The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7347 p517
30 April 2005

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 75K, Acrobat Reader

· Dispensing doctors
· Council election (5)
· GlaxoSmithKline
· Statins
· Salamol
· Supervision
· The Society
· The Journal

Letters to the Editor

Statins

Interactions not being taken into account

From Mr. J. G. Landers, MRPharmS

Some health professionals are not taking statin interactions into account sufficiently. I had to advise a friend into reducing his consumption of grapefruit juice, now that his cardiologist has prescribed atorvastatin.

An eminent urologist, wanting to give me antibiotic cover for a biopsy, questioned me only about allergies before prescribing erythromycin. If I had previously bought simvastatin from a pharmacist conscientious enough to notify my GP, this news still might not have reached the consultant.

Pharmacists who sell or dispense statins should ensure that patients are aware of such matters. Whenever a middle-aged person (who may also shop elsewhere) presents an erythromycin or clarithromycin prescription, a question about statin use should be asked.

George Landers
Crete, Greece

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (GlaxoSmithKline)
Next Topic (Salamol)