The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7318 p415
25 September 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Diazepam
• TachoSil
SPC changes
• Taxol
Discontinued products
• Alpharma products
Counter products
• Levonelle One Step
• Cough Nurse
Products miscellany
• Almogran responsibility

Prescription Products

Diazepam
Diazepam tablets are now available from Almus Pharmaceuticals; net price, 2mg 28 £0.53, 5mg 28 £0.58,10mg 28 £0.84.

TachoSil
TachoSil medicated sponge (human fibrinogen 5.5mg per cm2 and human thrombin 2IU per cm2) has been launched by Nycomed. Net price, 1 sponge (9.5 x 4.8cm) £190.

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SPC changes

Taxol
The summary of product characteristics for Taxol (paclitaxel) has been updated (Bristol-Myers Squibb). It is now additionally indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) in whom prior liposomal anthracycline therapy has failed. The recommended dose of dexamethasone premedication for this indication is 8–20mg and the recommended dose of paclitaxel is 100mg/m² administered as a 3-hour infusion every two weeks. Paclitaxel should not be used in KS patients with baseline neutrophils <1,000/mm³. Paclitaxel is also contraindicated in KS patients with concurrent, serious, uncontrolled infections. The SPC now states that paclitaxel should be administered with caution in patients receiving protease inhibitors as concomitant therapy. Study details describing the undesirable effects and pharmacokinetic properties of paclitaxel in KS patients have been added. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Alpharma products
The following products have been discontinued from the Alpharma range; timolol 0.5 per cent eye drops 5ml, ciprofloxacin tablets 250mg x 10, fenbufen tablets 300mg x 84 and Nifedipress (nifedipine) MR tablets 20mg x 56.

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Counter products

Levonelle One Step
Levonelle One Step (levonorgestrel 1,500µg) tablet will be available from mid-November. The tablet should be taken as a single dose preferably within 12 hours of unprotected intercourse and no later than 72 hours afterwards. Recommended retail price £25. Legal category: P

Cough Nurse
Cough Nurse Night Time Liquid (diphenhydramine 50mg and pholcodine 15mg per 20ml) will be available from the end of September (GlaxoSmithKline); recommended retail price, 150ml £3.99. Legal category: P

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Products miscellany

Almogran responsibility
From 1 October responsibility for the marketing and distribution of Almogran (almotriptan) will be transferred from Lundbeck to Organon Laboratories.

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