Results of Minor Ailment Service and Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up Service in Community Pharmacy as an optimization tool of the pharmacotherapy on a polymedicated patient with persistent cough

Abstract

Minor Ailment Service and Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up (PFU) was provided to a 61-year-old woman, ex-smoker, diagnosed with hypertension and breast cancer, who presented persistent cough. She was taking 4 medications.

After the review of the pharmacotherapy and analysis of narratives extracted from in-depth interviews, the presence of cough was determined as a Drug Related Problem (DRP) derived from the use of an ACEI (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors). Referrals to the Primary Care Physician (PCP) were made, proposing pharmacological substitution for ARBs Angiotensin II receptor blocker), which were declined because there was no similarity in clinical criteria.

During this period, the patient went to private doctors, trying different pharmacological treatments, as well as traditional medicine sessions (acupuncture) without obtaining improvement.

After a year of PFU, acceptance of the pharmacist's proposal was achieved by the PCP, which led to a resolution of the DRP, a deprescription process and an improvement in health that allowed the patient to resume her daily activities.