Page 128 - Community pharmcy practice E-book 2025
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02/11/2025, 00:29
• Highlight situations when patient should return/seek medical care: persistence beyond
expected time, worsening symptoms, red flags (see referral list).
• Warn about use of multiple cough/cold combination products—risk of overdose of certain
ingredients (e.g., paracetamol, decongestants).
• For children: emphasize caution, many OTC cough/cold products are not recommended in
young children; discuss safe alternatives (humidifier, saline nasal drops, honey in children >12
months).
• Promote lifestyle measures: if smoker, encourage smoking cessation; avoiding exposure to
second-hand smoke.
• If patient has underlying disease (asthma, COPD, heart disease) or is on ACE inhibitor,
highlight that cough may relate to that and they should inform their physician.
• Provide reassurance: “We’re treating the symptoms while your body recovers; if you don’t
improve or if things change, we will need to refer.”
• Encourage documentation of cough pattern (duration, time of day, triggers, sputum
colour/amount) especially if persistent, so that if referred the physician has useful information.
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