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The Prescrire Awards for 2009

The independent French journal's take on the year's
top Drugs, Packaging and Information

The 2009 Prescrire Packaging Awards

The Packaging Awards focus on the packaging quality of drugs evaluated during the previous year in the New Products section of Prescrire's French edition (issues 303 to 314 for 2009).

PACKAGING AWARDS
NOT ATTRIBUTED IN 2009
YELLOW CARDS
Coversyl° tablets Servier (perindopril)
Bipreterax° and Preterax° tablets Servier (perindopril+indapamide)		 For the change in the way the perindopril dose is worded on the label, leading to a 20% increase in dosing specifications, even though the perindopril dose per tablet has barely changed. This represents a potential source of confusion and dosing errors. And for the switch from blister packs to bulk bottles without a childproof safety cap, creating a risk of overdose, especially in children (Rev Prescrire 313).
Vicks Expectorant adultes° syrup Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals (guaifenesin) For the poor legibility of the labelling information on the box; for example, the lack of contrast (white print on a metallic background) for useful information such as indications, making it difficult for patients to read the label and obtain the information they need for use of this over-the-counter medication (Rev Prescrire 306).
Tiorfanor° tablets Bioprojet (racecadotril) For the misleading promotional nature of the patient leaflet, which states that racecadotril is (our translation) “a very effective drug”, while it provides no more than a limited reduction in stool frequency. This misleading claim may make patients neglect the need for rehydration (Rev Prescrire 307).
Betaine citrate Cristers° granules Cristers (betaine citrate) For minimising and scattering inadequate information printed on and inside the box (there is no proper patient leaflet), and the total lack of labelling on the sachets containing the granules, other than the lot number and expiry date (Rev Prescrire 311).
RED CARDS
Zarontin° syrup Pfizer (ethosuximide) For the lack of dosing device in the box containing the bottle of this antiepileptic drug. The use of an ordinary spoon, as recommended in the patient leaflet, is a source of imprecise dosing, especially under-dosing, with a risk of seizure relapse (Rev Prescrire 309).
Nplate° powder for injectable solution Amgen (romiplostim) For the ambiguous labelling of the "250 µg" dose strength (the bottle actually contains 375 µg of romiplostim), and the lack of a precise and appropriate dosing device. Together, these flaws represent a potential source of error during dose preparation. This is particularly problematic for an injectable drug that increases the platelet count (Rev Prescrire 311).
Prialt° 100 µg/1 ml and 500 µg/5 ml solution for intraspinal infusion Eisai (ziconotide) For the inadequate information provided on the labelling: the total amount of ziconotide is not shown on the main face of the box, the INN is not mentioned on the bottle labels, and the words "solution for infusion" and "intraspinal route" are printed separately on the boxes. These represent sources of confusion that could lead to errors during dose preparation or in the choice of the route of administration (Rev Prescrire 312).
© Prescrire April 2010
Source: Prescrire Int 2010; 19 (106): 87.