Accrete D3 Film-Coated Tablets® will become a prescription-only medicine (POM) from 17th May 2021.

The change follows a request from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that ‘Pharmacy [P] products containing calcium and cholecalciferol which require a doctor’s diagnosis before use’ should be reclassified as POMs.

As a responsible pharmaceutical company, Thornton & Ross, the Marketing Authorisation holder of Accrete D3, cooperated fully with the MHRA’s request.

The status of Accrete D3 One a Day® (1000mg/880IU) chewable tablets will not change and it remains a Pharmacy (P) product.

Accrete D3 Film-Coated Tablets® are indicated for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D and calcium deficiency in the elderly and as an adjunct to specific osteoporosis treatment of patients who are at risk of deficiency. The tablets contain calcium and colecalciferol, which in combination help improve the absorption of calcium into the body from the gastrointestinal tract [Christakos, 2011].

Osteoporosis

NICE estimates that in England and Wales, ‘more than 2 million women have osteoporosis. After the menopause, the prevalence of osteoporosis increases markedly with age, from approximately 2% at 50 years rising to more than 25% at 80 years’ [NICE, 2018].

Benefits of vitamin D plus calcium

A Cochrane review concluded that ‘Vitamin D plus calcium can help prevent hip fracture or any type of fracture’ [Avenell, 2014]. However, over 24% of women aged 65 years and over do not consume the recommended threshold for vitamin D. In the winter months this rises to almost 30% of all adults over 65 years [PHE, 2014].

Accrete D3 – easy to swallow

Accrete D3 Film-Coated Tablets® are small, smooth coated oval tablets, which can be split in two for ease of swallowing. Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) increases with age and affects around 27% of people over 76 years [Smithard, 2016].

Cost savings

Accrete® D is the least expensive calcium and vitamin D brand that offers a choice of presentations for patients [IMS 2021, Drug Tariff 2021].

Contact

Thornton and Ross, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, HD7 5QH.
Tel: 01484 842217

Email: bonehealth@thorntonross.com

Prescribing

Accrete D3 One-a-Day 1000 mg/880 IU Chewable Tablets® & Accrete D3 Film-Coated Tablets^® Abbreviated Prescribing Information – please follow the link below:https://www.rxdetail.co.uk/accrete/api/

References

Avenell A, Mak JCS, O'Connell D. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures in post-menopausal women and older men. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD000227. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000227.pub4.

Christakos S et al, 2011, Journal of molecular endocrinology. December 5; 347(1-2): 25–29.

Drug Tariff, February 2021

IMS data (Accessed February 2021)

National Institute for Health and care Excellence (NICE) Raloxifene for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women

Technology appraisal guidance [TA160]Published date: 27 October 2008 Last updated: 07 February 2018

Public Health England, 2014, National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Results from Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009 – 2011/2012) Executive summary

Smithard D, Dysphagia: A Geriatric Giant? Medical and Clinical Reviews, 2016, Vol. 2, No 1:5 http://medical-clinical-reviews.imedpub.com/archive.php 

ACC-145 DoP May 2021