Patients with multiple or complicated health issues are a rapidly growing portion of the population. As questions have increased from DOCS Education members on the EliteDOCS Forum about how to treat them, DOCS Education has a two-day advanced course titled Sedation Solutions. During this course, you discuss how to treat patients with illnesses such as tumors, systematic diseases, transplants, psychological disorders and post-cancer treatment. After the course you will be more confident and knowledgeable in caring for one of the fastest growing population of patients — the medically complex. The following study is an example of what is covered during the informative Sedation Solutions course.
Question:
I have a hundred tabs of Sonata® that have never been used but recently expired. Can I still use them in a pinch? I will be getting a new supply shortly. It's quite expensive, and I am trying to find a less expensive source.
Dr. Anthony Feck, Dean of DOCS Education Faculty explains:
With regard to your expired zaleplon, I would not use it. There isn’t any risk to the patient, but it will lose some of its effectiveness, and if there were ever a problem, your liability would increase because you used an expired drug. Since it is expensive, I would recommend that you write a script for it and have the patient bring it to the office.