The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7170 p542
20 October 2001

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Products

Prescription Products
• Xalacom eye-drops
• Exelon oral solution
• Curatoderm new pack size
• Packaging redesign
• Aurum Pharmaceuticals
• King Pharmaceuticals
SPC changes
• Zyvox tablets and infusion
• Plavix tablets
Discontinued products
• Reminyl tablets
• Minocin tablets
• Kabikinase injection
Counter medicines
• Day nurse reformulation
• Contac 400 reformulated
Products miscellany
• Cryogesic fine spray

Recall Isoket infusion

Prescription Products

Xalacom eye-drops

Xalacom eye-drops, containing latanoprost 50µg and timolol (as maleate) 5mg in 1ml solution, have been launched (Pharmacia). The product is licensed for the reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension who are insufficiently responsive to topical beta-blockers. The product must be stored at 2-8C (net price, 2.5ml £17.15).

Exelon oral solution

Exelon (rivastigmine) 2mg/ml oral solution is being launched (Novartis Pharmaceuticals); (net price, 120ml £108).

Curatoderm new pack size

A 100g pack size of Curatoderm (tacalcitol) 4µg/g has been launched (Crookes Healthcare); (net price, £34.75).

Packaging redesign

The packaging of both OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride) tablets and OxyNorm (oxycodone hydro-chloride) capsules has been redesigned. The new packaging for OxyContin 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg tablets will be phased in from the week beginning 22 October, and the new packaging for OxyNorm 5mg, 10mg and 20mg capsules will be phased in from January 2002 (Napp Pharmaceuticals).

Aurum Pharmaceuticals

The following products have been launched (Aurum Pharmaceuticals):

• Tramadol hydrochloride injection 50mg/ml, 2ml ampoules (net price, 5 £5.50)

• Sterile sodium chloride concentrate 30 per cent w/v, 50ml vials (net price, 1 £3)

King Pharmaceuticals

King Pharmaceuticals has taken over the responsibility for medical information enquiries for the following products from Eli Lilly:

• Allegron (nortriptyline) 10mg and 25mg tablets

• Capastat (capreomycin sulphate) 1g injection

• Cycloserine 250mg capsules

• Nebcin (tobramycin sulphate) injection 20mg/2ml and 80mg/ 2ml

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SPC changes

Zyvox tablets and infusion

The summaries of product characteristics for Zyvox (linezolid) tablets and 2mg/ml solution for infusion have been amended (Pharmacia). Additions and deletions have been made to the text, including the following (see SPC for full details). The 100ml and 200ml infusion bags have been removed from the qualitative and quantitative composition section. Under the indications section, the word “micro-organisms” has been replaced with “Gram positive bacteria”. Linezolid is now indicated for “complicated” skin and soft tissue infections and the dose for this indication is 600mg twice daily. Linezolid is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. The pregnancy and lactation section now says that a potential risk for humans exists. There is no known antidote in case of overdose.

Plavix tablets

The summary of product characteristics for Plavix (clopidogrel) 75mg tablets has been updated (Sanofi-Synthelabo). The special warnings and precautions for use section now states that blood cell count determination should be performed during the first week of treatment in the case of co-administration of clopidogrel with aspirin, heparin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors or thrombolytics, and in patients who may be at risk of bleeding from trauma, surgery or other pathological conditions. Information relating to the characteristics and treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura have been added. Under the undesirable effects section, the post-marketing experience subsection has been revised extensively (see SPC).

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Discontinued products

Reminyl tablets

Reminyl (galantamine) 4mg and 8mg tablets, pack size 14, will be discontinued when stocks are exhausted (Shire Pharmaceuticals). Other pack sizes remain available.

Minocin tablets

Minocin (minocycline hydrochloride) 100mg tablets, pack size 20, have been discontinued (Wyeth Laboratories).

Kabikinase injection

Kabikinase (streptokinase) injection 750,000iu and 1.5million iu, single vials, will be discontinued as soon as current stocks are exhausted (Pharmacia).

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Counter medicines

Day nurse reformulation

Day Nurse (paracetamol, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, dextromethorphan) capsules and liquid have been reformulated (GlaxoSmithKline). Day Nurse capsules now contain pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg instead of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride 12.5mg, and pholcodine 5mg instead of dextromethorphan 7.5mg. Day Nurse liquid now contains pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 60mg and pholcodine 10mg per 30ml of liquid (the dosage has been changed from 20ml every four hours when required, maximum 80ml in 24 hours, to 30ml every four hours). The quantity of paracetamol in both products remains the same. The bottle size has been changed to 240ml. Retail prices remains the same. The new packs are currently being phased in.

Contac 400 reformulated

Contac capsules (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 120mg) will be phased in from November (GlaxoSmithKline). Contac replaces Contac 400 capsules (chlorphenamine maleate 4mg, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride 50mg).

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Products miscellany

Cryogesic fine spray

Cryogesic (ethyl chloride) fine spray, a medical device, has been launched (net price, 100ml aerosol can £11.89).

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