Medicines

Pharmacy bodies challenge Environment Agency’s ‘outrageous’ proposals to increase waste charges

Community Pharmacy England and the National Pharmacy Association have opposed the Environment Agency's proposals, arguing that pharmacies would not be able to pass the costs on to patients.…

Coroner raises concerns over pharmacists being unable to amend prescriptions following death of toddler

Rules that prevent pharmacists from issuing any alternate strengths of medicines led to a delay in a two-year-old child receiving antibiotics.…

Third of asthma inhalers without dose counters returned for recycling when half full, study finds

Researchers found that inhalers with dose counters were much more likely to be returned empty (51.3%) compared with those without counters (25.1%).…

PrEP pilot underway in five community pharmacies across south west England

The University of Bristol-led pilot is aimed to address inequalities in access to pre-exposure prophylaxis.…

Optimising use of SGLT2 inhibitors in hospital patients

How pharmacists can evaluate SGLT2 inhibitor use in hospitalised patients with a well-balanced approach so that patients can simultaneously benefit from SGLT2 inhibitors and the reduction of diabetic ketoacidosis risk.…

National Pharmacy Board meeting: 7 November 2024

An overview of the latest open meetings of the national pharmacy boards.…

Access to PrEP from community pharmacies could be piloted from autumn 2025

Exclusive: The Welsh government said it would explore pharmacist involvement in a pilot scheme designed to improve access to pre-exposure prophylaxis in the community.…

RPS raises concerns after draft HIV guidance recommends unregulated website for purchasing PrEP

The guidance suggests options to patients who are unable or unwilling to access PrEP on the NHS and calls for community pharmacies to “support greater equity” in accessing the drug.…

First UK-wide joint asthma guideline recommends combination treatment for new diagnoses

The guideline recommends that all asthma patients over the age of 12 should be prescribed low dosages of inhaled corticosteroids and formoterol to address inflammation and symptoms.…

Adrenal insufficiency: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management

Patients with adrenal insufficiency are at risk of life-threatening adrenal crises. It is vital that pharmacists know how to treat this rare condition appropriately.…