Abstract

Last year we asked why Hydrosaluric K and Salupres, which contain enteric-coated potassium chloride, continued to be available. Since these two preparations offer no advantage over less dangerous products containing potassium chloride, we recommended their removal from the market and put our view to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.¹ After consultation between the CSM and Merck Sharp & Dohme’s medical department, the company has now withdrawn both preparations from all countries supplied from the UK. A letter to doctors from MSD announcing this gives no reason for the withdrawal and tries to persuade prescribers to replace the discontinued preparations by another MSD product.