Two Thirds Of Doctors Against Moving Antibiotic Trimethoprim To OTC

Main Category: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 19 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Almost two thirds of doctors are opposed to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) plans to make the antibiotic trimethoprim available over the counter, according to a survey of readers of an influential journal.

Pulse first revealed the consultation by the drugs regulator, to switch trimethoprim from a prescription-only medicine to one available for sale in pharmacies for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis, in August.

But a survey of 251 readers - the majority of which were GPs - of the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) found 64.5% were against the proposal.

More than half (58.2%) said they felt the switch would lead to an increase in antibiotic resistance - the same objection that prompted senior infectious disease experts to write to Health Secretary Alan Johnson to plead for the move to be rejected.

51% thought that OTC availability would encourage people to overuse or misuse trimethoprim.

The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy branded the proposed move an 'entirely commercially driven' one, and one in four (24%) of the healthcare professionals surveyed felt that drug companies wishes would have the largest influence on the decision to reclassify the drug.

The survey also found that nearly 80% of doctors opposed the switching of the drug tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is also currently under consideration by the MHRA. 72.9% of respondents felt there was a risk that BPH could be misdiagnosed.

The findings were similarly damning about the reclassification of simvastatin 10mg, which became available OTC in 2004.

57% said they did not think the switch had reduced GPs' workload, and the same proportion said they doubted the move had reduced the number of heart attacks and deaths in the general population.

For the full story, click here.

About PulseToday

PulseToday is the GP's website in the UK providing general practice news, clinical education and practice information to GPs and primary care staff.

You can register on this site to get access to further information by visiting:
www.pulsetoday.co.uk/subscribemenu.asp