Mr Radcliffe is an elderly man who lives alone. Today, his home help asks what you can recommend for diarrhoea, from which Mr Radcliffe has been suffering for 3 days. He has been passing watery stools quite frequently and feels rather tired and weak. He has sent the home help because he dare not leave the house and go out of reach of the toilet. You check your PMRs (patient medication records), which confirm your memory that he takes several different medicines: digoxin, furosemide and paracetamol. Last week you dispensed a prescription for a course of amoxicillin. The home help tells you that he has been eating his usual diet and there does not seem to be a link between food and his symptoms. The pharmacist’s view Mr Radcliffe’s diarrhoea may be … Read entire article »

Mrs Jean Berry wants to stock up on some medicines before her family sets off on their first holiday abroad; they will be going to Spain next week. Mrs Berry tells you that she has heard of people whose holidays have been ruined by holiday diarrhoea and she wants you to recommend a good treatment. On questioning, you find out that Mr and Mrs Berry and their two boys aged 10 and 14 years will be going on the holiday. The pharmacist’s view Holiday diarrhea can often easily be dealt with. Mrs Berry could be advised to buy some loperamide capsules, which would be suitable treatment for her, Mr Berry and their 14-year-old son. In addition, she should purchase some oral rehydration sachets for the younger son. The sachets could also be … Read entire article »

Mrs Choudry is collecting her regular repeat prescription for antihypertensive treatment. You ask how she and the family are, and she tells you that several members of the family have been suffering with diarrhea on and off. You know that the family recently returned from a trip to India where they had been visiting relatives to attend a family wedding. In answer to your questions, Mrs Choudry tells you that the problem with the diarrhoea started after they returned. The pharmacist’s view Referral to the GP is needed here as the diarrhea may be related to the recent travel. The doctor’s view Referral is a sensible course of action. Clearly, more information is required, e.g. date of onset of symptoms and date of return to the UK. It does not sound as if any … Read entire article »

Mrs Robinson asks what you can recommend for diarrhea. Her son David, aged 11 years, has diarrhoea and she is worried that her other two children, Natalie, aged 4 years, and Tom, aged just over 1 year, may also get it. David’s diarrhoea started yesterday; he went to the toilet about five times and was sick once, but has not been sick since. He has griping pains, but is generally well and quite lively. Yesterday he had pie and chips from the local takeaway during his lunch break at school. No one else in the family ate the same food. Mrs Robinson has not given him any medicine, but has some kaolin and morphine mixture at home and wants to know if David could take some, and also if the … Read entire article »