PJ Online: Products

HeliMet triple packs, containing 14 Zoton (lansoprazole) 30mg capsules, 14 Klaricid (clarithromycin) 500mg tablets and 14 metronidazole 400mg tablets, have been launched by Wyeth Laboratories (net price, 1 pack £35.40).

Pulvinal inhaler range

Trinity Pharmaceuticals has launched Pulvinal beclometasone dipropionate and Pulvinal salbutamol dry powder inhalers. The inhalers have a transparent drug reservoir to enable patients to see how much powder they have left. Each inhaler device provides 100 metered doses. Pulvinal beclometasone dipropionate inhaler is available in three strengths (net price, 100µg £5.58, 200µg £10.29, 400µg £20.41) and Pulvinal salbutamol inhaler in one strength (net price, 200µg £5.05).

Anapen injection

Anapen (adrenaline) 0.3mg and Anapen Junior 0.15mg injections are now available from Lincoln Medical as prescription only medicines for first-line emergency treatment of acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). The products were previously available on a named-patient basis only (net price, Anapen 1 £22.44; Anapen Junior 1 £22.44).

Faulding products

Faulding Pharmaceuticals is launching the following products:

Tobramycin 240mg/6ml (net price, 1 vial £12.47)

Gentamicin 240mg/6ml (net price, 1 vial £4.62)

Synalar cream and ointment

Bioglan Laboratories Synalar (fluocinolone acetonide 0.025 per cent) cream and Synalar ointment are both now available in 100g tubes (net price, £3.80).

Keral tablets

Keral (dexketoprofen) 25mg tablets from A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals are now available in hospital-only packs of 10 tablets (net price, £1.95).

Magnapen capsules

Magnapen (flucloxacillin 250mg, ampicillin 250mg) capsules, pack size 100, from CP Pharmaceuticals are now packaged in blister packs.

SPC changes

Zoladex implant

The licensed indications for AstraZeneca’s Zoladex (goserelin acetate) implant have been extended. Zoladex is now additionally licensed as an alternative to chemotherapy in the standard care of premenopausal or perimenopausal women with oestrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer.

Supply problems

Surmontil tablets

Distriphar will be out of stock of Surmontil (trimipramine) 25mg tablets, pack size 84, for the rest of this month. The company suggests that 28-tablet packs are ordered instead.

Discontinued products

Zaditen capsules

Following the announcement of the discontinuation of Zaditen (ketotifen) 1mg capsules (PJ, 1 September, p290), Novartis Pharmaceuticals says that manufacturing of the product will cease this October and stocks are expected to last until October 2002. Zaditen 1mg tablets remain available.

Powergel twin packs

A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals is discontinuing the twin packs (2 x 50g) of Powergel (ketoprofen 2.5 per cent). Stocks are being depleted and are expected to be exhausted by the end of this month. Other pack sizes of the gel are not being discontinued.

Counter medicines

Resolve Extra sachets

Resolve Extra sachets, containing paracetamol 1g, sodium bicarbonate 1,408mg and caffeine 60mg, have been launched by SSL International. Resolve Extra is a general sale list product (retail price, 5 sachets £2.75).

Pepcidtwo chewable tablets

Pepcidtwo chewable tablets, containing famotidine 10mg, calcium carbonate 800mg and magnesium hydroxide 165mg, have been launched by Johnson & Johnson MSD Consumer Pharmaceuticals. The general sale list product is for short-term symptomatic relief of heartburn, acid indigestion or excess acid symptoms (retail price, 6 £2.25, 12 £3.85). It is also available in a trial pack of two tablets (retail price, 50p).

Products miscellany

Paediasure Plus Tetrapak

Abbott Laboratories is launching Paediasure Plus Tetrapak, a 1.5kcal/ml complete nutritionally balanced liquid feed for children one to six years. The ready-to-use feed is available in vanilla and strawberry flavours (net price, 200ml x 27 £62.10).

Natruclear Easy Grip comb

SSL International has launched Natruclear Easy Grip comb for head lice detection (retail price, £3.75).

Geliperm Wet wound dressing

Geistlich Pharma’s Geliperm Wet hydrogel wound dressing is now available in the Drug Tariff (net price, £2.15 per sheet).

Active glucose test strips

Roche Diagnostics has launched Active 5 second test strips which will replace Glucotrend Plus test strips. They are for use with the Accu-Chek Active blood glucose monitoring system, which is expected to be launched later this month. The strips (net price, 50 test strips and calibration chip £15.02) are also compatible with all Glucotrend glucose meters (testing time increased to 10 seconds).