40. Medical treatment PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

40. Medical treatment

A	Prescriptions and drugs As part of treatment, a doctor may prescribe medication, commonly referred to as medicine or drugs. A prescription may take these forms. In the UK, patients take prescriptions to a chemist’s shop, which sells a wide range of non-prescription medicines and other products such as cosmetics, for dispensing a pharmacist (the person who prepares the medicines). In hospitals, prescriptions are dispensed by the pharmacy (the department where the drugs are prepared). Drugs come in many different forms.
B	The British National Formulary The British National Formulary provides information on prescribing and administering prescription drugs in the UK. SULCONAZOLE NITRATE Indications: Fungal skin infections Cautions: Contact with eyes and mucous membranes should be avoided. Side effect: Occasional local irritation and hypersensitivity reactions include mild burning sensation, erythema, and itching. Also blistering. Treatment should be discontinued if these are severe. Dose: Apply 1-2 times daily, continuing for 2-3 weeks after lesions have healed. Exelderm® (Centrapharm) Cream, sulconazole nitrate 1% An indication is a situation or a sign that suggests a specific treatment should be given. A contraindication is a situation or sign that a specific drug or a treatment should not be used or is contraindicated. Exelderm® is a proprietary – commercial – name for a medication containing sulconazole nitrate. The same drug may have both a proprietary name and a generic name. for example, Prozac and Fluoxetine are the proprietary and generic names for the same drug.

EXERCISES

40.1	Match the abbreviations (1-9) with their meanings (a-i). 1 p.c. 2 q.d.s 3 s.c. 4 s.l. 5 p.o. 6 c.c. 7 p.r.n. 8 i.v. 9 infusn
40.2	Complete the sentences. Look at A and B above to help you. 1 ____________________ of the skin may be caused by drugs such as aspirin which can produce a rash. 2 At a ____________________ you can get your prescription and all sorts of other heath products. 3 Gastro-intestinal irritation is a ____________________-____________________ of aspirin. 4 Aspirin is ____________________ for patients with previous or active peptic ulceration.
40.3	Describe each of these prescriptions for a patient with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Look at Appendix II on page 131 to help you. The first one has been done for you.

Answer key