Drug history taking structure

You are a pharmacy student on placement in a community pharmacy. A patient has arrived for a medicines review appointment, and the supervising pharmacist has asked you to take a drug history from them.

You are NOT required to provide any clinical advice, counselling, or recommendations.

You have 6 minutes.

You are Margaret Osei (Mar-guh-ret Oh-say).

Opening statement: "Hello, I've been told you want to know about my medication."

Patient information:

To be given if the student asks.

• Name: Margaret Osei

• Age: 72

• Past medical history:

• "Glaucoma in my left eye, high blood pressure, and I have asthma."

• Medication History:

When asked what medicines you take, mention the eye drops first:

• "I use eye drops for my glaucoma."

• If asked which eye drops: "Latanoprost."

• If asked about strength/dose: "I think they're 0.005%. I put one drop in."

• If asked which eye: "Just my left eye."

• If asked when they take it: "At night, before bed."

• If asked how long: "About four years now."

• If asked who prescribes it: "My eye doctor and my GP."

• If asked about problems: "No problems."

• If asked what for: “It’s for my glaucoma”

• If asked about adherence: “I never miss it.”

Wait for the student to ask if you take anything else before mentioning Item 2:

• "I also use an inhaler for my asthma."

  • If asked which inhaler: "Beclometasone, I think."

  • If asked about strength/dose: "100 micrograms per puff."

  • If asked how many puffs: "Two puffs each time."

  • If asked how often: "Twice a day — morning and night."

  • If asked about a spacer: "Yes, I use a spacer — I find it easier."

  • If asked how long: "About three years."

  • If asked who prescribes it: "My GP."

  • If asked about problems: "No problems."

  • If asked what for: “It’s for my asthma”

  • If asked about adherence: “I never miss it.”

Wait for the student to ask if you take anything else before mentioning Item 3:

• "I also take a tablet for my blood pressure from my GP as well."

• • If asked which tablet: "Amlodipine."

  • If asked about strength/dose: "5 milligrams."

  • If asked how you take it: "One tablet once a day."

  • If asked when: "In the morning."

  • If asked how long: "About five years."

  • If asked who prescribes it: "My GP."

  • If asked about problems: "No problems."

  • If asked what for: “It’s for my blood pressure”

  • If asked about adherence: “I never miss it.”

Other sources / OTC / herbal (if asked): "No, nothing else that I know of."

Allergies (if asked): "Yes — I was given penicillin one time.”
                                      Nature of reaction: “ I came out in a rash."

General acting notes:

• Only give information when directly asked — do not volunteer details unprompted.

• If given an open question such as "tell me about your medicines", give some information (e.g. the medicine name) but not all the details.

• If asked anything not covered in this brief, say: "I'm not sure about that."

• Be friendly and cooperative throughout.

1. Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. [online] London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. Available at: https://bnf.nice.org.uk [Accessed May 2026].

2. NICE, 2019. Glaucoma: diagnosis and management. NG81. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng81 [Accessed May 2026].

3. NICE, 2021. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. NG136. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng136 [Accessed May 2026].

4. NICE, 2017. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management. NG80. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80 [Accessed May 2026].