Leyla Hannbeck, head of pharmacy at the National Pharmacy Association, answers three of the 700 questions fielded every day by the NPA’s Pharmacy Services team

Is there a topical preparation available on an NHS prescription that is licensed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction?

Vitaros cream 3mg/g (alprostadil) is licensed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for men aged 18 years and over. Vitaros cream 3mg/g is licensed as a Prescription-Only Medicine and is allowed to be prescribed on FP10, WP10, GP10 and HS21 prescription forms because it does not appear on the Blacklist of the England and Wales Drug Tariff, the Scottish Drug Tariff or the Northern Ireland Drug Tariff.

Does temazepam need to be entered into the controlled drugs register following the changes to the Misuse of Drugs 2001 legislation made in June 2015?

No. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 require only schedule 1 and 2 controlled drugs to be entered into the CD register. Temazepam was not reclassified in the recent changes to legislation; it remains a schedule 3 CD, and so does not need to be entered into the CD register.

What are the differences between Movicol and Movicol Plain sachets?

The differences between Movicol and Movicol Plain sachets are that Movicol sachets contain a sweetener and lemon and lime flavouring whereas Movicol Plain sachets do not contain any sweeteners or flavourings. Both products are licensed for the treatment of chronic constipation and faecal impaction in adults, adolescents and the elderly.