The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7503 p625
24 May 2008

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• New professional body
• Fitness to practise
• Medicines use reviews (MURs)
• Workload
• Disciplinary procedures
• Ergocalciferol
• Furosemide
• Ophthalmology

Letters to the Editor

Ergocalciferol

Supply problems and bone health

From Mr C. R. Jenkins, MRPharmS, and Mr T. P. House, MRPharmS

The current supply problem with ergocalciferol preparations (UCB Pharma) has left specialists in bone medicine and rheumatology without a key weapon in their treatment arsenal. It is disappointing that no other manufacturers in the UK are able to take over the production until UCB Pharma can continue supplying in the normal way.

That leaves us without what could be the drug of first choice — a high-dose oral and/or injectable colecalciferol preparation. It is interesting that the only forms available in this country are in lower doses combined with other medication, when higher-dose preparations are used commonly in other countries.

Oral colecalciferol is said to result in about 70 per cent higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D than an equivalent amount of ergocalciferol, which could benefit patients with absorption difficulties, such as those with short bowel disease and some elderly patients.

With recent developments to support bone health, no one has stepped forward to provide one of the key medicines in its most useful form. Is any manufacturer willing to invest in such a product?

Chris Jenkins
Tim House
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge

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