Products

Prescription Products Fasturtec infusion Clexane Plendil tablets Fluorouracil injection Discontinued Duphalac Dry sachets Miscellany MMR campaign leaflets Price changes

Prescription Products Fasturtec infusion Composition: Rasburicase 1.5mg. Presentation: Powder and solvent for infusion solution . Storage and stability: Store at 2–8C. Action: Recombinant uricolytic. Indications: Treatment and prophylaxis of acute hyperuricaemia, in order to prevent acute renal failure, in patients with haematological malignancy with a high tumour burden and at risk of a rapid tumour lysis or shrinkage at initiation of chemotherapy. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to uricases or excipients; G6PD deficiency and other cellular metabolic disorders known to cause haemolytic anaemia. Dosage and administration: To be used immediately before and during the initiaion of chemotherapy only. Recommended dose 0.2mg/kg/day, administered as a once daily, 30-minute intravenous infusion in 50ml of sodium chloride solution 0.9 per cent. Duration of treatment may vary between five and seven days. Rasburicase solution should be infused through a different line to that used for the infusion of chemotherapeutic agents. If use of a separate line is not possible, the line should be flushed out with saline between infusions of chemotherapeutic agents and rasburicase. See SPC for instructions on use and handling. Renal and hepatic impairment, no dose adjustment required. Pregnancy and lactation, should not be used. Overdosage: No cases reported. There is no specific antidote. Patients suspected of receiving an overdose should be monitored for haemolysis and supportive measures initiated. Precautions: Patients should be closely monitored for the onset of allergic-type undesirable effects. Caution should be used in patients with a history of atopic allergies. See SPC. Drug interactions: See SPC. Side effects: Common adverse events (Ž1 per cent, <10 per cent) include fever, vomiting and nausea. Uncommon adverse events (Ž0.1 per cent, <1 per cent) include diarrhoea, headache and allergic reactions (including bronchospasm). Net price: Pack containing three vials of rasburicase and three ampoules of solvent, £120.60. Available from May 2. Supplier: Sanofi-synthelabo, One Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4YS. Tel 01483 505515, fax 01483 535432. Legal class: POM. Clexane The licensed indications for Aventis Pharma's Clexane (enoxaparin sodium) injection have been extended. Clexane is now additionally licensed for the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease presenting with deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or both. For this indication, it should be administered subcutaneously as a single daily injection of 1.5mg/kg, for at least five days and until adequate oral anticoagulation is established. Plendil tablets AstraZeneca has amended the shelf life and storage conditions for Plendil (felodipine) tablets. The shelf life for Plendil 2.5mg tablets is now 30 months and for Plendil 5mg and 10mg tablets is 36 months. The special precautions for storage section now states: “Do not store above 25C.” Fluorouracil injection Faulding Pharmaceuticals will be out of stock of fluorouracil injection 25mg/ml, in 10ml, 20ml and 100ml vials, for the next month. The company says that it has not been able to find an alternative source for the drug. However, new supplies for release in June are expected at the end of May. Back to Top

Discontinued Duphalac Dry sachets Duphalac (lactulose) Dry sachets will no longer be available from Solvay Healthcare once stocks are exhausted. The company says that Duphalac solution, 200ml, 300ml and 500ml remain available. Back to Top

Miscellany MMR campaign leaflets Pharmacy Healthcare Scheme is sending 50 copies of a leaflet and two copies of a poster on “MMR — the facts” to all pharmacies in England to support the Department of Health's measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine campaign. Further information on the campaign and other resources available can be obtained from the website (www.immunisation.org.uk). The campaign is expected to begin on May 14. Back to Top

Price changes The price changes given below 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. GlaxoSmithKline (increased from April 1) Beechams powders: sachets 10 x 12 £17.90, each £2.29, 20 x 6 £12.45, each £3.19 capsules 10 x 12 £15.20, each £1.95, 16 x 12 £21.01, each £2.69 Beechams-all-in-one: liquid 160ml x 6 £15.40, each £3.95 Beechams flu-plus: sachets 5 x 6 £10.88, each £2.79, 10 x 6 £14.79, each £3.79 caplets 16 x 6 £11.69, each £2.99, 24 x 6 £16.20, each £4.15 Beechams cold and flu: sachets 5 x 6 £6.82, each £1.75, 10 x 6 £10.88, each £2.79 Night nurse: liquid 160ml x 6 £18.31, each £4.69 capsules 10 x 12 £24.12, each £3.09 Day nurse liquid 160ml x 6 £18.31, each £4.69 capsules 20 x 12 £31.62, each £4.05 Contac 400: capsules 6 x 12 £23.35, each £2.99, 12 x 12 £37.87, each £4.85, 24 x 12 £51.93, each £6.65 Panadol: capsules 16 x 12 £15.93, each £2.09 tablets 32 x 6 £10.91, each £3.05 Panadol extra: tablets 12 x 12 £12.13, each £1.59, 16 x 12 £15.93, each £2.09, 32 x 6 £12.71, each £3.55 soluble 24 x 10 £24.10, each £3.79 Panadol night: tablets 10 x 12 £16.40, each £2.29, 20 x 6 £13.56, each £3.79 Panadol soluble: tablets 12 x 12 £14.42, each £1.89, 24 x 10 £20.92, each £3.29 Panadol ultra: tablets 20 x 12 £27.14, each £3.79 Hedex: caplets 16 x 12 £12.59, each £1.65; tablets 32 x 6 £9.63, each £2.69 Hedex extra: tablets 16 x 12 £15.17, each £1.99 Hedex ibuprofen: tablets 12 x 6 £6.06, each £1.69 Solpadeine: capsules 12 x 12 £15.68, each £2.19, 24 x 12 £28.57, each £3.99, 32 x 6 £17.50, each £4.89 soluble 12 x 12 £17.12, each £2.39, 24 x 12 £30.01, each £4.19, 60 x 6 £27.03, each £7.55 tablets 12 x 12 £14.97, each £2.09, 24 x 12 £27.85, each £3.89, 32 x 6 £16.78, each £4.69 Solpadeine max: tablets 20 x 6 £14.28, each £3.99, 30 x 6 £18.44, each £5.15 Solpaflex: tablets 12 x 6 £7.33 each £2.05, 24 x 6 £13.20, each £3.69 Tums: 3-roll pack assorted tablets 36 x 12 £12.88, each £1.65 jar assorted tablets 75 x 6 £10.73, each £2.75 Phillips' milk of magnesia: liquid 100ml x 6 £7.82, each £2.05, 200ml x 6 £12.01, each £3.15; tablets 24 x 6 £5.68, each £1.49, 72 x 6 £11.02, each £2.89 Andrews: original salts 150g x 6 £10.11, each £2.65, 250g x 6 £13.91, each £3.65 Venos: cough mixtures 100ml x 12 £21.78, each £2.79, 160ml x 6 £14.40, each £3.69 Oxy on the spot: cream 20g x 6 £16.20, each £4.15 Oxy-10: lotion 30ml x 12 £36.63, each £4.69 Oxy-5: lotion 30ml x 6 £17.13, each £4.39 Wyeth Laboratories (to decrease from May 1) Heliclear: triple pack £36.82

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