The
Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7142 p485
Products |
Recall Calcitriol capsules |
Prescription ProductsKaletra capsulesComposition: Combination of lopinavir 133.3mg and ritonavir 33.3mg per capsule. Presentation: Soft capsules. Storage and stability: Store at 2-8C. If kept outside a refrigerator, do not store above 25C and discard any unused contents after 42 days. Avoid exposure to excessive heat. Action: Antiviral. Indications: Treatment of HIV-1 infected adults and children above the age of two years, in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to lopinavir, ritonavir or excipients; severe hepatic insufficiency; co-administration with astemizole, terfenadine, midazolam, triazolam, cisapride, pimozide, amiodarone, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine), flecainide, propafenone, products containing St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), rifampicin. Dosage and administration: Adults and adolescents (12 years and over), recommended dose three capsules twice daily with food. Paediatric use (two to 11 years), for children with a body surface area of 1.3m2 or greater, three capsules twice daily with food. For children with a body surface area of less than 1.3m2, oral solution is recommended (see below). Children under two years of age, not recommended. Mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency, use with caution. Renal impairment, no dosage adjustment necessary. Severe renal impairment, use with caution. Pregnancy, should not be used unless necessary (see SPC). Lactation, not known whether excreted in breast-milk (see SPC). Overdosage: There is limited experience of acute overdose. No specific antidote (see SPC). Precautions: See SPC for use in patients with co-existing conditions. When oestrogen-based oral contraceptives are co-administered with Kaletra, additional contraceptive measures are to be used. Capsules contain sunset yellow which may cause an allergic-type reaction. Drug interactions: See contraindications section above. Concomitant use of any of the following products is not recommended: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, such as lovastatin and simvastatin; sildenafil; ketoconazole and itraconazole in high doses. A dosage increase to four capsules twice daily should be considered when co-administered with efavirenz. Dose adjustments for clarithromycin (in patients with renal or hepatic impairment) and rifabutin are recommended. See SPC for other interactions and further details. Side effects: Adverse events in >=2 per cent of patients include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, asthenia and headache. Adverse events in 1–2 per cent of patients include rash, abnormal stools and insomnia. See SPC for laboratory abnormalities and other adverse events. Net price: 180 (2 bottles of 90) £332.31. Supplier: Abbott Laboratories, Norden Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 4XE. Tel 01628 773355, fax 01628 644305. Legal class: POM.
Kaletra oral solutionComposition: Lopinavir 400mg and ritonavir 100mg per 5ml. Presentation: Oral solution. Storage and stability; action; Indications; overdosage; side effects; supplier; legal class: As for capsules. Contraindications: As for capsules. Also, pregnant women, hepatic or renal failure and patients treated with disulfiram or metronidazole. Dosage and administration: As for capsules. Adults and adolescents (12 years and over), recommended dosage 5ml twice daily with food. Paediatrics (two to 11 years), recommended dosage 230/57.5mg per m2 twice daily with food, up to a maximum of 400/100mg twice daily. The 230/57.5mg per m2 dose might be insufficient in some children when co-administered with nevirapine or efavirenz and a dose increase to 300/75mg per m2 should be considered. See SPC for dosing guidelines with reference to body surface area. Precautions: As for capsules. Oral solution contains propylene glycol. Patients taking it, particularly those with renal impairment or decreased ability to metabolise propylene glycol (eg, those of Asian origin) should be monitored for adverse reactions potentially related to propylene glycol toxicity. See SPC for further details on excipients. Drug interactions: As for capsules. Disulfiram or other medicinal products that produce disulfiram-like reactions. Net price: 300ml (5 bottles of 60ml) £332.31. Prevenar vaccineWyeth Laboratories has launched Prevenar (pneumococcal saccharide conjugated vaccine, adsorbed) for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (including bacteraemia, bacteraemic pneumonia sepsis, meningitis) caused by seven serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is licensed for use in infants and children from two months to two years of age (net price, 1 vial £39.25).
Sporanox IV infusionSporanox IV (itraconazole) 10mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion has been launched by Janssen-Cilag (net price, 1 ampoule £71.43). Sporanox IV is licensed for the treatment of histoplasmosis and for the following systemic fungal conditions when first-line systemic antifungal therapy is inappropriate or has proved ineffective: aspergillosis, candidiasis and cryptococcosis (including cryptococcal meningitis).
Taxol support kitIn the support kits supplied with Taxol (paclitaxel) a Fresenius Freeflex 500ml non-PVC bag of sodium chloride 0.9 per cent intravenous solution has replaced the Braun glass bottle of dextrose 5 per cent solution.
Benzamycin gelBioglan's Benzamycin (erythromycin 3 per cent, benzoyl peroxide 5 per cent) gel is out of stock. A helpline has been set up to provide information on the product’s availability (tel 08000 185218).
Dalacin T topical solutionPharmacia will be unable to supply Dalacin T (clindamycin) topical solution 30ml for the next few weeks. Dalacin T topical solution 50ml remains available.
Tenormin syrupAstraZeneca says that Tenormin (atenolol) syrup is out of stock. Normal supply is expected to resume by the middle to end of April.
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