Pharmacists Should Be On High Alert When Selling Orlistat, Says Society

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 29 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is reiterating to pharmacists the need to adhere to its practice guidance regarding the sale of orlistat, a drug which can only be sold to patients who have undergone a consultation, and who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28 or higher. The emphasis on the Society's practice guidance follows two Sunday newspapers reporting cases of pharmacies not complying with regulations around the sale of the drug. Orlistat, known commercially as alli, went on sale as a pharmacy medicine on Wednesday April 22.

The Society's Director of Policy, David Pruce said: "Both the Society and GSK, which manufactures orlistat, developed and disseminated guidance and training resources for pharmacists in anticipation of the medicine's launch. It is disappointing that some pharmacies have not followed the guidance. It is important to emphasise the need to closely follow the requirements for selling orlistat."

Both the 26 April editions of the Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Star Sunday conducted 'mystery shopper' exercises, where women of healthy weight went to a number of pharmacies to procure orlistat. While some pharmacies conducted consultations and declined to supply the mystery shoppers with orlistat, others failed to follow the correct procedure before selling the drug. The mystery shopper for the Daily Star Sunday told several pharmacists she was buying orlistat for her overweight mother.

David Pruce said: "Not only is it crucial pharmacists carry out a thorough consultation before deciding whether or not to sell orlistat, they must also be aware some patients may lie in order to obtain the drug.

"Pharmacists need to be alert for vulnerable people with eating disorder or body-image issues who may try to obtain orlistat for the wrong purposes."

The Society's practice guidance on orlistat can be found here.

Notes

Orlistat

- Obesity is a major health concern in the UK, accounting for 30,000 deaths each year
- Orlistat, known commercially as alli, is available over the counter in a 60mg formulation - half the strength of that prescribed by doctors
- Pharmacists will assess patients' suitability for orlistat by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI); adults with a BMI of 28 or more will be considered suitable for the treatment.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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