The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7284 p117
31 January 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Ventavis
• Relestat eye drops
• Zyprexa IntraMuscular
• Gopten capsules
SPC changes
• Xatral XL
• Progynova, Nuvelle and Nuvelle Continuous
• MabCampath
Discontinued products
• Naropin infusion
• Indapamide tablets
• Enrich Plus
Supply problems
• Nifedipine capsules
Counter medicines
• Ketoconazole shampoo

Prescription Products

Ventavis
Composition: Iloprost 10µg/ml.
Presentation: Nebuliser solution in 2ml glass ampoules.
Action: Synthetic prostacyclin analogue.
Indications: Treatment of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, classified as NYHA functional class III, to improve exercise capacity and symptoms.
Dosage: 2.5µg or 5µg per inhalation session, administered six to nine times per day, according to individual need and tolerability.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, severe coronary heart disease, unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular events, conditions likely to increase risk of haemorrhage.
Precautions: Not recommended in patients with unstable pulmonary hypertension with advanced right heart failure. See SPC.
Side effects: Very common (>10 per cent) vasodilation, hypotension, increased cough.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 30 £624, 100 £2,080, 300 £6,240.
Contact details: Schering Health Care, The Brow, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9NE.

Relestat eye drops
Composition: Epinastine hydrochloride 0.5mg/ml (equivalent to 0.436mg epinastine).
Presentation: Eye drops.
Class: H1 receptor antagonist.
Indications: Treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
Dosage: One drop into each affected eye twice daily during the symptomatic period.
Precautions: Benzalkonium chloride has been reported rarely to cause punctate keratopathy and/or toxic ulcerative keratopathy. May discolour soft contact lenses.
Side effects: Common (>1/100, <1/10) burning sensation.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 5ml £14.50.
Contact details: Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Coronation Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3SH.

Zyprexa IntraMuscular
Zyprexa IntraMuscular (olanzapine powder for solution for injection) has been launched (Eli Lilly). Delivery of stock will begin on 9 February. Net price; 10mg vial £3.48. The product is only available via direct ordering from Eli Lilly & Co (tel 0870 850 0401).

Gopten capsules
Gopten (trandolapril) capsules 4mg have been launched (Abbott Laboratories). Net price; 28 £14.24.

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SPC changes

Xatral XL
The summary of product characteristics for Xatral (alfuzosin hydrochloride) XL now states that for use in acute urinary retention related to benign prostatic hypertrophy the dose for patients 65 years and older is one 10mg tablet daily after a meal to be taken from the first day of catheterisation (Sanofi-Synthelabo). The treatment should be administered for 2–3 days during catheterisation and for one day after its removal. In this indication no additional benefit has been established if treatment is extended beyond four days or in patients under 65 years of age. Details have been added on the effect of alfuzosin on the return of normal voiding. See SPC.

Progynova, Nuvelle and Nuvelle Continuous
The summaries of product characteristics for Progynova (estradiol valerate), Nuvelle (estradiol valerate and estradiol valerate and levonorgestrel), and Nuvelle Continuous (estradiol [as hemihydrate] and norethisterone acetate) now state that the products are indicated as second line therapy for prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of future fractures who are intolerant of, or contraindicated for, other medicinal products approved for the prevention of osteoporosis (Schering Health Care). The SPC for Nuvelle Continuous states that physical examination of women before taking hormone replacement therapy should be guided by assessment of personal and family history, and that women should be encouraged to participate in breast cancer and cervical cancer screening. See SPC.

MabCampath
The pharmacokinetics section of the summary of product characteristics of MabCampath (alemtuzumab) has been rewritten (Schering Health Care). It states that during studies the drug displayed non-linear elimination kinetics. Distribution was primarily to the extracellular fluid and plasma compartments. Steady-state concentrations were reached after about six weeks of dosing. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Naropin infusion
Naropin (ropivacaine) infusion 2mg/ml polyproplene bags 5 x 100ml are being discontinued from 13 February (AstraZeneca). The company will continue to supply the product until stocks are exhausted. Naropin infusion bags 200ml remain available.

Indapamide tablets
Indapamide tablets 2.5mg x 28 have been deleted from the Alpharma range.

Enrich Plus
The ready-to-hang 500ml presentation of Enrich Plus has been discontinued, and is replaced by Jevity 1.5 kcal (PJ, 13 December 2003, p808). The Tetrapak presentation of Enrich Plus is unaffected (Abbott Laboratories).

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Supply problems

Nifedipine capsules
Alpharma packs of nifedipine capsules 5mg x 84 are out of stock.

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Counter medicines

Ketoconazole shampoo
Ketoconazole dandruff shampoo 2 per cent is available from Alpharma; net price, 100ml £5.99. Legal category: pharmacy medicine.

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