Products

Prescription Products Seroxat Slozem capsules Generics (UK) products Bristol-Myers Squibb products Indocid capsules Ventolin and Becotide Cardicor tablets Largactil injection Provera stocks Discontinued Counter medicines Benadryl Plus capsules Miscellany Gelclair gel mouthwash Interglide Emergency contraception Price changes

Prescription Products Seroxat The licensed indications for Glaxosmithkline's Seroxat (paroxetine) have been extended. The summary of product characteristics now additionally states that Seroxat has been shown to be effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. For the majority of patients, the recommended starting dose and maintenance dose is 20mg daily. Patients not responding to this dose may benefit from having 10mg dose increments as required, up to a maximum daily dose of 50mg, according to response. Slozem capsules Merck Pharmaceuticals has launched Slozem (diltiazem hydrochloride) 300mg capsules (net price, £8.50). Generics (UK) products Generics (UK) has launched the following products: warfarin tablets, in packs of 500, 1mg (net price, £24.82), 3mg (net price, £28.39) and 5mg (net price, £30.53); bumetanide 1mg tablets (net price, £1.77); cefaclor suspension 125mg/5ml, 100ml (net price, £5.06) and cefaclor suspension 250mg/5ml (net price, £8.86). Bristol-Myers Squibb products The Paraplatin (carboplatin) injection range has been extended by Bristol-Myers Squibb and now includes a ready-to-use 600mg/60ml vial for intravenous administration (net price, single vial £263.31). The company has also launched Platinex (cisplatin) injection (net price, 50mg/50ml £28.11; 100mg/100ml £55.64) Indocid capsules Merck Sharp & Dohme is changing the colour of the capsule shell of Indocid (indomethacin) 25mg and 50mg capsules from lemon-yellow to ivory. The company is also changing the colour of the capsule shells of Indocid-R 75mg capsules from ivory opaque and clear-blue to ivory opaque and transparent. The markings on the capsules will be changed from INDOCID-R 693 to MSD 693. The company will be using up existing stocks before distributing the new capsules. Ventolin and Becotide Allen & Hanburys is unable to meet current demands for Ventolin (salbutamol) 400µg Rotacaps and Becotide (beclomethasone) 200µg Rotacaps. The company says that orders for these products cannot be guaranteed and should not be made until stocks have been replenished, which is expected to be during the next two months. In the meantime, the company recommends use of Ventodisks 400µg, Ventolin Accuhaler or Ventolin Evohaler as alternatives to Ventolin Rotacaps 400µg, and Becodisks 200µg or Becotide inhaler as alternatives to Becotide Rotacaps 200µg. Cardicor tablets Merck Pharmaceuticals (ethical) says that supply problems with Cardicor (bisoprolol) 1.25mg and 2.5mg tablets should be rectified within the next two weeks. Largactil injection Hawgreen’s Largactil (chlorpromazine) injection 50mg/2ml will be out of stock until the end of April. Limited emergency supplies are available to hospitals only. Further information can be obtained from the company’s distributor, Distriphar (tel 01895 837781, fax 01895 837824). Provera stocks The following strengths and pack sizes of Pharmacia's Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) tablets are still out of stock: 2.5mg, pack size 30; 10mg, pack sizes 10, 90 and 100; 100mg, packs of 60 and 100; 200mg, pack sizes 30 and 100; 400mg, pack size 30. The company says that it is not yet known when supplies will be resumed. There are currently limited supplies of Provera 5mg tablets, pack sizes 10 and 100. Extra stocks of Pharmacia's Farlutal 100mg tablets are available (see PJ, October 28, p666). Discontinued Pharmacia will be discontinuing Cyclophosphamide 200mg injection, pack size 10, as soon as stocks are exhausted n Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals has discontinued Adcortyl cream, Adcortyl ointment, Adcortyl with graneodin cream and Nystadermal cream. Back to Top

Counter medicines Benadryl Plus capsules Warner Lambert is launching Benadryl Plus capsules for the relief of allergic rhinitis. The pharmacy only product contains acrivastine 8mg and pseudoephedrine 60mg. One capsule should be taken as necessary, up to three times daily. The product is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age or in the elderly (retail price, 12 £4.99). Back to Top

Miscellany Gelclair gel mouthwash Gelclair gel mouthwash, for the management of painful mouth lesions, has been launched by Sinclair Pharmaceuticals. The product, a Class 1 device, is available in single dose sachets and contains polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, hyaluronic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid (retail price, 21 £28). One 15ml sachet should be diluted in about 40ml of water before use and then rinsed around the mouth for at least a minute, three times a day or as needed. Interglide Sample packs of Interglide coated intermittent catheters have been introduced by Bard for every size in the product’s range. Each pack contains five catheters and will be available free of charge to users and prescribers of intermittent self-catheterisation. For further information and to order the packs, contact Bard (tel 01293 527888). Emergency contraception The Pharmacy Healthcare Scheme (PHS) has introduced a leaflet to provide patients with information about the supply of progestogen-only emergency contraception through pharmacies. The leaflet has been produced in conjunction with the Family Planning Association and is available free of charge (postage and packaging costs will be charged). An order form for requesting copies can be obtained from the PHS (tel 020 7820 3213, email phs@rpsgb.org.uk). Back to Top

Price changes The following price changes are in pounds and pence, light type indicating the price to pharmacists excluding VAT and heavy type the price to the public including VAT. In the case of medicines dispensed on a doctor’s prescription, VAT is not charged to the patient. Pharmax Healthcare (increased from March 1) Haymine tablets 10 x 20 £33.80, each £2.96 30 x 10 £37.90, each £6.64 Back to Top

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