Use of terfenadine and contraindicated drugs.

To the Editor. —Regarding the article by Drs Thompson and Oster, 1 Hoechst Marion Roussel is dedicated to the concept of improving the quality and longevity of human life. Because of this dedication, we were both encouraged and disappointed by the conclusion of the research of Thompson and Oster, which assessed changes in concurrent use of products containing terfenadine and contraindicated drugs. We were encouraged that the study found dramatic decreases in both the rates of same-day dispensing (down 84%) and overlapping use (down 57%). We were disappointed that misuse of terfenadine continues, albeit at a greatly reduced rate. Hoechst Marion Roussel has been and continues to be committed to making sure health care professionals and patients understand the appropriate use of terfenadine, including who should and should not use it. Since 1990, we have aggressively included cautions about the potential for drug interactions in all our educational and promotional efforts, including the