Healthy living
Medicines and supplements
Pharmacy news, March 2008
Ailsa Colquoun reports on the yellow card scheme, Parkinson's disease drugs, an antibiotics campaign and more
Sex addiction research
Scientists are to research the reasons why people taking certain drugs for Parkinson’s disease may also become addicted to gambling, sex, shopping and binge eating.
The study will focus on the effects of a class of anti-Parkinson’s drugs called dopamine agonists, the most commonly prescribed of which are: pramipexole dihydrochloride (Mirapexin), ropinirole hydrochloride (Requip), pergolide mesilate (Celance), bromocriptine mesilate (Parlodel), cabergoline (Cabaser, Dostinex), rotigotine (Neupro) and apomorphine hydrochloride (APO-go).
Up to 14 per cent of patients taking these drugs are affected by this sort of compulsive behaviour, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Society (PDS). They are spending around £640,000 to find out what brain functions are particularly linked to addiction and compulsive behaviour, and which patients are most at risk, in an effort to improve prescribing and drug development.
In the meantime, to help PD patients manage their drugs while they are in hospital, the PDS is offering free washbags, containing special forms that will help patients with the condition explain their medication needs to hospital staff. Containing written details of your medication regime and useful local contacts, the washbags are available free from the PDS by calling Sharward Services on 01473 212115, or by emailing services@sharward.co.uk.
Medicines linked to depression
Medicine regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are warning that three different types of medicine, one of which is statins, can individually cause depression.
In new health warnings appearing on all statins, users are warned that the drugs may sometimes lead to depression, sleep disturbances, memory loss and sexual problems. They have made the connection after studying a wide range of clinical trial data, spontaneous reports of suspected adverse drug reactions and published literature, but even so, they still believe that the heart health benefits of taking statins still outweigh all these risks for most people. They say that anyone who’s concerned should speak to their pharmacist or doctor.
New health warnings are also going to appear in packs of Champix, the new anti-smoking drug that works on the brain, warning that use of the drug is associated with mood problems. During the product’s first year on the market, medicine watchdogs received over 1,200 reports of suspected adverse reactions relating to the drug. Of these nearly three per cent were to do with suicidal thoughts, and a further 2.5 per cent each relating to depression and anxiety. However, medicine watchdogs also make clear that these are only suspected reactions, which could also be linked to factors such as nicotine withdrawal, other illnesses, or other medicines being taken by the patient. Anyone taking the drug who develops suicidal thoughts should stop their treatment and contact their doctor immediately.
Now on your supermarket shelves
New medicines for treating hereditary hair loss, denture and toothache pain and athlete’s foot will be appearing in supermarkets soon.
Medicines watchdogs have decided that it is now safe for retailers other than pharmacists to sell Orajel Mouth Gel (containing the local anaethestic benzocaine) to treat pain and tenderness associated with mouth ulcers or from wearing dentures, and a gel version of the Regaine hereditary hair loss treatment for men and women. Instead of having to go to a pharmacy, people with athlete’s foot will also now be able to go to their supermarket and pick up Canesten AF Bifonazole Once Daily Athlete’s Foot Cream. Supermarkets will also be allowed to sell hydrocortisone creams to anyone who has been bitten or stung by an insect,.
In pharmacies, meanwhile, a number of antibacterial eye ointments will soon be available. Look out for Brochlor 1% Eye Ointment, Optrex Infected Eyes Eye Ointment and Galpharmvision Antibiotic Eye Ointment.
Watch out for the yellow cards
Don’t be surprised if your pharmacist wants to know if you are experiencing any side effects from your medications. Medicine regulators are asking pharmacists to encourage patients to report any medicine-related problems. Posters in pharmacies, as well as on information carried inside medicine packets, will all highlight the Yellow Card Scheme. The information collected in this way is designed to help medicine watchdogs understand how people are getting on with the medicines they use, and to take action if a drug is causing problems. People reporting under the scheme will be asked for contact details in case further information is needed. This will be kept safe, secure and confidential, and will not be passed on without express permission.
Antibiotics campaign
Look out also for posters in your GP surgery and pharmacy, and advertising reminding you that antibiotics are no good for colds and flu. Posters, newspaper and magazine advertising and new leaflets have been printed, advising people that the best treatment for colds, coughs or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids, rest and if necessary use an over the counter remedy. Further information on the best use of antibiotics can be found here.
More pharmacy news
- Pharmacy news January 2008: alternatives to statins, free prescriptions for Scotland and more
- Pharmacy news February 2008: joint relief, bladder weakness and more
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
