The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7398 p503
29 April 2006

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· Branded prescribing
· Antibiotics
· PSNC
· Medicines use reviews
· New technologies
· Boots/Alliance merger
· The profession
· Section 60 Order
· The Society (3)
· Information
· Health committee

Letters to the Editor

Antibiotics

Consider each case on its own merits

From Mr F. Royle, MRPharmS

Although many of Minh-Loc Truong’s points (PJ, 15 April, p439) regarding the dispensing of antibiotic powders that require reconstitution are valid, it could be countered that his final point about issues of patient confidence is, perhaps, unjustified. Patients trust their pharmacist to provide medicines that are safe, evidence-based and effective. That is our job.

Supplying these medicines to patients in their powder form potentially gives rise to a host of issues. Do we supply the required volume of water with the medicine? Do we need to supply an accurate measuring device for patients to measure the correct volume of water required? How do we ensure the medicine is provided “child-proof” if the product is not pre-packaged with a child-resistant closure? Are patients happy to do this aspect of the dispensing?

It may be more convenient for a pharmacist to hand over an antibiotic powder for reconstitution and say “do it yourself” but we owe our patients more than that. I am not an overzealous, nanny-state pharmacist — I deal with one woman who makes up the antibiotics herself for her son, who has cystic fibrosis. The central issue is about helping patients make the best use of their medicines. If that involves supplying the antibiotic in its powder form, so be it. However, I find it hard to believe that this proposal would aid patients. Each case must be considered on its own merits.

Finlay Royle
Cardiff

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