The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7483 p704
22/29 December 2007

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MHRA issues advice on co-proxamol supply arrangements

It will remain legal for pharmacists to supply co-proxamol that was released into the normal distribution chain before 31 December until the product expiry date has passed, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said earlier this week.

In a position statement issued ahead of the cancellation of all marketing authorisations for co-proxamol at the end of 2007 the MHRA reminded manufacturers that no further stock should be released into the normal distribution chain after this time. It also asked marketing authorisation holders to undertake a voluntary withdrawal of stock from both wholesale distributors and pharmacies.

However, it added: “We recognise that there is a small group of patients who are likely to find it very difficult to change from co-proxamol or where alternatives appear not to be effective or suitable. For these patients, following cancellation of the licences at the end of 2007 there is a provision for the supply of unlicensed co-proxamol, on the responsibility of the prescriber.”