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Re: Diamorphine

Posted by ed_uk on March 29, 2005, at 17:37:04

In reply to Re: Pharmacy, posted by Phillipa on March 29, 2005, at 16:58:39

Hello,

At the moment there is a shortage of diamorphine (heroin) in the UK. Even under these circumstances, pharmacies are not allowed to dispense unused diamorphine ampoules that have been returned to the pharmacy. Since diamorphine ampoules are most commonly used to treat severe pain in patients with cancer, unused diamorphine amps are commonly returned to the pharmacy after a patient has died. Even if the ampoules were dispensed the day before, the pharmacy would not be allowed to re-issue them. This seems somewhat inappropriate given the current shortage.

A pharmacist said....

'Of course, it is true that “poor storage may have been such that it [diamorphine] is no longer efficacious or stable”. It is equally likely that storage has been perfectly adequate. Can one not inquire into these matters?'

Common sense should prevail!

To cope with the shortage, hospital pharmacies are only dispensing diamorphine to terminally ill patients. Other patients are being treated with morphine, oxycodone or fentanyl instead.

Ed.


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/477347.html