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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Caution call on pharmacist drugs | Caution call on pharmacist drugs |
| (5 days later) | |
| Raising the number of drugs that can be bought at pharmacies may affect safety and cut effectiveness, specialists say. | Raising the number of drugs that can be bought at pharmacies may affect safety and cut effectiveness, specialists say. |
| Writing in the British Medical Journal, two doctors say drugs such as statins could be less effective because over-the-counter doses are lower. | Writing in the British Medical Journal, two doctors say drugs such as statins could be less effective because over-the-counter doses are lower. |
| They warn some powerful painkillers available without prescription have potentially harmful side-effects. | They warn some powerful painkillers available without prescription have potentially harmful side-effects. |
| But the National Pharmacy Association said its members treated newly classified medicines with caution. | But the National Pharmacy Association said its members treated newly classified medicines with caution. |
| Inquests | Inquests |
| The government is keen to see some widely used drugs more easily available, to improve the health of people with long-term conditions and potentially cut the bill to the NHS. | The government is keen to see some widely used drugs more easily available, to improve the health of people with long-term conditions and potentially cut the bill to the NHS. |
| Given the concerns, it would be wise to avoid any wholesale rush to reclassify medicines Dr Robin FernerWest Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions | Given the concerns, it would be wise to avoid any wholesale rush to reclassify medicines Dr Robin FernerWest Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions |
| However, West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions director Robin Ferner and Keith Beard, from the Victoria Infirmary Glasgow, believe that the benefits need to be closely measured against the risks. | However, West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions director Robin Ferner and Keith Beard, from the Victoria Infirmary Glasgow, believe that the benefits need to be closely measured against the risks. |
| They highlighted two recent deaths in which codeine-based painkillers were implicated at inquests. | They highlighted two recent deaths in which codeine-based painkillers were implicated at inquests. |
| They said it was far more difficult for the potential side-effects to be explained to patients in their local pharmacy. | They said it was far more difficult for the potential side-effects to be explained to patients in their local pharmacy. |
| "Certainly, pharmacists can provide clinical advice to minimise the risk of misuse of pharmacy only drugs, but supervision by a busy community pharmacist in the UK may be perfunctory," they wrote. | "Certainly, pharmacists can provide clinical advice to minimise the risk of misuse of pharmacy only drugs, but supervision by a busy community pharmacist in the UK may be perfunctory," they wrote. |
| Patients who misdiagnose their symptoms then try to treat themselves using over-the-counter drugs could delay a vital trip to their GP surgery, they added. | Patients who misdiagnose their symptoms then try to treat themselves using over-the-counter drugs could delay a vital trip to their GP surgery, they added. |
| 'Trusted profession' | 'Trusted profession' |
| The medicines safety watchdog - the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) relies on reports of side-effects, primarily from doctors, to alert them to any new concerns. | The medicines safety watchdog - the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) relies on reports of side-effects, primarily from doctors, to alert them to any new concerns. |
| It recently extended its reporting scheme to make it easier for patients to contact them. | It recently extended its reporting scheme to make it easier for patients to contact them. |
| However, Dr Ferner and Dr Beard are not convinced that this is enough to ensure their safety. | However, Dr Ferner and Dr Beard are not convinced that this is enough to ensure their safety. |
| "Given the concerns, it would be wise to avoid any wholesale rush to reclassify medicines," they said. | "Given the concerns, it would be wise to avoid any wholesale rush to reclassify medicines," they said. |
| "Whole communities might lose out in the long run if indiscriminate overuse of widely available medicines were to lead to large numbers of avoidable but irreversible adverse effects." | "Whole communities might lose out in the long run if indiscriminate overuse of widely available medicines were to lead to large numbers of avoidable but irreversible adverse effects." |
| A National Pharmacy Association spokesman, which represents community pharmacists, said that its members tended to err on the side of caution when handling newly reclassified medicines. | A National Pharmacy Association spokesman, which represents community pharmacists, said that its members tended to err on the side of caution when handling newly reclassified medicines. |
| "When a medicine is available over the counter for the first time, it is generally only dispensed by the pharmacist themselves. | "When a medicine is available over the counter for the first time, it is generally only dispensed by the pharmacist themselves. |
| "In fact, when people were surveyed about sources of good quality health advise, as many said they would go to a pharmacist as said they would visit their GP." | "In fact, when people were surveyed about sources of good quality health advise, as many said they would go to a pharmacist as said they would visit their GP." |
| A spokesman for the MHRA said: "Patient safety remains the prime consideration in any decision to make a medicine available over the counter. | A spokesman for the MHRA said: "Patient safety remains the prime consideration in any decision to make a medicine available over the counter. |
| "We continuously monitor the safety of all medicines in the UK including concerns about misuse, and where necessary, take suitable action to safeguard public health." | "We continuously monitor the safety of all medicines in the UK including concerns about misuse, and where necessary, take suitable action to safeguard public health." |
| The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which also represents pharmacists, said that pharmacists were well-placed to keep members of the public safe. | The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which also represents pharmacists, said that pharmacists were well-placed to keep members of the public safe. |
| A spokesman said: "We support increasing the public?s access to over the counter medicines when supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are well placed in the heart of communities. | A spokesman said: "We support increasing the public?s access to over the counter medicines when supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are well placed in the heart of communities. |
| "Patients benefit from the increased choice and convenience these products offer. Pharmacists and their staff are trained to help patients make the right choice." | "Patients benefit from the increased choice and convenience these products offer. Pharmacists and their staff are trained to help patients make the right choice." |