The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7335 p142
5 February 2005

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Products

Prescription Products
• Paracetamol
SPC changes
• Optimax
• Reyataz
Discontinued products
• Flixotide inhaler
• Grisovin
• Lasix
• Melleril
Supply issues
• Daonil tablets
• Diloxanide tablets
• Predenema
Products miscellany
• Zamadol Melt
• Zydol

Recall
Crescent bendrofluazide tablets
Medisense Optium Plus

Prescription products

Paracetamol
Paracetamol soluble tablets 500mg, packs of 100 (5 tubes of 20 tablets) are now available from Alpharma; net price £4.69. Legal category: POM.

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SPC changes

Optimax
It is no longer necessary for prescribers and patients to be registered with Merck Pharmaceuticals before supply of Optimax (l-tryptophan). The company says that the Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) surveillance system is no longer necessary. The summary of product characteristics now states that caution should be exercised with patients who experience some but not all of the symptoms of EMS after taking l-tryptophan. Treatment should be withheld until the possibility of EMS can be excluded.The product is no longer restricted to patients whose illness has continued for more than two years. See SPC.Optimax will be available in the normal way through wholesalers after 14 February. Further details from the OPTICS unit on 0845 762 6902.

Reyataz
The summary of product characteristics for Reyataz (atazanavir) has been updated to include information concerning immune reactivation syndrome (Bristol-Myers Squibb). The SPC now states that, in HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy, an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic pathogens may arise and cause serious clinical conditions or aggravation of symptoms. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Flixotide inhaler
Flixotide (fluticasone propionate) inhaler 25µg is being discontinued when stocks are exhausted (GlaxoSmithKline). The company expects this to be in March. All other presentations of Flixotide remain available.

Grisovin
Grisovin (griseofulvin) tablets are being discontinued and will be unavailable from March (GlaxoSmithKline).

Lasix
Lasix (furosemide) tablets 20mg will be discontinued when current stocks are exhausted (Borg Medicare). Current stock has an expiry date of May 2005 and can be ordered on a sale or return basis. Details from Distriphar customer services on 0870 513 3347.

Melleril
All forms of Melleril (thioridazine) will be discontinued by 30 June (Novartis). Prescribers are being advised not to initiate patients on the treatment and to discontinue treatment in those already taking the drug, following recommended guidelines. Details from Novartis on 01276 698370.

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Supply issues

Daonil tablets
Aventis says that the only stock of Daonil (glibenclamide) tablets 5mg currently available has an expiry date of June 2005. Customers are asked to accept the short-dated stock on a sale or return basis.

Diloxanide tablets
Diloxanide furoate tablets 500mg x 30 are still out of stock (Sovereign Medical). The expected availability date has now moved to September. Further details from medical information on 01268 535233.

Predenema
Predenema (prednisolone) retention enemas, both long and standard tubes, are out of stock (Forest Laboratories). The company expects the product to be in short supply for the foreseeable future and advises that alternative treatments should be considered.

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Products miscellany

Zamadol Melt
Zamadol Melt (tramadol) orodispersible tablets 50mg are now also available in packs of 60 (Viatris). Net price, £7.12.

Zydol
Responsibility for Zydol (tramadol) (formerly a Pfizer product) has been transferred to Grünenthal and the product will now appear in Grünenthal livery.

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