back to the health care professional.

Its probably not a good idea to self-diagnose and use your treatment of choice for longer than a week or so without some clinical input.

If you take other prescribed medicine and want to start something new then its better to go along to your local pharmacy and have a chat with the pharmacist before you start, even if its to use a GSL medicine.

Over the counter medicines (OTC) vary in sales volume depending on what time of year it is. As I write this post we’re heading into winter and that means coughs, colds, sore throats and flu. Viruses tend to be the dominant pathogen for this winters ailments.

Winter Over the Counter Medicine

The mainstay of OTC treatment is a simple analgesic/antipyretic, for aches pains and temperature. Nasal spray to reduce inflammation in the nasal membranes and free up your blocked nose. An antihistamine to dry up secretions like a runny nose. And finally a throat spray or lozenge with ant-inflammatory effects to soothe your sore throat and make it easier to swallow, this will help with any coughing as well.

Burn and scalds

First Aid for minor Burns and Scalds

First run cool water over the area

Fireworks are in the air literally, at this time of year. so, it seems like a good time to briefly mention some basic first aid to treat small burns.

The first thing is to try to stop or remove the heat source. It could be a firework or hot liquid dropped or splashed onto an arm or leg. Move into a safe area away from any other risk. You’ll need to cool the burn area with cool or tepid water for 10 to 20 minutes if possible. do this as soon as possible to help reduce further damage.

Do not pull or rip away any burnt clothing that is stuck to the burn. There may well be swelling around the area so make sure that ant kind of jewelry is removed.

Generally there are a few types of burns

• chemical
• electrical
• large burns (bigger than the persons hand)
• partial thickness (may have blisters)
• full thickness (may have charred skin)

For larger burns keep the person warm, but don’t wrap the burn area up with fibrous material that will stick to it, again important for children and the elderly.

If available place clingfilm over the top. This helps keep it clean slows down infection rates.

Take simple analgesic like paracetamol or ibuprofen, and follow the manufacturers directions, to help reduce the pain.

when to visit a healthcare professional

If the burn area is bigger than your hand, a full thickness burn or partial thickness on a young child ,or someones face best get it checked out at the A&E. All chemical and electrical burns should be assessed by a doctor or Nurse at an A&E unit or walk in centre. Take a look at this red cross video for minor burns.

Healing 

Minor burns, affecting the upper most layer, can take 7 to 14 days to heal. Avoid bursting any blisters, if they do form later on let your Nurse assess it again and don’t cover the area with greasy products. (years ago some people thought butter helped) You may have a few low adherence sterile dressings to keep it covered and change regularly to start. If you need more, don’t forget you can pop down to your local pharmacy for more information.

Morning After Pill

Emergency Hormonal Contraception

Sometimes things happen we don’t plan for, but in the case of unprotected sexual intercourse (UPSI) your community pharmacy is their to help out. The Pharmacist is not their to pass comment or dwell on issues relating to you.

So, don’t feel alone or guilty. Many pharmacies have accredited Pharmacists working there that can supply the morning after pill. If this happens to you, and you don’t know where the nearest pharmacy is, simply use your smart phone or get on line at home or a high street venue such as internet cafe or the library. Google is pretty clever and will show local results first. If your on a smart phone make sure your locations settings is switched on.

Use relevant search terms like EHC, emergency contraception or the morning after pill plus a location like Nottingham. There are many venues that will supply it, but they have different open times and certain days of operation. This is where community pharmacies can make access to this service far more easy. The local authority should have a list of chemists that provide the service in your area. Call them to make sure the right Pharmacist is on duty, then just drop in. The service mentioned here is overseen by the NHS. Not all pharmacies participate. So ask before you visit. Alternatively all pharmacies are allowed to sell an over the counter version call Levonelle One Step which has to be paid for and you take it away with you without the longer consultation.

You should not be too long, no more than 15 minutes. Its something easily done at lunch time.

The emergency contraception works better the sooner you take it and the licence on the tablet is 3 days (72 HOURS) after (UPSI). The contraception supplied at the pharmacy is levonorgestrel which is based on a hormone present in the body called progesterone.

