Fear after reading a medicine leaflet

Setting: Outpatient pharmacy

Sara Green, 54, started atorvastatin 20 mg nightly five days ago. She reports no muscle symptoms but has become anxious about the leaflet’s warning of unexplained muscle pain.

Task

Identify atorvastatin 20 mg nightly and feared unexplained muscle pain.
Check whether symptoms are present and explore living-alone anxiety.
Explain the supplied prompt prescriber-contact advice for a new symptom.
Refer proposed treatment changes to the prescribing team.

Fear after reading a medicine leaflet consultation plan

The medicine is atorvastatin 20 mg nightly, and the feared leaflet effect is unexplained muscle pain. No symptoms are reported. The supplied medicine-specific advice is to contact the prescribing team promptly if unexplained muscle pain develops; this card does not authorise a dose or treatment change.
The pharmacist should explore the specific leaflet concern and confirm the medicine and prescribed directions.
Treatment changes require discussion with the prescribing team; no change is authorised on this card.
The pharmacist can review the medicine-specific written advice and identify the appropriate contact route.
Sara Green, 54, started atorvastatin 20 mg nightly five days ago. She reports no muscle symptoms but has become anxious about the leaflet’s warning of unexplained muscle pain.

Fictional scenario information supplied for this examination exercise; not medical guidance for real patients.