Practice guidance published on the over-the-counter supply of sumatriptan
Practice guidance for pharmacists on the over-the-counter supply of
sumatriptan for migraine (PDF 80K) has been published by the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society following the reclassification
of sumatriptan 50mg tablets from prescription-only medicine (POM)
to pharmacy (P) medicine status (see p613).
The guidance begins by listing the classes of patient who should be referred
to a GP rather than supplied with the OTC product. It goes on to discuss
the OTC indications for sumatriptan, how the drug works, the symptoms
of true migraine, when sumatriptan may be counterprescribed and how the
tablets should be taken. It concludes with information about cautions,
contraindications, adverse effects and drug interactions.
The guidance also includes a migraine management flowchart and a panel
setting out 12 main “practice points”.
Sid Dajani, chairman of the Council’s Practice Committee, said: “This
guidance will be a valuable tool for community pharmacists, who are ideally
placed to professionally assess if patients experiencing migraine attacks
may be suitable for sumatriptan over-the-counter supply.”
The OTC sumatriptan guidance can be downloaded from the practice
guidance page within the practice section of the Society’s
website. Copies of the guidance, in the form of a double-sided varnished
card,
are to be distributed with The Pharmaceutical Journal next week to all
pharmacists who, according to the Society’s records, are practising
in community or hospital pharmacy. They will also receive a second card
bearing the Society’s practice guidance (PDF 90K)
on OTC amorolfine nail lacquer (PJ, 20 May, p579).
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