Some points to consider, it is not 100% effective for various reasons, these will be discussed with you. Things the Pharmacist has to take into account is where you are in your cycle, is this the only episode of unprotected sex this cycle, how long since (UPSI), are you already taking contraceptive pills and missed some. do you take certain medications from your doctor, your age and are you breast feeding or recently given birth.

Sometimes you will need to be seen by another healthcare provider to give a different pill call EllaOne, that contains Ulipristal.

Your chemist will give you the contact details and explain why you have been referred.

7 tips to use your medicines safely

Most patients don’t know enough about their prescription medicines

You’ve just brought your prescription to the Pharmacy. And if its the first time you have had these particular medicines. Depending how your, Health care Professional, plans to treat you, you could receive, Tablets, Capsules, Sprays, Liquids, Ointments, Creams, Suppositories, Inhalers or Injections. You may not quite remember what the prescriber said about using them most effectively.

Ask Questions about your Medicine?

You will have an opportunity to ask your Doctor, Nurse or Pharmacist lots of questions when you have your consultation and receive your prescription form. If you are still unsure just ask to speak with the Pharmacist  when your Medicines are handed out to you.

If you’re not familiar with your dispensed drugs, you may want to know things like

• When will the medicine start to work?
• Are there any side effects or risks?
• Can I continue to take my “Over the counter” treatments?
• Can I still have a drink of alcohol in the evening?
• Are there alternative options?
• How to use the medicine for best effect?
• What if I miss a dose?
• Can I become dependent?
• Are there any long term effects?
• Will it affect my normal routine, like when at work?
• Do I need another prescription next month?

If you regularly take several medicines together (Polypharmacy)

Patients with complex treatments may take more than three medicines during the day and have difficulty remembering when and what they took. As mentioned above try to know a little about the medication you take. All medicines normally come with an information sheet, called a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). This is a general description of what the item eg Tablet, contains, its effects, recommended dose, what to do if you miss your dose and a list of side effects and how common they are.

Tell the staff at the Chemist if you have any special need or requests and they may be able to help. So, if you have several tablet bottles with a child proof click lock cap and you suffer with Arthritis they can simply switch the cap to a plain type that is a lot easier to open.

You can ask to buy a  Dosette box where you can have seven days tablets placed ready to use. You can also tell if you miss any. Alternatively ask for a chart with your medicines names on and tick boxes for each day. This is a good idea if you have a carer who can mark when you have taken a dose.

Sometimes the writing on the label is too small. Ask for larger print labels. When a patient takes multiple  oral medication, and your memory is not what it was ask your pharmacy team to discuss medication wallets. These have four or five slots per day and last for a week at a time.

Try not to chew, crush or dissolve Tablets unless advised to do so. Some tablets and Capsules are a slow release design and not swallowing whole with a glass of water will change how the medicine works.

Long term conditions 

Long term conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease, Stroke, Asthma, Depression, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Dementia, may involve a friend or family member helping you take your medicine correctly.

When using things like insulin or Warfarin use a medical alert bracelet or other identification device to inform others in case of accident.

The  Chemist delivery service can help with a reliable medicine delivery along with offering dosing aids and probably extra advice to use any aids as mentioned above.

How to store your Medicines

There are a few things patients can do to keep their prescription drugs safe and use within the expiry date.

Keep out of sight of children or animals.

Store in a locked or “out of a child’s reach” cupboard.

Try to keep original packaging.

Keep in cool dark & dry area away from bright sunlight

Always read the label

Sterile eye drops have a short expiry when opened, write down when you opened them.

Find out if there are any dietary restrictions with your medications

Some foods can alter how your body processes you medicine. Like drinking Grapefruit juice while taking Simvastatin could lead to side effects. There are anti-inflammatory drugs  like Aspirin that should be taken after food. Some antibiotics like penicillin are better taken on an empty stomach. Always ask your Pharmacist before starting a new diet or food supplements just to make sure there will be no problems.

Do you know about other services

The Local Community Pharmacy is a great place to find out information about other services and specific information about types of medicines you may be taking.

There are usually leaflets to pick up free about many conditions and how they are treated. These will help build your understanding of your own condition.

Today’s medicines are very effective when taken as directed. So, if you are unsure always ask.