The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7418 p350
16 September 2006

Society summary

Society backs brand name prescribing of beclometasone metered dose inhalers

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has issued a statement supporting the recent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency safety warning on the prescribing of beclometasone metered dose inhalers (PJ, 12 August, p181).

The MHRA safety warning pointed out that Qvar and Clenil Modulite, which are the only chlorofluorocarbon-free beclometasone dipropionate pressurised metered dose inhalers on the UK market, have different delivery characteristics and are therefore not interchangeable.

To ensure that the patient receives the product intended by the prescriber, the MHRA advises that CFC-free beclometasone dipropionate inhalers should be prescribed by brand name.

Sadia Khan, the Society’s lead pharmacist for self-care, says: “Pharmacists receiving a generic prescription for a beclometasone dipropionate pressurised metered dose inhaler, should establish whether a chlorofluorocarbon-free product is required and, if so, which of the two branded products should be dispensed.”