PJ Online | Products (28 August 2004)

Vesicare
Composition: Solifenacin succinate.
Presentation: Film-coated tablets.
Class: Urinary antispasmodic.
Indications: Symptomatic treatment of urge incontinence and/or increased urinary frequency and urgency as may occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.
Dosage: 5mg daily. May be increased to 10mg daily if needed.
Major precautions: Patients with severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment should be treated with caution and receive no more than 5mg once daily. The maximum dose of Vesicare should be limited to 5mg in patients treated simultaneously with ketoconazole or other potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Contraindications: Breast-feeding, urinary retention, severe gastrointestinal conditions, myasthenia gravis or narrow angle glaucoma and patients at risk for these conditions. Haemodialysis, severe hepatic impairment, patients with severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment who are on treatment with a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor.
Side effects: Common (>1/100, <1/10) constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, blurred vision.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 5mg 30 £29.70, 10mg 30 £38.61.
Contact details: Yamanouchi Pharma, Yamanouchi House, Pyrford Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6RA (tel 01932 342291).

Prescription Products

Lyflex
Lyflex (baclofen) 5mg/5ml sugar-free oral solution will be available from Chemidex from 1 September. Net price, 300ml £7.95. Orders for Lyflex should be placed with Farillon (tel 01708 379000, fax 01708 376554).

Pergolide
Pergolide tablets are now available from Alpharma; net price, 250µg 100 £46.45, 1mg 100 £170.04.

Pravastatin
Pravastatin tablets are now available from Sandoz; net price, 10mg 28 £16.17, 20mg 28 £29.68, 40mg 28 £29.68.

SPC changes

Perfalgan
Perfalgan (paracetamol) solution for infusion is now licensed for use in children weighing more than 10kg (approximately one year old) but less than 33kg (Bristol-Myers Squibb). The dose is 15mg/kg per administration, ie, 1.5ml solution per kg up to four times a day. The minimum interval between administrations must be four hours. The maximum daily dose must not exceed 60mg/kg (without exceeding 2g). The maximum recommended daily dose in children weighing more than 33kg, adolescents and adults weighing less than 50kg has been changed from 4g to 3g. The summary of product characteristics now includes isolated reports of leucopenia and neutropenia, and further pharmacokinetic information has been included. See SPC.

Discontinued products

Efexor 50mg tablets
Efexor (venlafaxine) tablets 50mg x 42 have been discontinued (Wyeth). Efexor tablets 37.5mg x 56 and 75mg x 56 remain available.

Penbritin
Penbritin (ampicillin) capsules and injection are being discontinued (GlaxoSmithKline). The company expects supplies to be available until December.

Supply issues

Nubain injection
There are supply problems with Nubain (nalbuphine hydrochloride) injection (Bristol-Myers Squibb). Supplies are expected to become available again at the end of September. Queries should be directed to customer services on 01244 586250.

Puri-Nethol
UK packs of Puri-Nethol (mercaptopurine) tablets are currently out of stock (GlaxoSmithKline). Export stock containing a copy of the UK approved patient information leaflet is being supplied in its place. Any queries should be directed to the GSK customer contact centre on 0800 221441.

Counter products

Fluconazole capsules
Fluconazole capsules 150mg are now available from Vantage; recommended retail price, 1 £5.99. Legal category P

Products miscellany

Arixtra responsibility
Responsibility for Arixtra (fondaparinux sodium) will be transferred from
Sanofi-Synthélabo to GlaxoSmithKline on 1 September. After this date any queries regarding the product should be directed to GSK on 0800 221441.