An amendment to the prescription-only medicine Order allows the pharmacy sale of topical terbinafine preparations and increases the maximum strength of non-prescription topical ibuprofen preparations, as from August 9.
Terbinafine hydrochloride is now exempt from POM control for external use in the treatment of tinea pedis and tinea cruris, with a maximum strength of 1 per cent and a maximum pack size of 15g. The maximum strength of ibuprofen for external use has increased from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, subject to a maximum dose of 125mg, a maximum daily dose of 500mg and a maximum pack size of 100g.
The POM list amendments are contained in the same POM amendment Order as the new provisions to allow supply and administration of medicines under patient group directions (PJ, August 12, p219).