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Medicines use reviews (MURs) for asthma patients have shown positive results.
The "easy to understand" language used by pharmacists during MURs has helped patients to better understand their condition and medicines, and manage their asthma more confidently.
Also, patients who required a change in their current medication could be identified and referred to the appropriate health practitioner.
Recent studies suggest that aspirin may have an additional benefit besides its pain relief and cardiovascular benefits. Evidence suggests that an aspirin a day may reduce the risk of cancer and cancer mortality.
It's thought that these possible anti-cancer properties may be due to asprin's effect on the inflammation process by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase enzymes.
However, does this benefit outweigh aspirin's serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke?
More research is required.
The first and only available belonging to the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is available as a POM.
Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate) is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, either alone or in combination with meformin or thiozolidinediones (TZDs). It works by increasing levels of incretin hormones which inhibit glucagon release and increases insulin secretion.
However, Januvia is not effective in type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Fortunately, the drug has few side effects. The most common reported during clinical trials were headache, stuffy/runny nose, sore throat and upper respiratory tract infection.
Is reclassification of pseudoephedrine to a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) really the right way to go?
The classification of pseudoephedrine, a drug sold by pharmacists for many years to people for use as a decongestant, may change. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has decided to reclassify pseudoephedrine from a P (over-the-counter) sold product to a POM. Why? Because of the drug's potential to be converted into a methylamphetamine.
There have been many debates against this decision. Some say it will restrict the availability of one of the most effective decongestants from people who want treat sinusitis and other nasel congestion. Others think this is a necessary move to pre-empt the abuse of the drug.
But why should pseudoephedrine be reclassified to a POM, when drugs like codeine, cyclizine and morphine (which are even more prone to abuse) are still available as Ps?
Until the final decision is made, the National Pharmacy Associateion (NPA) has advised pharmacists to continue supplying pseudoephedrine products as P medicines and report any unusual requests to the police.