The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7338 p231
26 February 2005

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Products

Prescription Products
• Bupivacaine
• Equasym XL
• Tasmar
SPC changes
• Aredia
• Emtriva
• Prostap 3
• Trileptal
Discontinued products
• FemTab Continuous
• MCR-50 capsules
• Orimeten
Supply issues
• Dentsply
Products miscellany
• Goldshield products
• Penbritin
• Sanofi-aventis OTCs
• Sinemet appearance
• Flynn Pharma

Drug alert The Teething Mixture/Portavogie Teething Mixture

Prescription Products

Bupivacaine
Bupivacaine hydrochloride (0.1 per cent or 0.125 per cent w/v) solution for infusion is now available from Goldshield Pharmaceuticals. Net price, 20 bags, 0.1 per cent 100ml £168.29, 0.1 per cent 250ml £211.72, 0.125 per cent 250ml £216.06. Legal category: POM.

Equasym XL
Equasym XL (methylphenidate hydrochloride) is now available from UCB Pharma. Net price, 30 capsules, 10mg £25, 20mg £30, 30mg £35. Legal category: POM.

Tasmar
Tasmar (tolcapone) tablets will be available from March from Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Net price 100 tablets £95.20. Legal category: POM.

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SPC changes

Aredia
The summary of product characteristics for Aredia
(disodium pamidronate; Novartis) now includes a warning of very rare cases of osteonecrosis. See SPC.

Emtriva
The summary of product characteristics for Emtriva (emtricitabine; Gilead) has been updated. A warning of immune reactivation syndrome in HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time combination antiretroviral therapy is started is now included. See SPC.

Prostap 3
The summary of product characteristics for Prostap 3 (leuprorelin acetate; Wyeth) injection has been updated to include an additional indication for the management of endometriosis, including pain relief and reduction of endometriotic lesions. The recommended dose is 11.25mg administered as a single intramuscular injection every 3 months for a period of 6 months only. Treatment should be initiated during the first five days of the menstrual cycle. See SPC.

Trileptal
The summary of product characteristics for Trileptal (oxcarbazepine; Novartis) now includes pancreatitis as a very rare undesirable effect. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

FemTab Continuous
FemTab Continuous (estradiol hemihydrate 2mg and norethisterone acetate 1mg; Merck) tablets are being discontinued from 30 April. Further details from medical information on 01895 452307.

MCR-50 capsules
MCR-50 (isosorbide
5-mononitrate; Pfizer) capsules 50mg have been discontinued. Further information is available on 01304 616161.

Orimeten
Orimeten (aminoglutethimide; Novartis) tablets 250mg have been discontinued. The product will remain available until remaining stocks approach their shelf-life expiry at the end of July. Further information from Novartis medical information on 01276 698370.

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Supply issues

Dentsply
Most stock lines of Dentsply’s dental local anaesthetics are currently unavailable. Further details from medical details on 01932 837279.

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Products miscellany

Goldshield products
Goldshield Pharmaceuticals says that Antigen products are now available direct to hospitals only from AAH or Healthcare Logistics. Goldshield oncology products will only be available direct to hospitals from UDG. Further details on 020 8410 2134.

Penbritin
From 1 March, all UK marketing, promotion, sales and distribution activities for Penbritin (ampicillin; GlaxoSmithKline) injection 500mg and Penbritin capsules 250mg are being transferred to Chemidex. From 1 March orders should be placed with Farillon on 01708 379000.

Sanofi-aventis OTCs
Sanofi-aventis over-the-counter products can no longer be ordered from Food Brokers. These products should now be ordered direct from sanofi-aventis in Guildford on 0800 854430.

Sinemet appearance
The marking “DPP” has been removed from all Sinemet (levodopa/carbidopa; Bristol-Myers Squibb), Half-Sinemet CR and Sinemet CR tablets.

Flynn Pharma
Lilly has divested Distaclor, Keflex, Axid, Kefadim, Vancocin, Kefurox (cefuroxime) and Dobutrex products to Flynn Pharma. Further details are available on 01462 458974.

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