Parenteral replacement of fluids and electrolytes: the basics
Many conditions, from severe burns to diarrhoea, or simply an inability to drink enough fluid, can result in dangerous fluid and electrolyte losses. John Sexton and Mohamed H. Rahman explain why maintaining optimum fluid balance is essential and how it can be restored
Dealing with loss of appetite
Pharmacists advising on weight management will be familiar with people whose appetites are such that food reduction is difficult. More neglected is the subject of poor appetite and unwanted weight loss. Pam Mason gives an overview of this problem
Treating acute diarrhoea in adults
Diarrhoea is one of the most common problems on which pharmacists are consulted: about one in five people in the UK suffer an episode at least once a year. Alan Nathan gives an overview of the symptom and looks at the advice pharmacists can give
Life-long learning: Nutrition
Life-long articles on nutrition: its role in disease managment; drug nutrient interactions; prescribing parenteral nutrition (from Hospital Pharmacist, July/August 2008)
Understanding iron requirements
Pam Mason looks at iron deficiency, the most frequently encountered nutritional deficiency in the world, and haemochromatosis
BNF multivitamin preparations
Pamela Mason looks at the seven multivitamin products listed in the British National Formulary
Probiotics: are they worth taking?
Pamela Mason looks at the evidence for the benefits of ingesting “friendly bacteria”
Vitamin D — function and uses
Vitamin D has a number of essential functions in the body as well as several established clinical uses. Pamela Mason discusses the vitamin’s metabolism and interactions and looks at growing evidence of its involvement in other conditions
The significance of potassium
Jo Ringer and Yvette Bartlett give an overview of factors affecting potassium levels and look at the role of potassium in disease
Intravenous fluid therapy – background and principles
Katharina Floss, Mark Borthwick and Christine Clark describe when and how IV fluids should be used, and which fluids are available
Intravenous fluid therapy – what pharmacists need to monitor
Andrew Staples, John Dade and Chris Acomb outline key concepts about the therapy and situations in which it is used, and describe how pharmacists can conduct treatment reviews and offers case examples showing what problems might occur
