Any mature pharmacists here please?

[Jami74]

I'm looking for some information on phenethicillin. I know that it is a semisynthetic penicillin and I know it was in use in the early sixties because I found a research paper comparing it to benzylpenicillin for use in otitis media. There is very little information available on the internet so I'm guessing it was withdrawn sometime before the internet took off in the 1990's. Does anyone remember it and when and why (if?) it was withdrawn?

[johnep]

I don't remember it. Guess was precursor of PenV.
johnep

[Nik]

According to Martindale, it's very similar structurally and mechanistically to Pen V and used for "mild to moderate infections". Known as Broxil in the Netherlands. I don't think it's a case of it being withdrawn, rather not actually marketed here in the first place. Otherwise Johnep would've remembered some useful info about it !

[johnep]

Thanks Nik, you have stirred my memory. seem to remember that Broxil (Beechams) was first semi synthetic penicillin. Had a few scripts but then Distillers introduced Distaquaine V and dominated the market until Amoxil arrived.
At the time, with my 3rd year Pharm Eng envisaged going into antibiotic production at Shoreham or up North for distillers. However, all the interviewers were Chemical Engineers who wanted engineers with fermentation experience. They completely discounted my pharmacy qualification. However. in those days Distillers said they had constant vacancies for pharmacists in general production. They were very excited re prospects for their new wonder drug ... Distaval.
I enjoyed a couple of days in Liverpool at interviews (They paid all expenses), but in the end decided to stay down South.

I remember the hotel had huge storage rooms for cabin trunks.
johnep

[Jami74]

Thank-you so much both of you. It never occured to me that it might never have been marketed here in the first place.

[shan]

Just a small hitch, is this a thread that will judge whether a pharmacist is a mature pharmacist or not

[johnep]

Well I remember when penicillin G was the only antibiotic we had. Used for everything in all sorts of formulations. penicillin eye drops and penicillin ointment and throat lozenges very popular until the inevitable resistance appeared. Then Terramycin and Achromycin came over from USA and Enoch Powell used Crown Immunity to purchase from Pliva. Shook up the patent law and was probably the first case of PI.
johnep

[Jami74]

Just a small hitch, is this a thread that will judge whether a pharmacist is a mature pharmacist or not

Gosh no! I did try to word the title without causing offence but what I really meant was someone who had been qualified for more than a couple of years so might remember about something that doesn't seem to have been around recently. I was sort of hoping that it was a drug that went out with a bang rather than something that was never here in the first place or just sort of fizzled out quietly as newer versions took its place.

[Racer]

Thanks Nik, you have stirred my memory. seem to remember that Broxil (Beechams) was first semi synthetic penicillin. Had a few scripts but then Distillers introduced Distaquaine V and dominated the market until Amoxil arrived.

johnep

I'm not quite as mature as John, but I remember my Dad dispensing lots of Penbritin (ampicillin) in the late 60s/early 70s and us discussing Amoxil in about 1975 when I was doing my pre-reg

[johnep]

Yes you are right Penbritin was the qds before amoxcil which was tds. Ampicillin actually more active than amoxil but it did cause a few GI effects. Did not stop marketing a mixture with kaolin for diarrhoea.
johnep