LONDON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Britain has given the green light for an oral antibiotic to be sold without prescription for the first time, in a move that pushes back the barriers to self-medication.
Patients aged 16 years and over will be able to buy the azithromycin pill, sold as Clamelle by Icelandic drugmaker Actavis, to treat chlamydia, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Wednesday.
It is designed for use by people who have tested positive for the sexually transmitted infection and have no symptoms. The drug will also be available on an over-the-counter (OTC) basis for their sexual partners.
Up to 70 percent of people who have chlamydia exhibit no symptoms but risk serious long-term health complications, including infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
"Today's move means that symptom-free people diagnosed with chlamydia and their partner will be able to get convenient effective treatment from their local pharmacy," said June Raine, MHRA director of vigilance and risk management of medicines.
The British government has taken a lead in Europe in encouraging self-medication, as a way to increase patient choice and cut state healthcare bills.
The country already allows OTC sales of cholesterol-lowering and migraine drugs, as well as antibiotic eyedrops.
"The MHRA is keen to support the availability of more medicines over-the-counter, where it is safe to do so, and we wish to move on to new areas such as prevention and chronic disease management," Raine said in a statement.
The increasing trend towards self-medication is expected to underpin future growth in the non-prescription medicines sector, which has seen a wave of consolidation.� Leading suppliers of OTC drugs include Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.
Although azithromycin is a generic medicine, only Actavis's branded product Clamelle will be made available OTC from pharmacists. Actavis, which was taken private last year, is working on launch plans for the medicine, as well as a Clamelle-branded chlamydia test kit.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by David Holmes)
[ 06. August 2008, 01:14 AM: Message edited by: charlie ]
Posted by Dawnee (Member # 15089) on :
wow.. wonder if I can now buy from UK online...
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Interesting charlie...thanks for posting. Just for one diagnosis. Wonder if we will import this trend....Can't imagine the doctors would want to share their prescription power!
Posted by herxuk (Member # 15873) on :
This Country, is the most tightest restrictive to live in.
You can't buy sod all in this country for this disease.
This article is misleading, all Medicines in this country are strictly controlled. This to me reads, if you can prove you have this disease, ie VD clinic note, then you show it to Pharmacy. But it amounts to the same thing.
If this government want to save money, why spend millions on undercover plain clothes police, with hidden cameras, to route out any lighting up in pubs, clubs etc.
This article, is a weak show , that the chains are loosening. But I can well see which way the head would nod if I tried to buy some.
HerxUK from big brother country.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
It's certainly a good idea though. If people can self-educate themselves, they should be able to self-treat themselves as well....
With the collection of useless doctors I've seen, I'm even more inspired to do just that...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by herxuk:
You can't buy sod all in this country for this disease.
????what??
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vermont_Lymie: ...Can't imagine the doctors would want to share their prescription power!
Me either!!
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Interesting read. Thanks charlie.
Posted by herxuk (Member # 15873) on :
Self Educate doesn't mean self Medicate, not in this " Nannie Country " as most Brit's call it.
The article states, It is designed for people that have TESTED POSITIVE for the Sexually Transmitted Disease.
That's called FREEDOM. !!!!!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
herx... Please see my question above. Inquiring minds want to know! Posted by herxuk (Member # 15873) on :
What I said was the truth, we have the IDSA Treatment and Tests. And we all know what that mean's.
No Treatment for most. Is that what you want to know. ?
My Antibody Test came back with some Positive on, but not enough to make them happy. So I was told to deal with it myself. Try doing that here. Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I didn't understand about "sod".
Posted by Spiderlily (Member # 15859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: I didn't understand about "sod".
Translation: You can't buy a d**n thing in this country for this disease.
My husband's English, so I speak the language Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks!
Sorry to have taken up so much space!!! Posted by herxuk (Member # 15873) on :
It a common expression used.
These all mean the same thing.
You can't buy bug**r all here. or You can't buy anything here. Do you say these expressions
Your doing my head in. Meaning , Your getting on my nerves.
Sometimes it's used as Sod off. meaning, Go away.
There are many strange expressions, that I try to remember not to use, because of confusion.
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