PJ Online | Products (31 July 2004)

Lyrica
Composition: Pregabalin
Presentation: Hard capsules
Class: Antiepileptic
Indications: The treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in adults. Adjunctive therapy for epilepsy in adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation.
Dosage: treatment can be started at 150mg per day given in two or three divided doses. Based on individual response and tolerability, the dose may be increased to 300mg per day after an interval of three to seven days (neuropathic pain) or one week (epilepsy), and to a maximum dose of 600mg per day after an additional seven-day interval. Dose reduction in patients with compromised renal function must be individualised according to creatinine clearance. See SPC.
Precautions: If pregabalin has to be discontinued it is recommended that this should be done gradually over a minimum of one week. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine. Some diabetic patients who gain weight on pregabalin treatment may need to adjust hypoglycaemic medicines.
Side effects: very common (>1/10) dizziness, somnolence, common (>1/100, <1/10) include increased appetite, ataxia, blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction.
Legal category: POM
Net price: 25mg, 75mg, 150mg or 300mg, 56, £64.40. 25mg, 50mg, 100mg or 200mg, 84, £96.60.
Contact details: Pfizer, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ (tel 01304 616161).
Lyrica is initially only being launched into the hospital market and allocations will only be sent to Pfizer’s nominated hospital distributors.

Prescription Products

Vfend
Vfend (voriconazole) 40mg/ml powder for oral suspension will be available from mid-august (Pfizer); net price, 100ml, £501.25.

SPC changes

Pariet new indication
Pariet (rabeprazole sodium) is now additionally indicated for the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (Eisai). The SPC states that the recommended adult starting dose for this indication is 60mg once a day. The dose may be titrated upwards to 120mg per day based on individual patient needs. Single daily doses up to 100mg per day may be given. A 120mg dose may require divided doses of 60mg twice daily. Treatment should continue for as long as clinically indicated. See SPC.

Vfend
The summary of product characteristics for Vfend (voriconazole) now states that co-administration with ritonavir (400mg and above twice daily) is contraindicated because ritonavir significantly decreases plasma voriconazole concentrations in healthy subjects (Pfizer). The SPC has been updated to include dosing information for the powder for oral suspension. The oral suspension should be taken at least one hour before, or two hours following, a meal. Regarding treatment-related visual disturbances, the SPC now states that no clinically significant long-term visual effects were observed with short-term or long-term treatment. See SPC.

Discontinued products

Gardenal Sodium
Gardenal Sodium (phenobarbital) injection 200mg/ml has been discontinued (Concord Pharmaceuticals).

Lamprene
Commercial supply of Lamprene (clofazimine) has been discontinued and stocks are now exhausted (Alliance Pharmaceuticals). Lamprene manufactured by Novartis will remain available on a non-commercial basis from the World Health Organization for the treatment of leprosy.

Diamicron MR
Diamicron (gliclazide) MR tablets packs of 84 and 112 are being discontinued (Servier Laboratories). The company expects stock to be exhausted in August. Packs of 28 and 56 remain available.

Atrovent CFC inhaler
Atrovent (ipratropium bromide) inhaler containing CFC propellants has been discontinued (Boehringer Ingelheim) and has been replaced by Atrovent CFC-free inhaler, 20µg per puff; net price £4.21.

Supply issues

Fluorouracil capsules
From 1 August fluorouracil capsules 250mg will no longer be available from Cambridge Laboratories. The capsules will continue to be available on a named patient basis from Acorus Therapeutics, via Farillon (tel 01708 330 222).

Counter products

Zocor Heart-Pro
Zocor Heart-Pro (simvastatin) tablets 10mg are now available from Johnson & Johnson MSD. Recommended retail price, 28 £12.99. Legal category: P.

Practice guidance p169

Products miscellany

Lamisil AT spray
Lamisil AT (terbinafine hydrochloride) 1 per cent spray has been reclassified to GSL; the price is unaffected (Novartis).