Pharmacists Urged To Implement New Opioids Guidance Immediately

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 10 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Following the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) Rapid Response Report into opioids, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is reminding pharmacists to remain vigilant in ensuring that the correct dosages are given to individual patients.

The guidance, developed following concerns over incorrect and unsafe dosing of opioids, recommends that when opioid medicines are prescribed, dispensed or administered, in anything other than acute emergencies, the healthcare practitioner concerned, or their clinical supervisor, should:

- confirm any recent opioid dose, formulation, frequency of administration and any other analgesic medicines prescribed for the patient. This may be done for example through discussion with the patient or their representative, the prescriber or through medication records

- ensure where a dose increase is intended, that the calculated dose is safe for the Patient

- ensure they are familiar with the following characteristics of that medicine and formulation: usual starting dose, frequency of administration, standard dosing increments, symptoms of overdose, common side effects

The Society's Director for England Howard Duff said:

"We are asking pharmacists to start implementing these new guidelines immediately when calculating dosages of opioids for patients. Patient safety is paramount and the NPSA guidance will help to reduce dosage errors and protect patients from what can become very dangerous medicines if administered in the wrong dosages."

For further support or advice pharmacists should call the Society's Legal & Ethical Advisory Service on 020 7572 2308.

To view the full NPSA Report and supporting information visit here.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain