The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7319 p462
2 October 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Childhood vaccines
• Indapamide tablets
• Invivac
• Lisicostad
• Vfend powder
• Suprax paediatric
SPC changes
• Xenical
• Clozaril
Discontinued products
• Engerix B
• Farlutal tablets
Counter products
• Cetirizine syrup
Products miscellany
• Nystan shelf life

Prescription Products

Childhood vaccines
The following vaccines are now available from Aventis Pasteur MSD;

· Pediacel (diphtheria, tetanus, five component acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine [adsorbed]). Net price, 1 syringe, £19.94.

· Repevax (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular component pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine, [adjuvanted]). Net price, 1 syringe, £11.98.

· Revaxis (diphtheria, tetanus and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine [adsorbed]). Net price, 1 syringe, £7.25.

All legal categories: POM.

Indapamide tablets
Indapamide tablets 2.5mg are now available from Genus Pharmaceuticals; net price, 30 £3. Legal category: POM.

Invivac
Invivac (influenza vaccine, surface antigen, inactivated, virosome) has been launched by Solvay Healthcare; net price, 1 syringe £6.59. Legal category: POM.

Lisicostad
Lisicostad (lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide) tablets are now available from Genus Pharmaceuticals; net price, 10/12.5mg 28 £12.99, 20/12.5mg 28 £14.69. Legal category: POM.

Vfend powder
Vfend (voriconazole) powder for oral suspension 40mg/ml has been launched (Pfizer). Net price, 45g, £501.25. Legal category: POM.

Suprax paediatric
Suprax (cefixime) paediatric oral suspension 100mg/5ml 50ml is now available from Aventis; net price £10.53. This replaces the 37.5ml bottle that has been discontinued. All back orders for the 37.5ml presentation have been cancelled.

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SPC changes

Xenical
The requirement that patients should only start treatment with Xenical (orlistat) if diet alone has previously produced a weight loss of at least 2.5kg over a period of four consecutive weeks has been removed (Roche). The SPC has been updated accordingly and clinical data relating to this change in licence have been included. See SPC.

Clozaril
The summary of product characteristics for Clozaril (clozapine) tablets now states that patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take the medicine (Novartis). Omeprazole is now included as an interaction, and hypercholesterolaemia and thrombocythaemia are listed as adverse events. The shelf-life is now five years. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Engerix B
Engerix B (hepatitis B vaccine) packs of 3 x 1ml vials are being discontinued (GlaxoSmithKline). The company expects stock to be exhausted by mid November. Energix B paediatric pack and all other presentations of Energix B remain available.

Farlutal tablets
Farlutal tablets (medroxyprogesterone acetate) 100mg, 250mg and 500mg have been discontinued (Pfizer). Farlutal injection remains available.

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Counter products

Cetirizine syrup
Cetirizine hydrochloride syrup 1mg/ml is now available from Genus Pharmaceuticals; net price, 150ml £7.49. Legal category: P

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Products miscellany

Nystan shelf life
The shelf life for Nystan (nystatin) oral suspension has been reduced from 36 to 24 months (Bristol-Myers Squibb).

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