Beclometasone inhalers to be discontinued, says GSK
Becotide and Becloforte inhalers are being discontinued, GlaxoSmithKline has announced.
Becotide 50µg, 100µg and 200µg and Becloforte 260µg
metered dose inhalers will be discontinued in the third quarter of 2007,
the company said this week. Because a range of other beclometasone inhalers
are available, GSK said it does not expect the discontinuation to affect
patient care. However, it adds, transfer to another inhaler may mean
that patients’ doses have to be changed. “Patients who are
switched to a different device or medicine should be monitored frequently,” the
company added.
The discontinuation will have far-reaching consequences across both primary
and secondary care, Hannah George, respiratory specialist pharmacist
at Royal Liverpool University Hospital NHS Trust, told The Journal. “Many
patients will have to be changed over to another beclometasone preparation,
most likely a CFC-free product, which may not necessarily be equipotent,” she
said.
“It is of paramount importance that patients are adequately counselled
over the switch. Pharmacists can also monitor patients for any signs
and symptoms of changes in asthma control and advise the patient accordingly.
We also need to ensure when dispensing prescriptions for inhaled beclometasone,
especially CFC-free products, that we are 100 per cent sure of the intended
preparation.” |
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