A minor ailment is a less serious medical condition that does not require lab or blood tests. Examples include cold sores, mild eczema, oral thrush, heartburn, hay fever, skin rash, fungal skin infections and yeast infections.
Pharmacists can assess and prescribe a prescription level medication when necessary rather than recommending a milder over- the-counter treatment for certain less serious conditions.
Pharmacists are highly trained, educated and trusted health care professionals. They are the medication experts. Their university curriculum includes training on the assessment and treatment of these minor ailments. The minor ailments program includes mandatory regulations that oversee the scope of what a pharmacist can do.
In addition, all licensed pharmacists will complete mandatory training on the processes and standards they are asked to follow before they can offer you this service.
New Brunswick pharmacists have had the ability to prescribe medications under certain circumstance since 2008. They can already replace, extend and renew some existing prescriptions; issue a new prescription for pre-existing conditions in an emergency situation; alter prescriptions to accommodate special needs; change the drug dosage/formulation and make therapeutic substitutions.
Increased pharmacist involvement will actually help monitor which patients should be referred to physicians instead of patients self-treating indefinitely. This will help reduce the risk for patients.
After the pharmacist assesses a patient they, in conjunction with the patient, determine the appropriate course of action. This could be a prescription or a recommendation for an over the counter medication. If a pharmacist assesses your condition but feels it is serious or requires follow-up, he or she will refer you to a doctor for additional assessment.
Yes. Pharmacists are required by their Standards of Practice to inform your primary physician when they write a prescription for you. New Brunswick pharmacists have been notifying doctors of patients’ prescription changes since 2008 when they prescribing authority in certain other situations. This will continue under the minor ailments program.
No. Unlike a doctor, pharmacists do not have the authority to prescribe controlled substances such as narcotics and other mood-modifying drugs. Pharmacists cannot prescribe drugs that can cause addiction or dependency and abuse.
Definitely not. Pharmacists can assess and prescribe for only certain minor conditions as set out in the new act and regulations. New Brunswickers can opt to visit their doctors or other health care professionals for treatment of minor conditions. Expanding the role of pharmacists to assess and treat minor ailments gives patients another choice for accessing health care services. Pharmacists will continue to refer patients with more serious conditions to their family physician or an emergency room.
Yes. If the condition and treatment required is within pharmacists' prescribing limits, you may still receive treatment even if you do not have a doctor. This service is intended to improve access to health care.
If your ailment becomes more serious or you are not seeing improvements with the medication prescribed by your pharmacist, you will be referred to your doctor for a diagnosis. This is part of the benefit of having earlier involvement of a pharmacist, they are trained to recognize when patients require additional assessment and care.
Your privacy is a priority for all members of the pharmacy team. Your records are then stored in accordance with all of Canada’s and New Brunswick’s privacy laws.
The following are possible Minor Ailments that your pharmacist can assess and prescribe for:
More commonly referred to as hay fever, is an inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergic reaction to airborne substances.
Treatment may include antihistamines (systemic, ophthalmic, intranasal), decongestants(systemic, topical), intranasal corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, intranasal anticholinergics.
A disease caused by a herpes simplex virus, characterized chiefly by a cluster of small, transient blisters (cold sore) at the edge of the lip or nostril.
Irritant contact dermatitis (A) produces red, dry itchy patches usually on the hands, fingers and face. Common irritants include soap, detergents and skin-cleaning products. Allergic contact dermatitis (B) produces a red rash, bumps and sometimes blisters.
An excessive amount of scaly material composed of dead, keratinized epithelium shed from the scalp that may be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis.
Cyclical, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, which may also radiate to the back and thighs, occurring before and/or during menstruation, and can be primary or secondary.
A chronic or recurrent epigastric (upper abdomen) pain, postprandial fullness or early satiety of at least 3 months' duration. Other symptoms may also include bloating or nausea.
Troublesome or frequent acid regurgitation or heartburn (a burning feeling in the stomach or lower chest rising up to the neck). GERD is also associated with epigastric pain, nausea, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and
odynophagia (pain with swallowing). Extra-esophageal or atypical manifestations of GERD are also possible and include cough, sore throat, chest pain, hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheezing.
Enlarged veins in the anus or lower rectum. They often go unnoticed and usually clear up after a few days, but can cause long-lasting discomfort, bleeding and be excruciatingly painful. Hemorrhoids (also called piles) can be divided into two kinds, internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the anus or lower rectum, beneath the anal or rectal lining. External hemorrhoids lie outside the anal opening. Both kinds can be present at the same time.
A superficial bacterial infection of the skin, generally caused by Staphylococcus aureus although Streptococci have also been implicated. It is a common infection in infants and young children, often presenting around the nose and mouth.
An inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin that is marked by the eruption of pimples or pustules, especially on the face.
Tension headache is the most common type of headache. It is bilateral and described as a dull ache with a pressing or tightening sensation across the forehead.
Migraine is a pulsating and throbbing headache. It may be present with or without aura (visual disturbances, sensory, motor or language alterations). It is typically unilateral, affecting one side of the head, although it can be bilateral. Migraine can be accompanied by any or all of nausea, vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light) or phonophobia (sensitivity to sound). Pre-disposing factors include depression, anxiety, head/neck trauma and hormonal changes, such as menstruation or ovulation.
A noncontagious inflammation of the skin, characterized chiefly by redness, itching, and the outbreak of lesions that may discharge serous matter and become encrusted and scaly, often accompanied by intense itching or burning.
A skin condition characterized by the formation of itchy red or whitish raised patches, usually caused by an allergy. Also known as hives.
Pain in a joint or joints
Pain or tenderness in a muscle or a group of muscles, usually diffuse and non-specific.
A disturbance of the normal sleep pattern.
A feeling of sickness in the stomach characterized by an urge to vomit.
Involves a variety of physical, psychological and behavioural factors. Nicotine acts as a stimulant, increasing alertness and sense of well-being as well as heart rate and blood pressure. Due to rapid delivery to the mesolimbic pleasure-reward system in the brain, nicotine is highly addictive. With continued use, chemical and biologic changes occur in the brain and tolerance develops very quickly. Nicotine addiction is characterized by cravings for continued smoking, a tendency to increase usage and profound physical and psychological symptoms elicited by withdrawal.
Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces, usually indicating gastrointestinal distress or disorder.
A contagious disease caused by a fungus, Candida albicans, that occurs most often in infants and children, characterized by small whitish eruptions on the mouth, throat, and tongue, and usually accompanied by fever, colic, and diarrhea.
A blister on the mucous membranes of the lips or mouth.
cough, nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, fever, headache, malaise
The presence of micro-organisms (for example, bacteria) in the urinary tract, which includes the urethral opening up to and including, the kidneys. It has an acute onset with rapid progression of symptoms which may include some or all of the following - Dysuria (painful, burning sensation while urinating), Urgency (sensation of need to urinate often), increased frequency of passing urine, often with urgency, Sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, Hematuria (blood in the urine), Lower abdominal pain or cramping, Malodorous or cloudy urine, Fever, chills, Nausea and vomiting.
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Infection with a fungus of the genus Candida, especially C. albicans, that usually occurs in the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, respiratory tract, or vagina but may invade the bloodstream, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
A hard rough lump growing on the skin, caused by infection with certain viruses and occurring typically on the hands or feet.
Extreme dryness and thickening of the conjunctiva, often resulting from a deficiency of tears, and vitamin A.
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