Availability of selected antidotes in community pharmacies in Pretoria

Abstract

Community pharmacies in Pretoria were surveyed to determine the slocking of 19 antidotes in these pharmacies and to establish the reasons for non-availability, A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacies located in Pretoria was conducted. These pharmacies were identified through a list provided by the South African Pharmacy Council. Questionnaires were sent to all 64 pharmacies listed. Thirty (47%) of 64 questionnaires were completed by pharmacists ut these pharmacies. This study found a great variability in the stocking of antidotes. Twelve (40%) out of 30 pharmacies stocked no antidotes at all. None of the pharmacies kept all antidotes, although one kept 11 (57.9%) of the 19 antidotes listed. With regard to individual antidotes, the most stocked were sodium polystyrene (67%), sodium bicarbonate (56.7%), folinic acid (50%), activated charcoal (40%), N-acetylcysteine (33.3%), ipecacuanha (33.3%), disulfiram (33.3%), citric acid (26.7%) and atropine (26.7%). The reasons for the unavailability of antidotes at the time of the survey were that the stock was not ordered (43.3%), the stock was ordered but not delivered from suppliers (45.0%), the previous stock had expired unused (16.7%), and that the pharmacies were too close to hospitals which kept an antidotes (40%). In conclusion, the community pharmacies surveyed kept an insufficient and inappropriate range of antidotes. There is a need for these facilities to improve their upkeep of antidotes.