31 January 2010

There's Nothing in it:


Further to my last post - I decided to email Boots to find out what kind of 'interactions' there may be between paracetamol & homeopathic remedies.


Here are copies of the emails:


From me:

I read the info sheet in a package of paracetamol caplets and on the sheet it said: If you are unsure about interactions with any other medicines, talk to your pharmacist. This includes medicines prescribed by your doctor and medicine you have bought, including herbal and homeopathic remedies. What kind of interactions could there be with homeopathic remedies? Those 'remedies' are either sugar pills or water.
Many thanks

Michael Mills

From Boots:

Dear Michael

Thank you for taking the time to write to me regarding the interactions statement on the leaflet for Boots Paracetamol 500 mg Caplets (PL 17907/0001). Boots Paracetamol 500 mg Caplets are a licensed medicine and as such the labelling of the product is reviewed and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (known as the MHRA), which is the UK medicines regulator. The statement referring to "medicines prescribed by your doctor and medicine you have bought for yourself, including herbal and homoeopathic remedies" is a statutory statement that must be included in the leaflet to alert users of the product to potential interactions with medicines obtained from a variety of sources. Therefore, the statutory statement is designed to alert the user to inform the Healthcare Professional, such as a Pharmacist or Doctor, of all concurrent medication as it is the responsibility of the Healthcare Professional to review the potential for interactions between medicines and advise the user accordingly. I hope that this information is of use to you.


Regards

Paul Williams MRPharmS

Medical Information (Pharmacist) Officer

Medical Services



Notice - no answer to my question on interactions.



Next (short & sweet) from me:



Dear Paul Williams MRPharmS So as a pharmicist - can you tell me what potential interactions there may be with homeopathic remedies?

Thanks
Mike Mills



Boots' (Paul's) reply:



Dear Michael

Thank you for you further e-mail regarding the leaflet for Boots Paracetamol 500 mg Caplets (PL 17907/0001) and interactions with homoeopathic remedies. I am afraid that although I am a Pharmacist when acting as a Medical Information Officer for a Marketing Authorisation (or license) holder I am obliged to only answer specific enquiries relating to Boots Brand licensed medicines from the clinical information that we hold on file. I can confirm that according to the clinical information we hold on file for Boots Paracetamol 500 mg Caplets (PL 17907/0001) no interactions with Homoeopathic remedies have been reported. However, the clinical information is based on information derived from reports made by Healthcare Professionals and from literature searches. Therefore, although no interactions have been reported this does not mean that the potential for an interaction to occur can be ruled out. Therefore, it is important that users of the product, if concerned about interactions, are directed to speak to a Healthcare Professional about all concurrent medication who can review all of the available data and make a judgment for an individual. If you wish to speak to a Pharmacist in general about interactions with Homoeopathic remedies then of course you can speak to a Boots Pharmacist in store who can give you personal medical advice.
Regards
Paul Williams MRPharmS

Medical Information (Pharmacist) Officer

Medical Services




Bit worried now that he said ' I am a Pharmacist when acting as a Medical Information Officer'. I wonder what he is when not acting as a Medical Information Officer.



My last (so far) email:



Hi again and thanks for being prompt in your replies.
Should I be concerned then that there may be interactions between paracetamol and milk (lactose), sugar or water? I only want a bit of clarification on this as homeopathic remedies are diluted so much that the only thing left in the water used in making these, is water. The pills themselves are either made of lactose or sugar.

Again many thanks
Mike Mills



Am waiting for the next reply.



Of course there can't be interactions with the unless it is an interaction with lactose or sugar, because in homeopathy - there's nothing in it!



Photo above is from the 10:23 mass overdosing at Red Lion Square, London - 30 Jan 10

28 January 2010

Useless Warning

I get headaches - I take ibuprofen & paracetamol to get rid of them. Yesterday I looked at the information sheet that was included in a pack of paracetamol caplets from Boots, the British pharmacy. Included in the info was a warning to contact the pharmacist for any interactions if taking any other drugs - prescribed, over the counter, herbal & homeopathic.

Homeopathic??? Does this mean that I nee
d to ask if there might be an interaction if I take a candy drop & paracetamol?

Bloody heck!
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of this post for
a related blog by
PodBlack Cat.