The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7270 p489
11 October 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

Products

Prescription Products
• Tritace tablets
• ACWY Vax
SPC changes
• Deseril tablets
• Naseptin nasal cream
Discontinued products
• Viraferon injection pen
• Salbutamol Inhaler
• Celance tablets
• Boehringer respiratory range
Supply problems
• Psorin ointment and gel
Counter medicines
• Panadol Compack

Prescription Products

Tritace tablets
Aventis has launched Tritace tablets which will be replacing all Tritace capsule packs except the Tritace titration pack. Net price, 1.25mg 28 £5.30, 2.5mg 28 £7.51, 5mg 28 £10.46, 10mg 28 £14.24. The tablets are bioequivalent to the capsules. The capsules will be completely phased out by the end of November.

ACWY Vax
ACWY Vax (meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, groups A, C, W₁₃₅ and Y polysaccharides) now comes with a pre-filled syringe of diluent rather than an ampoule (GlaxoSmithKline).

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SPC changes

Deseril tablets
The summary of product characteristics for Deseril (methysergide) 1mg tablets has been amended (Alliance Pharmaceuticals). The SPC now states that concomitant use of Deseril and cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors such as macrolide antibiotics, HIV protease or reverse transcriptase inhibitors, azole antifungals or cimetidine must be avoided since this can result in an elevated exposure to methysergide and ergot toxicity. See SPC.

Naseptin nasal cream
The summary of product characteristics for Naseptin (chlorhexidine hydrochloride 0.1 per cent and neomycin sulphate 0.5 per cent) nasal cream has been amended (Alliance Pharmaceuticals). It now states that Naseptin contains arachis oil (peanut oil) and should not be taken or applied by patients known to be allergic to peanuts. As there is a possible relationship between allergy to peanut and allergy to soya, patients with soya allergy should also avoid Naseptin. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Viraferon injection pen
Viraferon (interferon alfa-2b) multidose injection pen, 25 million units/ml, 1.5ml cartridge is being discontinued at the end of December (Schering-Plough). Other presentations of Viraferon and ViraferonPeg remain available.

Salbutamol Inhaler
Salbutamol CFC-free 200-dose inhaler 100 µg/metered inhalation has been discontinued from the Alpharma range.

Celance tablets
Celance (pergolide) 14-day starter packs (75 x 50µg and 6 x 250µg) are being discontinued after 31 October (Eli Lilly). Other Celance packs remain available.

Boehringer respiratory range
The following products are being discontinued by Boehringer Ingelheim: Oxivent inhaler (oxitropium bromide), Oxivent Autohaler (oxitropium bromide), Atrovent Forte (ipratropium bromide), Atrovent Autohaler (ipratropium bromide), Alupent (orciprenaline sulphate) tablets. The company expects these products to be unavailable after May 2004.

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Supply problems

Psorin ointment and gel
Psorin ointment (dithranol 0.11 per cent, crude coal tar 1 per cent and salicylic acid 1.6 per cent) and Psorin scalp gel (dithranol 0.25 per cent and salicylic acid 1.6 per cent) 50g tubes are back in stock (LPC Medical).

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Counter medicines

Panadol Compack
GlaxoSmithKline has launched Panadol Compack, a crush-resistant wallet pack which opens out to reveal tablets and patient information. The new metallic-finish packs will apply to Panadol tablets (paracetamol), recommended retail price, 16 £1.99, Panadol Extra (paracetamol and caffeine), 16 £2.29 and Panadol Acifast (paracetamol and sodium bicarbonate), 14 £2.49. Legal category: general sale list medicine.

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