The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7339 p268
5 March 2005

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 75K, Acrobat Reader

· Problem-based learning
· Support staff (2)
· Co-proxamol
· Mental health
· New contract
· Repeat dispensing
· Overseas pharmacists (2)
· Registration
· Recruitment
· The profession

Letters to the Editor

Co-proxamol

Risk:benefit ratio unacceptable

From Mrs C. L. Cooke, MRPharmS

In their letter to The Journal (19 February, p206), S. Nazmeen and others seem to have missed the point regarding co-proxamol. Their comment that co-proxamol “has a well-proven efficacy” is contrary to the advice issued by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CEM/CMO/2005/2) on 31 January, which states: “There is no robust evidence that efficacy of this combination product is superior to full strength paracetamol.”

If co-proxamol was more effective than paracetamol alone, one would have thought that the product Doloxene, containing the single ingredient dextropropoxyphene, would have been more widely prescribed in its day and would not have been discontinued. My 27th edition Martindale (1977) (pp957–8) cites evidence that it was no more effective than aspirin or codeine and possibly less so.

Clearly the risk:benefit ratio is unacceptable and I consider it would be professionally negligent to allow co-proxamol to remain available.

Catherine Cooke
Clevedon, Somerset

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Support staff)
Next Topic (Mental health)