Thought I'd better give you an explanation of the new OTC analgesic rules
which come into force on September 16th. It will probably result in even
more work for you :(

The rules apply only to those preparations containing aspirin or paracetamol
they do NOT apply to ibuprofen.
Any retain establishment can sell non-effervescent aspirin(up to
325mg),non-effervescent paracetamol tablets (up to 500mg)and paracetamol
capsules (up to 500mg) in packs of 16 but not more than 100 tablets or
capsules.
Pharmacies can do the same thing but with pack sizes of up to 32.
Pack sizes of more than 32 are POM.

Effervescent tablets (defined as more than 75% by weight of ingredients
included wholly or mainly for the purpose of releasing CO2 when the tablet
is dispersed in water) can still be sold in any quantities from pharmacies
(and in packs of 30 from anywhere).

Aspirin 75mg dispersible doesn't meet the definition of effervescent, there
are no prepacks of 16 or 32 available (the OTC packs of 100 where only ever
licensed for analgesia anyway, but I could live with that). Packing down
from the dispensing packs for OTC sale has been made uneconomic by the men
in Brussels who have ruled that full private prescription records need to be
kept and PIL's issued for broken bulk OTC sales. Aspirin 75 dispersible will
therefore effectively become a POM.

The price increases which will inevitable follow (with drugs this cheap the
packaging costs are a significant part of the price) will IMO drive more
patients to the NHS.

28's of EC Aspirin 75 will be available through pharmacies, at a price!



The good news is that paediatric paracetamol liquid will be available from
anywhere in 5ml unit doses - up to 20 in a container. (Make sure your local
24 hour petrol station stocks it and get out of some of those nightime
calls!!!)


Why is this happening, the official idea is to cut the number of suicides by
restricting the number of tablets likely to be found at home. More cynically
I think it's because the CMO for Scotland found that most of the liver
transplants he carried out where for paracetamol overdose and thought he
could cut his own workload. Aspirin and ibuprofen where both originally
included to avoid confusing the public by having different rules for
different analgesics, ibuprofen somehow escaped the new restrictions.

Regards

Jeff Green

Community Locum and Consultant Pharmacist

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Regards

Jeff Green

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