Approximately 15% to 25% of family practice patients have concerns about sexual function and are most comfortable discussing these issues with their family physician. While many physicians have avoided this topic in the past, citing lack of knowledge and skill, the family practice setting is ideal for a preliminary evaluation of sexual dysfunction and treatment for certain etiologies. This especially is true for changes in sexual function secondary to medication effects. This article provides basic guidelines designed to assist physicians in evaluating the effects of medications and other substances on sexual function. Also included are lists of medications known or suspected to have adverse effects on sexual function. Physicians are encouraged to address the sexual concerns of their patients and to incorporate these guidelines and the medication lists into their evaluation.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

PubMed1994

Pharmacists' use of safety caps on refilled prescriptions.

Investigations have shown that pharmacists' use of child-resistant containers for dispensing prescriptions has been inconsistent. Use of new child-resistant containers when refilling prescription orders, however, has not been studied. For this study, an investigator presented a prescription order for 30 amitriptyline 50-mg tablets to 50 randomly selected pharmacies in Memphis. Approximately three weeks later, the investigator returned the empty prescription vials to the pharmacies for refills. Of the 44 pharmacies that completed the study, 39 (89%) dispensed the original drug in child-resistant containers, and 38 (86%) dispensed the refill in child-resistant containers. Only 29 (66%) refilled prescriptions were placed in new prescription vials, as specified by federal regulation. Chain pharmacies were twice as likely (p < 0.005) to dispense the refills in new containers as were independent pharmacies.

Drug Packaging↗