The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7198 p681
18 May 2002

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Products

Prescription Products
• Valcyte tablets
• Coversyl Plus tablets
• Ranitidine effervescent tablets
• Oramorph oral vials
• Beacon products
Discontinued products
• Nurofen Plus
• Mucaine suspension
• Motrin tablets
• Alpharma products

Recall Cytosar, Pharmorubicin and doxorubicin

Prescription Products

Valcyte tablets

Composition: Valganciclovir 450mg.

Presentation: Film-coated tablets.

Class: Antiviral.

Indications: Induction and main-tenance treatment of cytomegalo-virus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS.

Major cautions and contra-indications: Valganciclovir is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to ganciclovir, acic-lovir and valaciclovir. Valganciclovir should not be used in pregnancy unless therapeutic benefit outweighs the potential risk of teratogenic damage to the child. It is contraindicated during lactation. Use in children and adolescents is not recommended. Safety and efficacy in the elderly has not been established. Avoid direct contact of broken or crushed tablets with skin or mucus membranes. Interactions and adverse reactions are as for ganciclovir.

Dosage: Induction treatment, recommended dose is 900mg twice daily for 21 days. Maintenance, 900mg once daily.

Legal category: POM.

Net price: 60 £1195.89

Contact details: Roche Products, 40 Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 3AY. Tel 01707 366000, fax 01707 338297.

See SPC for further details.

Coversyl Plus tablets

Coversyl Plus tablets containing perindopril tert-butylamine 4mg and indapamide 1.25mg are being launched (Servier Laboratories); net price 30 £14.63. The product is indicated in patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled by perindopril alone.

Ranitidine effervescent tablets

Ranitidine effervescent tablets have been launched (Sovereign Medical); net price, 150mg 60 £27.89, 300mg 30 £27.43.

Oramorph oral vials

The pack size of Oramorph (morphine sulphate) 10mg/5ml, 30mg/5ml and 100mg/5ml unit dose oral vials is changing from 25 to 20 vials. The new packs will be introduced over the next few weeks as current stocks are exhausted. The individual vials will now be presented in two strips of 10 vials.

Beacon products

The following products have been launched (Beacon Pharmaceuticals):

• Prednisolone 25mg tablets (net price, 56 £9.30)

• Cortisone 25mg tablets (net price, 56 £10.30).

Both products will be distributed by Distriphar. Orders and customer services inquiries should be directed to Distriphar (tel 0870 5133347, fax 0870 5133329) and medical information queries should be directed to Beacon Pharmaceuticals (tel 01748 828815, fax 01748 828801).

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Discontinued products

Nurofen Plus

The 48- and 72-tablet pack sizes of Nurofen Plus (ibuprofen 200mg, codeine phosphate 12.8mg) are being discontinued (Crookes Healthcare). The 12- and 24-tablet packs remain available.

Mucaine suspension

Mucaine 200ml suspension will be discontinued with immediate effect (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals).

Motrin tablets

Motrin (ibuprofen) 400mg tablets and Motrin 600mg tablets, packs of 90, have been discontinued (Pharmacia). The 800mg strength, pack size 90, is still available.

Alpharma products

The following Alpharma products have been discontinued:

• Co-danthrusate (dantron 50mg, docusate sodium 60mg) capsules, pack size 63

• Codeine phosphate 15mg tablets, pack size 100. The 28-tablet pack remains available.

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