a. You should be very familiar with your pharmacy's policies regarding child-
resistant packaging. For example, if a patient requests conventional packaging for a
prescription item, does your pharmacy's policy require the patient to sign or initial such
a request? You should carefully read and study your local Standing Operating
Procedures (SOP) to ensure you do what is required.
b. Some patients may request conventional packaging. Suppose a retired
individual asks you for conventional packaging and it is stated that he does not have
small children. Does this person have grandchildren who frequently come to the home?
Remember that many poisonings occur when a small child visits grandparents and goes
through the medicine cabinet or grandmother's purse.
Section VI. THE PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT
IMPORTANT NOTE: This section will present the topic of the Patient
Package Insert (PPI). Although some products (see Paragraph 2-20)
are required to be dispensed with PPIs, other medications (see Table 2-
1) were scheduled to begin being dispensed with PPIs in 1981.
However, changes were made in the laws. Some consumer interest
groups still favor the use of PPIs in order to make the patient more
knowledgeable about the drugs he is taking. At some time, in the future
you may well see the requirements for PPIs being expanded. Until that
time, you should read package inserts, professional publications, and
texts to become more knowledgeable about the medications the
medications you dispense. In this manner, you can answer patient
questions about the drugs they are taking or refer them to someone who
can better answer any question(s) they might have.
2-17. THE PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT
The PPI is a document that contains specific information, written in a non-
technical way, about a drug, its indications, and some of the cautions and warnings
associated with its use. In an outpatient setting, the patient is supposed to be provided
with a PPI when a new prescription for a drug that requires a PPI is dispensed. If the
patient desires additional information or clarification concerning the wise use of the
drug, the pharmacy personnel are a ready source of such information. At present, only
10 drugs or drug classes are required to be dispensed with PPIs. The PPIs are to be
supplied to the pharmacy by the drug manufacturers or distributors.
2-11