Australian/Irish medication.

missannik

For those who have worked in both systems, have you encountered any major differences with medications used? Are there differences in brand names? Are there different generic medications used to treat certain conditions?

I know when we've had international nurses here (mainly from Asia) that they had difficulty with medications as the drugs we used here we different to what they were used to. So any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Galen

hey there, you started that job yet?

you'll probably find it's quite different. The culture of generic med prescribing isn't as common here, although it is getting there. You'll more than likely be a bit confused at the start though. I've not worked in Oz, but from friends who have, they say it's pretty much the same.

Tallaght01 would be able to enlighten you a bit more as he's worked as a clinician in both, but then he always prescribes generically cos he's a goood doctor boy

DrIndy

We should always prescribe generically - it does save a lot of money and we also know more about the drugs rather than randomly putting down brand names.

I do write "tazocin" a lot though because the generic is much longer and also there is only one brand available - this is probably a bad idea though long run when an alternative comes out.

Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone gets mixed up/queries a lot so I normally write generic and brand on the prescription sheet

Dr Galen

yeah, Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone always gets me too. Always had to get a second opinion from a colleague. Never trusted what I was reading!

The worst problem is handwriting though. Jesus some of the scrawls I've seen! BLOCK CAPITALS people if your handwriting is bad please please please

Traumadoc

No IV augmentin ( amoxicilln /clavulonate)

Solpadine called panadene
Solpadol called panadene forte.

Try to get the pink book "antibiotic guidelines" it is pretty good.

They use a lot more maclorides for community acquired pneumonia.

ergo

Traumadoc wrote: »

No IV augmentin ( amoxicilln /clavulonate)

.

this is true

I remember trying to find iv augmentin in AUS, the closest I could find was Timentin which I think was a bit more hard-core and less-used over there

some hospitals in Ireland you would think have shares in Augmentin - so get used to that maybe, but possibly guidelines have changed

whatever hospital you end up in should have a decent enough drug guideline book given out compiled by the pharmacy with up to date prescribing guidelines

for a more definitive list of meds get hold of a physical copy of the Irish MIMS which lists every drug available and the different brand names - a lot of doctors will get a copy of MIMS every month for free so ask around, I used to have stack of them at home, they wouldn't stop sending them to me!

http://www.imt.ie/mims/about_mims/


the BNF also lists most of the relevant drugs used and a bit more about indications for which type of infection etc but has less of the brand names (as it's UK based)

ergo

just another couple of things I remembered

as mentioned , in AUS Panadeine Forte = co-codamol or Tylex or Solpadol ie paracetamol 500mg/Codeine 30mg in IRL

some things appeared to be unavailable in Australia that half the geriatric pouplation were on in Ireland

example Betahistine or Serc (tradename) http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002366.html I was told just wasn't used in Queensland


also, a friend of mine a UK doc gave someone a prescription for cyclizine, the pharmacist rang in to query it, saying they had never heard of it and that it wasn't in the Australian MIMS!

DrIndy

Traumadoc wrote: »

No IV augmentin ( amoxicilln /clavulonate)

Solpadine called panadene
Solpadol called panadene forte.

Try to get the pink book "antibiotic guidelines" it is pretty good.

They use a lot more maclorides for community acquired pneumonia.

There is a higher incidence of zoonotic pneumonia in australia - in the USA macrolides are first line. Community Pneumonia in Europe is usually the Streptococcus or haemophilus so co-amoxiclav is the best first choice.

No Cyclizine! There must be an antinausea anti-histamine about though which is similar.

missannik

Cheers for the replies. At least now in the interview I'll look like I've researched the differences a bit. :cool: Will look into MIMs when I arrive. I didn't know that there was Augmentin IV!

I agree with the comments re: generic prescribing.

MM- not sure if I've got the job yet, have the interview in late April. *fingers crossed*

Dr Galen

Good Luck then!!!

If you've any questions regarding Irish Nursing and that drop me a PM

Traumadoc

Management of certain conditions are different , Acute pulmonary oedema was managed with CPAP and IV nitrates.

missannik

^ ^ ^ Out of curiousity how is it treated in Ireland?

Traumadoc wrote: »

Try to get the pink book "antibiotic guidelines" it is pretty good.

Is there an Irish equivalent?

(I'm a little slow, I thought you were referring to in Ireland, but I've just cottoned on that you meant Australia. )

Traumadoc

Most places I worked in Ireland do not use CPAP for the management of APO.

missannik

Having a bit of a panic attack for tomorrows interview and just realised that I don't know what tool is used in Ireland to assess PTA. :eek: In Australia we used the Westmead scale, what tool is used in Ireland? And is the Cognistat used?

Many thanks.