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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The government is planning to make certain prescription-only drugs for common problems available to the public over the counter. Healthcare professionals, however, are not happy with the idea.
The drugs in question are trimethoprim, an antibiotic often used to treat women with urinary infection cystitis, and tamsulosin (Flomax), used to treat enlarged prostate glands. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the organization regulating them.
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A survey of 251 readers of the monthly publication Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB), the majority of who are healthcare professionals working in primary care, was conducted to find out their thoughts on making the medications available to the public without a prescription.
Almost two-thirds (64.5 percent) of the respondents said making trimethoprim available in pharmacies without a prescription is a bad idea. Many (58.2 percent) cited an increase in antibiotic resistance as their main concern. Even more respondents -- four out of five (79.7 percent) -- disagreed with making tamsulosin available over the counter. Most (roughly 73 percent) are concerned about patients misdiagnosing themselves.
Many also thought the switch would only benefit drug companies. Thirty-two percent thought this about trimethoprim and just over half felt this about tamsulosin.
"The survey indicates major concerns about proposals to make certain medicines available without prescription," Dr. Ike Iheanacho, editor of DTB Healthcare, was quoted as saying. Professionals seem largely unconvinced that these changes would provide net benefits to patients. They are also skeptical about the motives underlying the proposed switches. We believe that the regulator must take such worries seriously."
SOURCE: British Medical Journal, January 2009
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