The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7252 p789
7 June 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

Products

Prescription Products
• Bextra tablets
Discontinued products
• Duovent inhaler and Duovent autohaler
Products miscellany
• Physioneal 35 dialysis solution

Recall Cox amoxicillin mixture

Prescription Products

Bextra tablets

Composition: Valdecoxib 10mg, 20mg and 40mg.

Presentation: Film-coated tablets.

Action: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitor.

Indications: Symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea.

Dosage: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, recommended dose 10mg once daily up to a maximum of 20mg once daily. Primary dysmenorrhoea, recommended dose 40mg once daily as required. On the first day of treatment, a second 40mg dose may be taken if needed.

Major cautions and precautions/contraindications: Bextra is contraindicated in patients with a history of bronchospasm, acute rhinitis, nasal polyps, angioneurotic oedema, urticaria or allergic-type reactions after taking acetylsalicylic acid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors. It is also contraindicated in the third trimester of pregnancy, breast feeding mothers, active peptic ulceration or gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, severe congestive heart failure and severe hepatic impairment. Valdecoxib should not be used during the first two trimesters of pregnancy or during labour unless the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Valdecoxib should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or the first sign of hypersensitivity. Caution should be exercised when administering valdecoxib to patients with dehydration, moderate hepatic impairment, a history of hypertension, cardiac failure, and following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Caution should be exercised when co-administering valdecoxib with warfarin. Valdecoxib is not recommended for women attempting to conceive. See SPC for interactions with other drugs.

Side effects: The most common side effects (<10 per cent) include dry mouth, hypertension, peripheral oedema, abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, alveolar osteitis, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, eructation, nausea, insomnia, somnolence, anaemia, coughing, pharyngitis, sinusitis, pruritus, rash and urinary tract infection.

Legal category: POM

Net price: 10mg 30 £23.12, 20mg 30 £23.12, 40mg 5 £3.85.

Contact details: Pharmacia, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes MK5 8PH.

See SPC for further details.

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Discontinued products

Duovent inhaler and Duovent autohaler

Duovent inhaler and Duovent autohaler (Boehringer Ingelheim) will no longer be available after 31 August. This discontinuation does not affect Duovent unit-dose vials for nebulisation. For further information ring: 0845 600 2640.

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Products miscellany

Physioneal 35 dialysis solution

Physioneal 35, a biocompatible dialysis fluid for patients on peritoneal dialysis, has been launched by Baxter Healthcare. The product is an extension to the Physioneal range and is a bicarbonate-lactate-based solution with a physiological pH. Baxter says it is particularly indicated in patients in whom solutions that are based on lactate-buffer only with a low pH cause abdominal inflow pain or discomfort.

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