| MHRA approves OTC sale of naproxen | Posted on 03/04/2008 in Pharmacy / Pharmacist News The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has approved the sale of naproxen tablets over the counter (OTC) of pharmacies.
Currently, the drug - used to relieve period pain - is only available through prescription but from April 14th it will be more easily available.
The MHRA highlighted estimates which suggest between 40 and 70 per cent of women suffer from pain during their menstrual cycles, while as many as ten per cent find the pain can interfere with their daily activities.
Before it recommended the approval, the Commission on Human Medicines considered the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and concluded that for such women the benefits outweigh the risks.
Dr June Raine, director of vigilance and risk management of medicines at the MHRA, spoke positively of the move.
"Period pain is a condition which can be successfully managed by women themselves. OTC naproxen will expand the choice of treatments available for this common condition from pharmacies," she said.
Recently the MHRA issued advice to parents of babies and toddlers, suggesting that certain OTC cough medicines were unsafe for children under the age of two.Other news stories from 03/04/2008
Read more in the Zenopa News Archive
How this news is generated
|  |
|
