The Pharmaceutical
Journal
Vol 268 No 7203 p869
22 June 2002
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The Pharmaceutical
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Prescription ProductsComposition: Escitalopram (as oxalate) 10mg. Presentation: Film-coated tablets. Class: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Indications: Treatment of major depressive episodes. Treatment of panic disorder with or without agora-phobia. Dosage: Major depressive episodes, usual dosage 10mg once daily up to a maximum of 20mg daily. Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, initial dose 5mg daily for the first week and then 10mg once daily up to a maximum of 20mg daily. Major cautions and contra-indications: Escitalopram is contraindicated in those taking non-selective, irreversible monoamine-oxidase inhibitors. Special warnings and precautions of use as for other SSRIs. See SPC for inadvisable combinations and other interactions. Escitalopram is not recommended for use in children under 18 years of age. It should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary and only after careful consideration of the risk/benefit ratio. It should not be used during lactation. Legal category: POM. Net price: 28 16.03. Contact details: Lundbeck, Lundbeck House, Caldecotte Lake Business Park, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes, MK7 8LF. Tel 01908 649966, fax 01908 647888. See SPC for further details. Composition: Cilostazol 100mg. Presentation: Tablets. Action: Antithrombotic. Indications: Improvement of maximal and pain-free walking distances in patients with intermittent claudication, who do not have rest pain and who do not have evidence of peripheral tissue necrosis. Major cautions and contra-indications: Cilostazol is contraindicated in the following cases: severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance 25ml/min); moderate or severe hepatic impairment; congestive heart failure; pregnancy and lactation; patients with known predisposition to bleeding; patients taking inhibitors of CYP3A4 or CYP2C19; patients with any history of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation or multifocal ventricular ectopics, whether or not adequately treated, and in patients with prolongation of the QTc interval. Patients should be warned to report any episode of bleeding or easy bruising during treatment. Caution should be exercised in the following cases: patients with atrial or ventricular ectopy and in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter; when co-administering cilostazol with any agent that has the potential to reduce blood pressure or with any drug that inhibits platelet aggregation; patients receiving both cilostazol and an anticoagulant. Cilostazol should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. Side effects: Very common (>10 per cent) undesirable effects are diarrhoea, abnormal stools and headache. Legal category: POM. Net price: 56 35.31. Contact details: Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (UK), 9th Floor Commonwealth House, 2 Chalkhill Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8DW. Tel 020 8600 6770, fax 020 8600 6794. See SPC for further details. |
SPC changesThe licensed indications for Zyprexa (olanzapine) tablets and Zyprexa Velotab orodispersible tablets have been extended (Eli Lilly). Zyprexa tablets and Zyprexa Velotab orodispersible tablets are now additionally indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes. Olanzapine has not been demonstrated to prevent recurrence of manic or depressive episodes. The starting dose is 15mg once daily in monotherapy or 10mg daily in combination therapy. The licensed indications for Enbrel (etanercept) injection have been extended (Wyeth). Enbrel is now additionally indicated for the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adults not previously treated with methotrexate. |
Discontinued productsCodeine phosphate 30mg tablets, pack size 100, have been discontinued (Alpharma). The 28-tablet packs remain available. |
Supply problemsZoleptil (zotepine) 25mg tablets, pack size 90, are currently out of stock (Orion Pharma). New stock is expected in July. Further information can be obtained from medical information, Orion Pharma, Leat House, Overbridge Square, Hambridge Lane, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5UX. Tel 01635 520300. |
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Neoclarityn
(desloratadine) 0.5mg/ml syrup has been launched (Schering-Plough); net
price 100ml 7.57. Neoclarityn syrup is licensed for use in children aged
2 years and over for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic
rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The dose for children aged
two to five years is 2.5ml (1.25mg) once daily and for children aged six
to 11 years is 5ml (2.5mg) once daily. Desloratadine syrup contains sucrose
and sorbitol and patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance,
glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should
not take it.