Prescription Products
Metalyse injection
Composition:
Tenecteplase 8,000 units (40mg) and 10,000 units (50mg).
Presentation: Powder and solvent for solution for
injection
Storage and stability: Do not store above 30C. Keep
the container in the outer carton.
Action: Antithrombotic.
Indications: Thrombolytic treatment of suspected
myocardial infarction with persistent ST elevation or recent left bundle
branch block within six hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction
symptoms.
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to active substance
or excipients. See SPC.
Dosage and administration: Tenecteplase should be
administered on the basis of body weight (see table in SPC), with a maximum
dose of 10,000 units, and as a single intravenous bolus over approximately
10 seconds. A pre-existing intravenous line may be used for administration
of tenecteplase in 0.9 per cent sodium chloride solution only. No other
medicinal product should be added to the injection solution. See SPC for
instructions on use and handling.
Pregnancy, no experience of use.
Lactation, not known whether excreted into
breast milk.
Overdosage: In the event of overdose there may be
an increased risk of bleeding. In the case of severe prolonged bleeding,
substitution therapy may be considered (plasma, platelets).
Precautions: Use of rigid catheters as well as intramuscular
injections should be avoided during treatment. Re-administration is not
recommended. See SPC for further information.
Drug interactions: No formal interaction studies
have been performed. Medicinal products that affect coagulation or those
that alter platelet function may increase the risk of bleeding before,
during or after tenecteplase therapy.
Side effects: The most common complication is bleeding.
Cardiovascular events as for other thrombolytics (see SPC). Anaphylactoid
reactions reported rarely. Nausea and vomiting commonly reported.
Net price: Each pack contains 1 vial of tenecteplase
and 1 prefilled syringe of water for injections 10ml. Tenecteplase 8,000
unit pack £400; 10,000 unit pack £440.
Supplier: Boehringer Ingelheim, Ellesfield Avenue,
Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8YS. Tel 01344 424600, fax 01344 741444.
Legal class: POM.
Epilim SPC changes
Changes to the summaries of product characteristics
for all of Sanofi-Synthelabo Epilim (sodium valproate), Epilim Intravenous
and Epilim Chrono (sodium valproate, valproic acid) preparations. The
special warnings and precautions for use sections now include subsections
on hepatic effects, haematological effects, pancreatitis, weight gain,
pregnancy, systemic lupus erythematosus, hyperammonaemia and diabetic
patients. Temozolomide, chloroquine and carbapenem antibiotics have been
added to the interaction sections. The following statements have been
added to various paragraphs in the undesirable effects sections: Very
rare cases of reversible extrapyramidal symptoms including parkinsonism
have been reported. Epilim commonly causes weight gain, which may be marked
and progressive. Hirsutism and acne have been rarely reported. Allergic
reactions (ranging from rash to hypersensitivity reactions) have been
reported.
Lipobay tablets
Lipobay
(cerivastatin) 800µg tablets have been launched by Bayer (net price, 28
£21.20).
Fam-lax Senna
Torbet
Laboratories has announced that Fam-Lax Senna (Irish moss, rhubarb, senna)
tablets are now back in stock.
Labelling change
The
labelling of AstraZeneca’s Marcain (bupivacaine 0.25 per cent with adrenaline
1:200,000 and Marcain (bupivacaine 0.5 per cent with adrenaline 1:200,000
has been amended and will now read “Marcain 0.25% with adrenaline (5mcg/ml)
(1:200,000) Steripack” and “Marcain 0.5% with adrenaline (5mcg/ml) (1:200,000)
Steripack” respectively.
Yomesan tablets
Yomesan
(niclosamide) tab-lets, which are available on a named patient basis,
will now be supplied by IDIS instead of Bayer. IDIS should be contacted
for orders and further information (tel 020 8410 0700).
Rebif injection
Serono Laboratories has introduced a rigid needle shield
for its prefilled Rebif injection syringes. The company says that the
new covers have been introduced to improve compliance and reduce accidental
damage to the injection needle. Changes to the needle shield have also
resulted in changes to the Rebiject mini autoinjector and patients using
this device should be advised to obtain the updated model.
CeNeS products
CeNeS
Pharmaceuticals will be shortly introducing packs of Cyclimorph-10 (morphine
tartrate, cyclizine tartrate) and Cyclimorph-15, pack size 5 x 1ml ampoules
and Diconal tablets (dipipanone hydrochloride 10mg, cyclizine hydrochloride
30mg), pack size 50, in its own livery. This follows transfer of these
products from GlaxoSmithKline to CeNeS last November.
Betnesol eye preparations
Celltech
Pharmaceuticals is unable to supply Betnesol eye ointment and Betnesol
N eye ointment because of manufacturing problems and expects this to continue
until early next year.
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