BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Prescribing and sale of ophthalmic chloramphenicol following reclassification to over-the-counter availability. 2010

Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Public Health Wales, Temple of Peace and Health Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, Cathays Park, Cardiff, UK. roger.walker@wales.nhs.uk

OBJECTIVE The impact of over-the-counter (OTC) availability of chloramphenicol eye drops and eye ointment was investigated on the prescribing and overall supply of ophthalmic chloramphenicol in primary care. METHODS Primary care prescription data for ophthalmic chloramphenicol and ophthalmic antibacterials in England and Wales were analysed from December 2003 (month 1) to September 2008 (month 58). OTC data were analysed from June 2005 when the first OTC product was launched (months 19 to 58). RESULTS In the 40 months following reclassification more than 2.9 million packs (53.9 per 1000 population) of chloramphenicol were sold in England and 152024 (51.7 per 1000 population) in Wales. In the 12 months to September 2008 sales of the drops and ointment were 67 and 40% of their respective prescription volumes in England. In Wales sales of drops were 52% and ointment 26% of their respective prescription volumes. The number of chloramphenicol packs sold was 2.2 times greater than the calculated reduction in ophthalmic antibacterial prescription items in England and 2.9 times greater than the reduction seen in Wales. CONCLUSIONS Following the reclassification of chloramphenicol there have been significant increases in the supply of the ophthalmic antibacterials in both England and Wales.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011307 Drug Prescriptions Directions written for the obtaining and use of DRUGS. Drug Prescribing,Drug Prescription,Drug Prescribings,Prescribing, Drug,Prescribings, Drug
D002701 Chloramphenicol An antibiotic first isolated from cultures of Streptomyces venequelae in 1947 but now produced synthetically. It has a relatively simple structure and was the first broad-spectrum antibiotic to be discovered. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis and is mainly bacteriostatic. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p106) Cloranfenicol,Kloramfenikol,Levomycetin,Amphenicol,Amphenicols,Chlornitromycin,Chlorocid,Chloromycetin,Detreomycin,Ophthochlor,Syntomycin
D003231 Conjunctivitis INFLAMMATION of the CONJUNCTIVA. Pink Eye,Conjunctivitides,Pink Eyes
D004363 Drug Utilization The utilization of drugs as reported in individual hospital studies, FDA studies, marketing, or consumption, etc. This includes drug stockpiling, and patient drug profiles. Utilization, Drug,Drug Utilizations,Utilizations, Drug
D004366 Nonprescription Drugs Medicines that can be sold legally without a DRUG PRESCRIPTION. Drugs, Non-Prescription,Non-Prescription Drug,Nonprescription Drug,OTC Drug,OTC Drugs,Over-the-Counter Drug,Over-the-Counter Drugs,Patent Medicine,Patent Medicines,Drugs, Nonprescription,Medicines, Patent,Non-Prescription Drugs,Drug, Non-Prescription,Drug, Nonprescription,Drug, OTC,Drug, Over-the-Counter,Drugs, Non Prescription,Drugs, OTC,Drugs, Over-the-Counter,Medicine, Patent,Non Prescription Drug,Non Prescription Drugs,Over the Counter Drug,Over the Counter Drugs
D004739 England A part of Great Britain within the United Kingdom.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000900 Anti-Bacterial Agents Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA. Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D014852 Wales A region of the United Kingdom, in the southwestern area of Great Britain.

Related Publications

Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
An investigation of prescription and over-the-counter supply of ophthalmic chloramphenicol in Wales in the 5 years following reclassification.
February 2014, The International journal of pharmacy practice,
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Prescription to over-the-counter drug reclassification.
May 1998, American family physician,
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Chloramphenicol over the counter.
March 1973, Lancet (London, England),
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Chloramphenicol over the counter.
January 1973, Lancet (London, England),
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Over-the-counter sale of antibiotics.
June 1995, The New Zealand medical journal,
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
OVER-THE-COUNTER SALE OF SULFONAMIDE DRUGS.
April 1945, Science (New York, N.Y.),
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Over-the-counter sale of rabies vaccine.
July 1993, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Over the counter sale of topical corticosteroids.
October 1985, British medical journal (Clinical research ed.),
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Over the counter sale of topical corticosteroids.
August 1985, British medical journal (Clinical research ed.),
Roger Walker, and Anne Hinchliffe
Over-the-counter sale of drugs and vaccines.
February 1995, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Copied contents to your clipboard!