The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7222 p641
2 November 2002

This article
Reprint
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Products

Prescription Products
• Invanz infusion
• Zomig nasal spray
• Trileptal syrup
Discontinued products
• Ovranette tablets
• Nuvelle TS patches
• Intron A lyophilised powder plus diluent
Supply problems
• Eldepryl syrup
• Feospan Spansule
• Anturan tablets
• Betnesol eye ointment
• Pentacarinat solution

Prescription Products

Invanz infusion

Composition: Ertapenem 1g.

Presentation: Powder for solution for infusion.

Class: Carbapenem, beta-lactam antibiotic.

Indications: Treatment of intra-abdominal infections, community acquired pneumonia and acute gynaecological infections in adults when caused by bacteria known or very likely to be susceptible to ertapenem and when parenteral therapy is required.

Dosage: 1g daily given by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. Usual duration of therapy is three to 14 days.

Major cautions and contra-indications: Severe hypersensitivity to any other type of beta-lactam antibacterial agent. Monitoring of serum valproic acid should be considered if ertapenem is to be co-administered with valproic acid. Ertapenem should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit outweighs the possible risk to the foetus. Mothers should not breast-feed their infants while taking ertapenem. Use in children under 18 years of age is not recommended.

Legal category: POM.

Net price: 1g vial £31.65.

Contact details: Merck Sharp & Dohme, Hertfordshire Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 9BU. Tel 01992 457272, fax 01992 451075.

See SPC for further details.

Zomig nasal spray

Zomig (zolmitriptan) 50mg/ml nasal spray has been launched (AstraZeneca). The spray delivers a dose of 5mg and one unit dose should be sprayed into one nostril only. If a second dose is required, it should not be administed within 2 hours of the initial dose.

Trileptal syrup

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) 60mg/ml oral suspension has been launched (Novartis Pharmaceuticals); net price, 250ml £40.

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Discontinued products

Ovranette tablets

The following products are being discontinued with immediate effect (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals):

• Ovranette (levonorgestrel with ethinylestradiol) tablets, pack size 50 x 21

• Microval (levonorgestrel) 30µg tablets, pack size 50

Nuvelle TS patches

Nuvelle TS (estradiol patches and estradiol with levonorgestrel patches) will no longer be available from 1 January 2003 (Schering Health Care).

Intron A lyophilised powder plus diluent

Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) lyophilised powder plus diluent, 1 million iu vials, 3 million iu vials and 5 million iu vials have been discontinued (Schering-Plough).

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Supply problems

Eldepryl syrup

Temporary supply problems are being experienced with Eldepryl (selegiline hydrochloride) 10mg/5ml syrup (Orion Pharmaceuticals). No emergency stock is available. Supply is expected to resume mid-November.

Feospan Spansule

Feospan Spansules (ferrous sulphate) are now available (Intra-pharm Laboratories).

Anturan tablets

Anturan (sulfinpyrazone) 100mg and 200mg tablets, pack size 84, are back in stock (Novartis Pharmaceuticals). The product is now in the livery of Sovereign Medical.

Betnesol eye ointment

Betnesol (betamethasone sodium phosphate) 0.1 per cent eye ointment is now back in stock (Celltech Pharmaceuticals).

Pentacarinat solution

Pentacarinat (pentamidine isetionate) ready-to-use solution is out of stock (JHC Healthcare). New stock is expected to be available at the beginning of next year.

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