Calci-D chewable tablets reclassified from a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to a Pharmacy (P).

[helvella]

Just for information. Note, this seems to be the first such 1000 IU product.

Public Assessment Report of the reclassification of Calci-D chewable tablets from a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to a Pharmacy (P).

This PAR covers the assessment of an application to reclassify Calci-D chewable tablets from Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to Pharmacy (P) medicine.

Details

Calci-D chewable tablets can be used for the correction of calcium and Vitamin D deficiency in the elderly. Calci-D may also be used as an adjunct to specific therapy for osteoporosis, in patients with either established vitamin D and calcium combined deficiencies or in those patients at high risk of needing such therapeutic supplements.

Each chewable tablet contains 2500mg calcium carbonate (equivalent to 1000mg calcium) and 1000 I.U. (equivalent to 0.025mg) cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3).

The licence holder , Consilient Health Limited, applied to change the legal status of this medicine from a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to a Pharmacy (P) medicine (see Background for definition).

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) considers this product sufficiently safe to be sold as a pharmacy medicine. This report outlines the evidence that the MHRA reviewed and which led to the decision to approve the application.

Published 7 October 2021

gov.uk/government/publicati...

[shaws Administrator]

That's good as it makes it much easier to source. Lots of people don't get sufficient Vitamin D, unless they live in a sunny part of the world.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

They may not need the calcium though Shaws

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Exactly my thoughts. Not a particularly good idea to have these OTC in my opinion.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

I agree. If people are deficient in Vitamin D they can get 1000 IU of D3 OTC, preferably with Vit K

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Let us hope that as this is a P medicine and requires a pharmacist to OK sales, they will understand and only sell when appropriate.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Hope so 👍

[Hidden]

I take Calcichew D3 for Osteoporosis. 500 mg Calcium / 400 IU D3. Prescribed two a day. Think I’ll ask my GP to prescribe the ones you refer to for convenience.

[mistydog in reply to Hidden]

They won't, because they're OTC meds

[helvella Administrator in reply to mistydog]

I don't understand that.

Calcichew-D3 Forte 500 mg/400 IU Chewable Tablets Legal Category P: Pharmacy

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Which is exactly the same status as the newly-reclassified 2500mg /1000 I.U.

Why would they currently prescribe 500/400 and then refuse 2500/1000?

(I'd understand if they refused to prescribe 500/400 at all.)

[mistydog in reply to helvella]

None of it's rational, it's NHS cuts

[helvella Administrator in reply to mistydog]

But what is being cut? I am perplexed!

[mistydog in reply to helvella]

It's the same as paracetamol, they used to prescribe it in large quantities, but now we are told to buy it. The stupid process that means someone paying for a prescription costs so much that it's cheaper to buy it ,it's a joke

[Partner20 in reply to mistydog]

I think that this particular combination med is still prescribable, as it is the cheap single D3 supplements which have been taken off the prescribing list, just like, as you correctly state, paracetamol. Simple pain killers, antihistamines, cotton wool, etc., why should the NHS foot the bill for these things which are cheaply available otc? Also, why would any of the few who actually pay for their prescriptions choose to pay well over the odds for these items? Although there was controversy about the removal of certain items from the permitted prescribing list, there was a great deal of logic behind it.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Partner20]

There are issues, though.

For one, when a doctor prescribes a medicine, you get what they say you should.

If they simply say "get some calci-chew", you could end up getting ones with or without vitamin D, and (quite possibly) have someone say that another make is "the same" but cheaper.

If it is right for GPs to not prescribe (as in write an NHS prescription), I feel it is nonetheless right for them to provide a written (typed/printed) note saying what they want you to take.

Also, it can be confusing that some medicines, in a single dosage/form, such as Cetirizine hydrochloride 10 mg, are Prescription-only (POM), Pharmacy (P), AND general Sales List (GSL). I can't quite see why but it could be marketing or simply that some companies have not applied for change of status.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

The points you make are correct. It seems to largely depend whether you’re prescribed it or whether you request it.

[Hidden in reply to mistydog]

I think you’re a bit muddled Misty. Depends on the GP

[Hidden in reply to mistydog]

They do prescribe OTC drugs at their discretion. I am prescribed Paracetomol in 100 packs.

The Calcium 500 / Vit D 400 IU which I’ve been prescribed for last 10 years is also available OTC. I also have Laxido prescribed which is available OTC.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

And OTC is not an official classification in the UK!

It is a colloquial term used to include Pharmacy (P) and General Sales List (GSL) medicines.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Yes. It is. Not many people realise that so many products are P products.