The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7274 p641
8 November 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

Products

Prescription Products
• Forsteo injection
• Avandamet tablets
SPC changes
• Lipostat shelf life
• Aprovel tablets
Discontinued products
• Alphosyl products
• Sulfasalazine tablets
• Minihep ampoules

Prescription Products

Forsteo injection
Composition: Teriparatide 250µg/ml.
Presentation: 3ml solution for injection in a pre-filled pen.
Class: Active fragment of para-
thyroid hormone.
Indications: Treatment of established osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Dosage: 20µg once daily by subcutaneous injection. Maximum treatment period 18 months.
Contraindications: Pre-existing hypercalcaemia, severe renal impairment, metabolic bone disease, unexplained elevations in alkaline phosphatase levels, previous radiation therapy to the skeleton, pregnancy, lactation.
storage: Store at 2–8C at all times. The pen must be discarded 28 days after opening.
Legal category: POM
Net price: 1 x 3ml £271.88, 3 x 3ml £815.64.
Contact details: Eli Lilly & Co Ltd, tel 01256 315000.
The product is to be supplied direct to patients by the company through a nurse advisory service.

Avandamet tablets
GlaxoSmithKline has launched Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate and metformin hydrochloride) tablets; net price, 1mg/500mg 112 £29.80, 2mg/500mg 112 £56.40.

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SPC changes

Lipostat shelf life
The shelf life for Lipostat (pravastatin sodium) tablets has been reduced from 36 to 24 months following new storage data (Bristol-Myers Squibb). See SPC.

Aprovel tablets
The summary of product characteristics for Aprovel (irbesartan) tablets has been updated (Bristol-Myers Squibb). It now states that the antihypertensive effect of irbesartan may be attenuated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The undesirable effects section has been rearranged and reworded. Adverse events are grouped together by body system and the frequency of each adverse event reported has been defined. A recommendation to store the product in the original package has been added. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Alphosyl products
Alphosyl cream 100g and Alphosyl lotion 250ml are being discontinued (GlaxoSmithKline). Limited supplies of these products for individual customer use can be obtained through the company’s medical and consumer affairs department on 0500 888 878. Alphosyl “2 in 1” shampoo and Alphosyl HC cream remain available.

Sulfasalazine tablets
Sulfasalazine tablets 500mg x 500 are being discontinued from the Alpharma range. Meridian will continue to market the product.

Minihep ampoules
Minihep ampoules (heparin sodium 25,000 units/ml) are being discontinued (Leo Pharma). The company expects the product to be out of stock towards the end of December. Other unfractioned heparin products remain available.

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