The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7337 p205
19 February 2005

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· Medicines for children
· Labelling
· Morphine sulphate
· Complementary medicine
· CPD
· Co-proxamol withdrawal
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Letters to the Editor

Morphine sulphate

Is there evidence of a problem?

From Mrs S. A. Haynes, MRPharmS

Catherine Ralph and Hyacinth Kreimeyer (PJ, 5 February, p146) are correct that repeat computer generated prescriptions for Morphine 10mg in 5ml could slip through a lax net and theoretically cause the problem they are concerned about.

Based on my, albeit limited, community pharmacy experience I do not remember seeing many prescriptions for morphine solution. MST and Sevredol seemed to be more commonly used.

If there is evidence that lax repeat prescribing of morphine solution is causing addiction, then of course it should be reclassified. I do not believe there is any evidence of a problem, which is why it has not been reclassified when other drugs have been after their addictive potentials were recognised.

I am, however, prepared to be proved wrong if someone has hard evidence.

Sally Haynes
Birmingham

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