Doctors call for addiction warning labels on OTCs
Many people do not realise that OTCs can be addictive |
Doctors have called for clearer labelling on over-the-counter medicines that can be addictive and for all health professionals to be trained to point out the dangers to patients.
They claim around 30,000 people in the UK are currently addicted to common
non-prescription drugs such as pain killers that contain addictive substances
such as codeine, and cough and sleeping medicines.
Delegates at last week’s annual British
Medical Association conference
in North Wales also demanded that the Department of Health draws up clear
clinical guidelines for how drug addiction services should manage patients
with OTC drug dependency.
Jonathan Bevers, a final year medical student at Edinburgh University
who proposed the motion, told the conference last week: “It is
estimated that 30,000 people are currently addicted to an over-the-counter
drug in the UK.”
He argued that many of those who become addicted are previously unaware
that these drugs contain certain addictive substances. “Many people
assume that these OTC drugs are safe because a prescription isn’t
needed — this is not the case.”
Over-the-counter medicines should have clear labels not only warning
that they may contain addictive substances but also the health implications
of excessive use, he suggested.
Mr Bevers added: “By empowering consumers with this information
they will know before taking the drug not to use it
excessively.”
However, Michelle Styles, head of information at the National Pharmaceutical
Association, told The Journal that any changes made to medicines labelling
would need to be carefully considered. “Labels are a double-edged
sword. By adding a warning you could argue that you are flagging up substances
that have the potential to be abused.” She also pointed out that
it is not only addictive substances that are misused.
Theo Raynor, from the department of pharmacy practice at the University
of Leeds, who has an interest in patient information, believes that the
personal touch offered by community pharmacists has advantages over patient
information leaflets and labels. He said: “Pharmacists are in a
position to monitor when people are buying OTC medicines and the personal
touch may be more effective than anything on a particular label.”
He added that the decision by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency to establish a working group on patient information earlier this
year reflected the priority this issue is being given. Professor Raynor,
who is a member of the group, said: “This is a significant step
forward. The group is focusing on improving the leaflets in packs as
the MHRA is embracing the idea that the information has to be user and
patient friendly.”
In a statement the DoH said drug labels already include information about
what the drug is for, dosage, the maximum daily dose and warnings not
to exceed the stated dose.
The statement added: “Such products are only sold or supplied under
the supervision of a pharmacist. Under the pharmacists’ Code of
Ethics, a sale may be refused if the pharmacist considers the product
may not be used appropriately.” |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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