Use As Directed.
Use As Directed, what does it truly mean? As I continue to travel through the pharmacy world, I realise an increase in prescriptions stating “Use As Directed”.
Use As Directed is the backbone of assumption. As Directed by who? The Doctor, The Nurse or The Pharmacist?
Use As Directed makes the role of the Pharmacist to counsel patients difficult. Some medicines have different indications and each indication will have a different dosage regime.
An easy solution will be to ask the patient what is the underlying condition being treated?
Patient replies : I do not know.
Here are some examples I came across recently:
- An elderly man was prescribed:
Colchicine 500mcg
MDU
100 tablets.
This was after a telephone consultation with the surgery. He was not informed about the dosage or the duration of the treatment.
- A 25 year old lady was prescribed:
Tranexamic Acid 500mg
As Directed
60 tablets .
- A 7 year old girl, who complained of pain during urination was prescribed:
Trimethoprim 50mg/5ml suspension
As Directed
100ml
The phrase Use As Directed in my opinion is not a dosing instruction. It should be used sparingly.
Comment Below, should Use As Directed be written on prescriptions?
Images are from BNF 70.
