The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7389 p227
25 February 2006

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Products

Prescription Products
• Eloxatin
• Meloxicam
• Zyprexa Velotab
SPC changes
• Hycamtin
Discontinued products
• Ludiomil
• Narcan
• Nystan
• Yentreve
Supply issues
• Dentsply
• Isovorin
• Sustiva
Products miscellany
• Volplex
• Novartis
• Risperdal Consta

Prescription Products

Eloxatin
Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) concentrate for solution for infusion 5mg/ml is now available from Sanofi Aventis. Net price, 50mg vial £165, 100mg vial £330. Legal category: POM.

Meloxicam
Meloxicam tablets are now available from Genus. Net price, 30 x 7.5mg £8.95, 30 x 15mg £11.95. Legal category: POM.

Zyprexa Velotab
Zyprexa (olanzapine) Velotab 20mg is now available from Lilly. Net price, 28 £182.74. Legal category: POM.

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SPC changes

Hycamtin
Hycamtin (topotecan; Merck) powder for solution for infusion is now indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer for whom retreatment with the first-line regimen is not considered appropriate. The summary of product characteristics states that the recommended dose is 1.5mg/m² body surface area/day administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes for five consecutive days with a three-week interval between the start of each course. If tolerated, treatment may continue until disease progression, the SPC states. Baseline neutrophil count must be >=1.5 x 10⁹/L and platelet count must be >=100 x 10⁹/L before the first course is administered. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Ludiomil
Ludiomil (maprotiline) tablets 75mg will be discontinued by Novartis from 1 March. Ludiomil tablets 25mg will remain available.

Narcan
Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride) injection has been discontinued by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Hospital contracts will be transferred to Mayne, which can be contacted on 01926 820820.

Nystan
Nystan (nystatin) suspension 1L has been discontinued by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Nystan suspension 30ml remains available.

Yentreve
Lilly has discontinued Yentreve (duloxetine) capsules 20mg. Further information available from customer care on 01256 315999.

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Supply issues

Dentsply
Dentsply, which is closing its anaesthetic manufacturing centre, is unable to supply xylocaine and Citanest products (except Citanest 3 per cent with Octapressin) until it has outsourced production to third parties. Further information is available on 01932 853422.

Isovorin
There are short-term supply problems with Isovorin (levofolinic acid;Wyeth) injection 25mg and 175mg. Treatment-related queries should be directed to 01628 415330, supply issues to 0845 330 0509.

Sustiva
Bristol-Myers Squibb is currently out of stock of Sustiva (efavirenz) capsules 100mg. Supply is expected to resume by the end of February. Sustiva capsules 50mg remain available. Medical-related queries should be directed to 0800 7311 736.

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Products miscellany

Volplex
Maelor Pharmaceuticals has reacquired the UK product distribution rights for Volplex (4 per cent succinylated gelatin solution for infusion). Volplex 500ml and 1,000ml will now be distributed on behalf of Maelor by Mawdsley Brooks. Orders should be placed on 0114 2543585. Enquiries should be directed to Maelor on 01978 810153 (e-mail enquiries@maelor.plc.uk).

Novartis
Novartis has resumed responsibility for Anafranil (clomipramine), Lioresal (baclofen) tablets and liquid, Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate). All medical information queries should be directed to Novartis on 01276 698370.

Risperdal Consta
A “SmartSite needle-free vial access device” for Risperdal Consta (risperidone long-acting injection; Janssen-Cilag) will be launched on 1 March. The device will replace the current three-needle giving set supplied with Risperdal Consta. Further information is available on 0800 7318450.

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