End of contract for Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin: Choices

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1273-b

BMJ 2006;332:1273 (27 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1273-b

Letter

End of contract for Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin

Choices

EDITOR—In the February 2005 issue of the Drug and TherapeuticsBulletin I learnt that the cost of oxycodone is four times thecost of regular long acting morphine, without any special advantagein terms of efficacy or tolerability. I adjusted my practiceaccordingly. The bulletin's opinion has been confirmed in arecent meta-analysis from the Marsden Hospital in London andBristol University.¹

I could quote many other examples like this, which leads meto ask: if saving money is the issue, why kill one of the fewpractical and respected sources of rational prescribing?² Thelogic supporting this choice seems to me as puzzling as extendingpub hours to reduce antisocial drinking.

Piero Baglioni, consultant physician

Prince Charles Hospital Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan CF47 9DT piero.baglioni{at}nglam-tr.nhs.uk

Competing interests: None declared.

References

Reid CM, Martin RM, Sterne JAC, Davies AN, Hanks GW. Oxycodone for cancer-related pain: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 2006;166: 837.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Brettingham M. Department of Health ends contract with drugs bulletin. BMJ 2006;332: 1109. (13 May.)[Free Full Text]