Hepatitis B and HIV treatments among those endorsed by SMC
Seven more drugs were accepted for use within NHS Scotland by the Scottish
Medicines Consortium this month.
Pegylated interferon alfa 2a (Pegasys; Roche) has been endorsed as a
treatment for certain types of chronic hepatitis B in adult patients.
Patients are eligible for treatment if they have liver disease in which
the liver is damaged but still working normally, where there is evidence
of viral replication, increased levels of alanine aminotransferase and
liver inflammation or fibrosis.
The SMC says that fosamprenavir (Telzir; GlaxoSmithKline) may be used
for the treatment of adults infected with HIV-1 in combination with low-dose
ritonavir and other antiretroviral medicinal products. The drug should
only be prescribed by HIV specialists.
Transdermal fentanyl (Durogesic D Trans; Janssen-Cilag) is accepted for
restricted use for patients with chronic intractable pain due to non-malignant
conditions. The drug should be considered as a second-line alternative
for patients with stable pain who have initially been controlled by oral
means but now have difficulty swallowing or have problems with opiate-induced
constipation.
The SMC also accepts aripiprazole (Abilify; Bristol-Myers Squibb) 5mg
tablets for the treatment of schizophrenia in patients who may benefit
from a dose reduction, taking into account previous SMC guidance.
Atomoxetine (Strattera; Eli Lilly & Co) has now been accepted for
use for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in
children aged over six years and in adolescents who cannot take stimulants
or do not respond to them.
Turning to treatments for asthma, the SMC accepts ciclesonide (Alvesco;
Altana Pharma) for the preventive treatment of persistent asthma in adults
who need once daily administration and whose medication is at step 2
or 3 of the treatment ladder in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
and British Thoracic Society guidance.
Montelukast (Singulair; Merck Sharp & Dohme) has also been accepted
for restricted use for the relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms
in adult patients who require the drug for their asthma. The SMC points
out that there are more effective and better value treatments available
for seasonal allergic rhinitis in other patients. |
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