Pharmacists are using outdated product information and protocols when it comes to dispensing the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), a new survey reveals.
Lecturer at Monash University’s Department of Pharmacy Practice, Dr Safeera Hussainy, told Pharmacy eNews the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) information for the ECP did not reflect the latest findings.
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Dr Hussainy’s survey found many pharmacists were misinformed about how long after unprotected intercourse the drug could be effectively used as a result of out-of-date advice from the TGA and conflicting dispensing protocols.
“A lot of pharmacists were not willing to supply the ECP in certain circumstances and that included to women who were less than 16 years of age, if unprotected intercourse had taken place more than 72 hours ago, for future use and if they believed the woman was repeatedly using it in the same menstrual cycle.
“The issue of more than 72 hours is because the TGA has approved the ECP for up to 72 hours… however the literature actually shows that is can be used up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.
“That’s where the problem arises and perhaps the TGA product information has to change to reflect that literature,” she said.
Dr Hussainy added there was a need for one definitive dispensing protocol to be set up for the ECP, after the survey found pharmacists were using 13 different and conflicting protocols to assist them when dispensing the drug.
She added a discussion with pharmacy was needed to deal with the issues of “advanced supply”.
“Pharmacists haven’t really been presented with that before, so it hasn’t been discussed in a wide forum and that needs to occur.
“If someone comes in and they’ve a history of suffering from headaches and a pharmacist [can] provide something for them to have on hand if they get a migraine headache, then why not the ECP?” she asked.
Dr Hussainy`s survey follows on from research by Melissa Hobbs from the Mother and Child Health Research Centre at La Trobe University reported in yesterday`s Pharmacy eNews.
