The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7190 p394
23 March 2002

This article
Reprint
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Products

Prescription Products
• Zaditen eye-drops
• Atracurium injection
• Sodium bicarbonate injection
• Zovirax Double Strength
Discontinued products
• Robinul powder
• Ventolin nebules
Counter medicines
• Piriteze Allergy tablets
• Vivicrom eye-drops

Prescription Products

Zaditen eye-drops

Composition: Ketotifen (as hydrogen fumarate) 0.25mg/ml.

Presentation: Eye-drops.

Action: Histamine H1-receptor antagonist.

Indications: Symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Special cautions: If ketotifen eye-drops are used concomitantly with other eye medicines, there must be an interval of at least five minutes in between the use of each product. The possibility of potentiating the effects of central nervous system depressants, antihistamines and alcohol cannot be excluded. Caution should be exercised when prescribing to pregnant women.

Legal category: POM.

Net price: 5ml £9.75.

Contact details: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Frimley Business Park, Camberley, Surrey GU16 7SR. Tel 01276 698370, fax 01276 698449.

See SPC for further details. Zaditen eye-drops will be available from the first week in April.

Atracurium injection

Atracurium intravenous injections in the following strengths have been launched (Genus Pharmaceuticals):

• 25mg/2.5ml (net price, 5 x 2.5ml £8)

• 50mg/5ml (net price, 5 x 5ml, £14)

Sodium bicarbonate injection

Aurum Pharmaceuticals is launching sodium bicarbonate 8.4 per cent in a prefilled syringe; net price, 1 x 10ml £4.70.

Zovirax Double Strength

GlaxoSmithKline has launched Zovirax (aciclovir) Double Strength suspension (400mg/5ml); net price, 100ml £32.28.

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Discontinued products

Robinul powder

The 5g pack size of Robinul (glycopyrronium bromide) powder has been discontinued and replaced with a 3g pack (Antigen Pharmaceuticals); net price, 3g £110.

Ventolin nebules

Ventolin (salbutamol) 2.5mg and 5mg nebules, pack size 5 (hospital packs), have been discontinued. The 20-nebule packs remain available (GlaxoSmithKline).

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Counter medicines

Piriteze Allergy tablets

Piriteze Allergy (cetirizine dihydrochloride) 10mg tablets have been launched (GlaxoSmithKline). It is available in packs of seven as a general sale list medicine for adults and children aged 12 years and over (retail price, £3.99) and in packs of 30 as a pharmacy medicine for adults and children aged 12 years and over (retail price, 30 £8.55).

Vivicrom eye-drops

Vivicrom (sodium cromoglycate) 2 per cent eye-drops have been launched (Nucare); retail price, 10ml £4.49. The product is a pharmacy medicine.

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