Press release: Medicines regulator informs healthcare professionals about prescribing UK beclometasone dipropionate CFC-free inhalers for asthma

Press release

Date:
Time:
Subject:	CFC-free inhalers
Contact:	Press Office 020 7084 3535/3564 or press.office@mhra.gsi.gov.uk Out-of-hours 07770 446 189

The Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has written to healthcare professionals today about the
prescribing of CFC-free inhalers to treat asthma. There are two CFC-free inhalers available on the UK market which contain the active substance beclometasone dipropionate, called Clenil Modulite and Qvar.  However these two inhalers have been designed differently and provide different quantities of the active drug to the lungs. Qvar is approximately twice as potent as Clenil Modulite.

It is important that this is taken into account, and doses adjusted accordingly, to ensure that patients receive an appropriately effective dose and to prevent potential safety concerns arising if patients are either switched from a CFC containing inhaler to a CFC–free inhaler, particularly the more potent Qvar, or if patients are switched from one CFC-free inhaler to the other CFC-free inhaler.

For this reason, the MHRA is alerting healthcare professionals to this and to help ensure that the intended inhaler is prescribed and dispensed.  The MHRA is asking doctors and any other prescribers of inhalers for asthma to state clearly on the prescription which product should be dispensed by using the brand name (Clenil Modulite or Qvar) rather than prescribing the inhaler by using the generic name, beclometasone dipropionate CFC-free inhaler.  If a pharmacist receives a generic prescription for a beclometasone dipropionate inhaler, they should establish whether a CFC-free product is required, and if so, which of the two available branded products should be dispensed.

Notes to Editors:

1. Further information for healthcare professionals, including a Q&A document, can be viewed on the MHRA website (www.mhra.gov.uk) or on the Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk).

2. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe.  The MHRA keeps watch over medicines and devices, and takes any necessary action to protect the public promptly if problems arise.  No product is risk-free. Underpinning all of their work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks.

Notes to Editor