The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7329 p852
11 December 2004

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· New contract (5)
· PPRS
· Registration exam (4)
· Prescription forms
· Community pharmacy
· Male health
· Competency
· Public health
· Alcohol
· Levithyroxine
· Complementary medicine
· The register (3)
· Retention fee
· The Journal (2)

Letters to the Editor

Community pharmacy

Will chloramphenicol eye ointment be available OTC?

From Mr G. A. Hopkins, MRPharmS

Like many other colleagues I welcome the news that chloramphenicol eye drops are likely to be available from pharmacies without a prescription (PJ, 4 December, p803). There are many situations when the use of this product is indicated.

However, I would like to make two observations. First, I note that only drops are mentioned. It would be a great pity if we were not allowed access to the eye ointment as well (as are optometrists). There are times when an eye ointment is more appropriate than a drop, eg, for young children (I am aware that the product licence will specify children over the age of two) and at night time.

Secondly, I hope the directions for use will take account of the short half-life of an aqueous drop in the conjunctival sac and recommend more frequent dosing than we regularly see on doctors’ prescriptions.

Graham Hopkins
Cheltenham, Gloucester

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