The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7291 p346-347
20 March 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Reyataz capsules
• Nexium IV
• NeoRecormon
• Co-codamol tablets
• Indapamide tablets
SPC changes
• Subutex
Discontinued products
• Maalox Plus tablets
• Froben suppositories
• Renagel capsules
Supply problems
• Diethylstilbestrol tablets
• Germoloids
Counter medicines
• Cuprofen Plus

Prescription Products

Reyataz capsules
Composition: Atazanavir 100mg, 150mg or 200mg (corresponding to 113.9mg, 170.8mg or 227.8mg of atazanavir sulphate)
Presentation: Hard capsules.
action: Protease inhibitor.
Indication: Treatment of HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral treatment experienced adults, in combination with other antiretroviral products.
Dosage: 300mg once daily taken with ritonavir 100mg once daily and with food. If atazanavir with ritonavir is co-administered with didanosine, it is recommended that didanosine be taken two hours after the other two drugs.
Cautions: Therapy should be initiated by a doctor experienced in the management of HIV infection. Atazanavir should be used with caution in patients with mild hepatic insufficiency.
Contraindications: Moderate to severe hepatic insufficiency. Should not be used in combination with rifampicin, St John’s wort or products that are substrates of CYP3A4 and have narrow therapeutic windows.
Side effects: Adverse events with a possible relationship to atazanivir regimens include nausea, headache and jaundice. See SPC.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 100mg 60 £332.31, 150mg 60 £332.31, 200mg 60 £352.67.
Contact details: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bristol-Myers Squibb House, Staines Road, Hounslow TW3 3JA.

Nexium IV
Nexium (esomeprazole) 40mg powder for solution for injection or infusion has been launched (AstraZeneca). For a 40mg dose the reconstituted solution should be given as an intravenous injection over at least three minutes, or as an intravenous infusion over 10 to 30 minutes. For a 20mg dose, half of the reconstituted solution should be used as above. Net price, 1 vial £5.21. Legal category: POM

NeoRecormon
NeoRecormon (epoetin beta) is now additionally available as 30,000 international units per pre-filled syringe. For the treatment of anaemia in patients with multiple myeloma, low-grade Hodgkin’s lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the weekly dose can now be given as one single injection (Roche). See SPC. Net price, 4 syringes £1005.62. Legal category: POM

Co-codamol tablets
Co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine) tablets 30/500mg are now available from Almus Pharmaceuticals; net price, 100 £7.26.

Indapamide tablets
Indapamide tablets 2.5mg x 30 are now available from Alpharma; net price, £3.02

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SPC changes

Subutex
The summary of product characteristics for Subutex (buprenorphine) now states that patients receiving buprenorphine with ketoconazole should be closely monitored and the dose of buprenorphine should be halved when starting treatment with ketoconazole (Schering-Plough). Further titration of Subutex should be made as clinically indicated. Similar dose-reduction should be considered when initiating treatment with other inhibitors of CYP3A4. Use of enzyme inducers may increase the metabolism of buprenorphine and the dose of buprenorphine should be increased appropriately if patients complain of decreased benefit of buprenorphine or if there is a re-emergence of craving for illicit drugs. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Maalox Plus tablets
Maalox Plus (aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and simeticone) tablets packs of 10 have been discontinued (Aventis). Any outstanding back orders will be cancelled. Maalox Plus tablets 50, Maalox Plus suspension 500ml and Maalox suspension 500ml remain available. Details from Aventis customer services on 0870 5133347.

Froben suppositories
Froben (flurbiprofen) suppositories will be discontinued once current stock is exhausted (Abbott Laboratories).

Renagel capsules
Renagel (sevelamer) capsules 403mg are being discontinued from April (Genzyme). Renagel 800mg tablets remain available.

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Supply problems

Diethylstilbestrol tablets
Diethylstilbestrol (stilboestrol) tablets 1mg and 5mg are back in stock (APS Berk). Orders can be placed on 0800 590502.

Germoloids
Germoloids (lidocaine and zinc oxide) cream is now available in a 55g tube, recommended retail price £5.29, legal category: P (Bayer). Germoloids Duo Pack has also been launched, containing Germoloids suppositories x 12 and Germoloids ointment 15ml, recommended retail price £5.49, legal category: P

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Counter medicines

Cuprofen Plus
Cuprofen Plus (ibuprofen 200mg and codeine phosphate 12.8mg) caplets have been launched (SSL International). Recommended retail price, 12 £2.39, 24 £4.39. Legal category: P

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