The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7112 p329
September 2, 2000 Letters

Inhalers

Withdrawal notification

From Dr C. S. De Wet

SIR,-I refer to a letter from Michael Bland (PJ, August 19, p267) regarding the notification by Boehringer Ingelheim of the intended discontinuation of Alupent MDI and Berotec MDI 100 and 200mcg in December.
During July letters were sent to:

• All general medical practices (addressed to practice manager or senior partner)
• Practice nurses running asthma clinics
• Community and hospital pharmacists
• Hospital doctors with a specialty in respiratory medicine
• Respiratory specialist nurses
• Primary care groups (including PCG chairs, GP members, chief executives, prescribing leads and commissioning leads plus the Scottish and Welsh equivalents)
• Health authorities (pharmaceutical advisers, medical advisers and directors of public health)

The timing of the letters was such as to allow health care professionals adequate time safely to manage the transition of their patients to alternative treatments.
An announcement has also been made in the product page of The Pharmaceutical Journal dated August 12.
We will also follow the normal practice of making journal announcements one month before the products are to be discontinued.

C. S. De Wet
Medical Director, Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd, Bracknell