Rx Note

Introduction Every now and then, I get this strong urge to dive into coding so I can finally turn my app ideas into reality. And here I am again, feeling inspired to learn after watching some introductory YouTube videos on backend and frontend development. One thing I have picked up is that before even thinking about the "easiest" language, it is really important to figure out where you want to start – a website, data analysis, or maybe an Android or iOS app. This key decision will perfectly guide you to the right language. For example, building websites usually involves HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, whereas Python is a go-to for data analytics and artificial intelligence . Looking Into Instant App Creation After spending a few hours learning the basics and experimenting in Visual Studio Code , I have successfully created several prompts. However, building a mobile app with an interactive and modern design remains a distant prospect. Even a single coding error can lead to signif...

Introduction 8 food-types cause about 90% of food allergy reactions. Milk (mostly in children) Eggs Peanuts Tree nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, brazil nuts and pecans) Soy Wheat (and other grains with gluten, including barley, rye and oats) Fish (mostly in adults) Shellfish (mostly in adults) Case Scenario "Do you have any drug allergies?" Often, when dispensing medications to patients (especially antibiotics or NSAIDs) or clerking  CP1 form , we ask patients this question. The onset of hives within a few hours of taking a new medication is easily recognized as possible drug hypersensitivity. However, many clinical presentations of drug hypersensitivity are more complex or take place in the setting of illness and/or polypharmacotherapy. For example, The patient in intensive care who develops a rash while receiving multiple medications The ambulatory with complex chronic diseases who develops a new and unexplained symptom while taking many medications. The main questi...

Introduction Most forms of systemic or disseminated fungal infections, including aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis, typically require systemic antifungal treatment. Azole Antifungals Triazole antifungal drugs have a role in the prevention and systemic treatment of fungal infections, but the coverage and indications vary widely. Of the azoles, fluconazole has the narrowest spectrum and posaconazole has the broadest. They all have similar activity against most Candida spp. Fluconazole and voriconazole penetrate the CNS adequately to treat fungal meningitis. Fluconazole is excreted largely unchanged in the urine and can be used to treat candiduria. Oral ketoconazole has been withdrawn from the market due to the risk of severe hepatotoxicity (incidence and severity appears to be higher compared to the other azoles). Itraconazole has been associated with liver damage and should be avoided or used with caution in patients with liver disease; fluconazole is ...

Introduction While the selection of empirical antimicrobial therapy is highly subjective, depending on the patient's clinical condition (as reflected in antibiotic guidelines based on clinical indication) and ultimately guided by culture and sensitivity results, many pharmacists desire fundamental guidance on the typical applications of antimicrobials and those reserved for highly resistant bacteria. This article is written to meet this demand, acknowledging that it does not offer a complete picture of antimicrobial selection. Nonetheless, antimicrobials should always be modified based on results of culture and sensitive testing to definitive therapy agent(s) that have the narrowest spectrum possible. In many cases, shorter durations of therapy have been shown to be as effective as traditionally longer courses. As many oral agents have excellent bioavailability, switching from parenteral to oral therapy wherever possible is recommended. Penicillins Narrow spectrum penicillins are...

Introduction The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence necessitates a critical re-evaluation and fundamental reform of pharmacy education, a crucial step in preparing future practitioners for a dramatically changing landscape. With the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence in academic assignments and daily life, we are inclined to seek quick answers by simply asking, rather than engaging in thoughtful problem-solving. Furthermore, given the vast amount of information now available on drug interactions , side effects , and contraindications, artificial intelligence offers a significant advantage by efficiently analyzing extensive datasets with unparalleled accuracy. Consequently, future pharmacists must evolve to a higher level, capable of solving complex cases through critical thinking and reasoning grounded in existing knowledge and experience. They should also actively participate in clinical research that generates new medical insights . In essence, future pharma...

Introduction Historically, Epocrates is the first medical application on Apple's App Store . When the iPhone was just about 8 months old, a California neurologist started a petition to get epocrates onto the iPhone. Almost 500 doctors signed and that's when Steve Jobs invited epocrates developers to develop one of the first Software Development Kits for the iPhone. Free Features Similar to Medscape , Epocrates is a mobile medical reference application that provides FREE content on Drug information Epocrates CME Interaction Check Pill ID Clinical Guidelines Calculators Mobile App Support and Epocrates Plus However, epocrates has discontinued offering its mobile application and the option to purchase an epocrates+ subscription to non-U.S.-based customers. The premium features that can be unlocked include Disease Information - in collaboration with the BMJ Publishing Group Infectious Disease Treatment Alternative Medicine Labs ICD-10 Codes Summary For non-U.S. based customers,...

Introduction Pharmacists play a vital role in providing accurate drug information to patients and other healthcare professionals. As technology advances, it is increasingly common for pharmacists to utilize several medical mobile applications for daily works. NOTE: All the hyperlinks below are for Android devices. Malaysia Localized Apps MyFormulary A progressive web app that provides drug information on the latest Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF) in Malaysia. Brand name search is not available. MIMS Malaysia and MIMS Gateway Mobile (Malaysia) MIMS Malaysia requires internet access, while MIMS Gateway Mobile offers an offline database (last updated in October 2018). Drug Counselling & Medication  (Android only) Provides a good starting point for medical device counselling, but information may not be updated. Premium Apps Requiring Individual or Institutional Subscriptions BMJ Best Practice A clinical decision support tool published by BMJ Group, offering resour...