A new offence of driving with certain specified controlled drugs in excess of specified levels is expected to come into force on 2nd March 2015. This offence is an addition to the existing rules on drug impaired driving and fitness to drive. The legislation also provides for a statutory ‘medical defence’ for this new offence, for patients taking their medicines in accordance with instructions.

In preparation for this, the Department of Transport has published guidance for healthcare professionals on drug driving. In line with current professional practice, pharmacists prescribing or supplying medicines take into account the risks of medicines (e.g. whether a patient’s driving may be impaired by their medicines) and advise accordingly. This practice has not changed, but pharmacists will need to be able to explain the new rules concerning this offence to patients.

The guidance can be viewed on the Department for Transport website. Information on whether individual medicines are affected by the new legislation will be added to the Summary of Product Characteristics of the products which are available on the electronic Medicines Compendium.

Despite assurances that there was sufficient stock of Jext autoinjectors, there is now a supply shortage. The alert below  has been provided by the medicines optimisation team to deal with this short term problem. 

ALERT
November 2013
 
Jext® 300microgram Adrenaline Auto-injector
 
Background:
 
ALK-Abelló Ltd have made us aware aware of a shortage of Jext 300microgram adrenaline auto-injectors. The shortage may last until mid-December, but will hopefully be resolved sooner.
The shortage has been caused by a much higher than expected prescription rate in the UK in September, coupled with the adoption of Jext in France, to replace Anapen.  In order to maximise shelf-life of the devices in patients’ hands, ALK have minimised stockholding in the UK, so there is very little buffer stock in the supply chain. ALK have assured us that they are making every effort to resolve the issue, and understand the difficulty that this causes at a crucial stage in the roll-out of the change from Epipen to Jext.    
 
Action Required: 
 
GPs should prescribe Epipen in the equivalent dose on a temporary basis only until ALK confirm that stocks are again available.  The patient will then keep the Epipen until expiry and will receive Jext (with training) at the next renewal.
 
Community Pharmacies should request the patients GP prescribes Epipen in the equivalent dose if they are unable to obtain supplies of Jext.
 
It is essential that whichever auto-injector is supplied, device-specific training should be provided. 
 
Further Information:
 
Your practice pharmacist may be able to advise on action for individual patients
Alternatively contact your locality Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist on
 0191 217 2858 or Marie Thompkins NECS MO contact for this initiativemarie.thompkins@nhs.net
 
ALK customer services stock availability: 0118 903 7940.
 
ALK locality contact Shona Hawkins : 07917 631740