The labelling for Melleril syrup is to be changed again following a decision by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) announced last week. Confusion had arisen over an earlier labelling change, when the given content of thioridazine was changed from 25mg/5ml to 27.5mg/5ml to distinguish between the content of thioridazine and thioridazine hydrochloride. This change has now been reversed. However, a spokesman for Novartis told The Journal on November 28 that the company was unable to give a date for when the new packaging would be available. Ms Morag Martin (principal pharmacist, Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust) told The Journal recently that she had raised concerns over the labelling with the MCA and Novartis in October. She pointed out that, while the stock labelled thioridazine hydrochloride 27.5mg/5ml was technically correct, in practice it was unusable in hospitals and gave a potential for error or for nursing staff withholding medicine. This was because no nurse would feel able to administer a preparation labelled 27.5mg/5ml against a prescription for thioridazine 25mg, she said. A spokeswoman for the MCA told The Journal on November 27 that future packs of Melleril would be labelled "25mg in 5ml ", together with a statement of active content unchanged from current labelling, ie, "each 5ml spoonful contains 27.5mg of thioridazine hydrochloride equivalent to 25mg thioridazine base ".