The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7362 p191
13 August 2005

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Products

Prescription Products
• Anquil
• Octim Nasal Spray
• Pergolide
SPC changes
• Topamax
Discontinued products
• Benquil 0.25mg tablets
• Debrisan paste
• Ludiomil 50mg
Supply issues
• Dentsply
• Niferex elixir
• Prempak C
• Unidrug Distribution Group
Products miscellany
• Calcichew-D₃ Forte
• Nootropil tablets

Recall Physioneal 40 Glucose 1.36 per cent w/v

Prescription Products

Anquil
Anquil (benperidol) tablets 0.25mg are available from Concord Pharmaceuticals through its distributor UDG (tel 01773 510123, fax 01773 810644). Net price, 112 tablets, £104. Legal category: POM.

Octim Nasal Spray
Octim Nasal Spray (desmopressin acetate) 150µg per spray has been launched by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Orders should be sent to: Nordic Pharma, Abbey House, 1650 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading RG7 4SA (tel 0118 929 8236, fax 0118 929 8234). Net price, 2.5ml £600. Legal category: POM.

Pergolide
Pergolide tablets 50µg are now available from TEVA. Net price, 100 tablets, £16.06. Legal category: POM.

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SPC changes

Topamax
The summary of product characteristics for Topamax (topiramate; Janssen-Cilag) has been updated to include an additional indication for the prophylactic treatment of migraine headache in adults. The recommended daily dose for this indication is 100mg a day administered in two divided doses, although some patients may experience a benefit at a total daily dose of 50mg a day. Dose titration should begin at 25mg nightly for a week. The daily dosage should then be increased, at one week intervals, by 25mg. If the patient is unable to tolerate the titration regimen, intervals longer than a week should be used. Dose and titration rate should be guided by clinical outcome. Discontinuation of treatment should be gradual.
See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Benquil 0.25mg tablets
Benquil (benperidol; Hansam) tablets 0.25mg are being discontinued. Further information on 0870 241 2330.

Debrisan paste
Debrisan paste (dextranomer; Pfizer) has been discontinued.

Ludiomil 50mg
Ludiomil (maprotiline; Novartis) tablets 50mg are being discontinued from 1 September. Ludiomil tablets 25mg and 75mg remain available.

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Supply issues

Dentsply
Most stock lines of Dentsply’s dental local anaesthetics will be available again from October. Further details on 01932 837279.

Niferex elixir
Niferex elixir (polysaccharide-iron complex; Tillomed) 30ml bottle is back in stock. The 240ml bottle will be available later in the year. Orders can be placed on 0800 970 6113.

Prempak C
Following supply problems with Prempak C (conjugated oestrogen with progestogen; Wyeth), Wyeth expects supplies to be available again by the end of August.

Unidrug Distribution Group
Ordering, distribution and invoicing of the following products, previously via Unidrug Distribution Group (UDG), will change to UCB Pharma at the end of the month: Aminogram food supplement and PKU tablets, Kentera transdermal patch, Keppra (levetiracetam) tablets and oral solution, Nootropil (piracetam) tablets and solution, Preservex (aceclofenac) tablets, Ucerax (hydroxyzine hydrochloride) syrup and tablets, Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) tablets, and Zirtek (cetirizine) tablets and solution. The last order accepted by UDG will be on 31 August for delivery on 2 September. UCB will accept orders from 5 September (tel 0800 9530 183, fax 0800 9530 184).

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Products miscellany

Calcichew-D₃ Forte
Calcichew-D₃ Forte tablets (calcium carbonate 1.25g and 10µg (400IU) colecalciferol; Shire Pharmaceuticals) are now additionally available in packs of 60. Net price, £4.50. Legal category: P.

Nootropil tablets
Nootropil (piracetam; UCB Pharma) tablets 1,200mg are now available in packs of 60. Nootropil tablets 1,200mg packs of 56 have been discontinued.

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