New medicines / SPC changes / Prescription products / Discontinued products / Counter products / Supply issues / Products miscellany

Composition: Carbetocin.

Presentation: Solution for injection 100µg/ml.

Class: Long-acting oxytocin agonist.

Indication: Prevention of uterine atony and excessive bleeding following delivery of an infant by Caesarean section under epidural or spinal anaesthesia.

Dosage: 100µg as a single dose by intravenous injection.

Precautions: Pabal should be given under adequate medical supervision in a hospital. Pabal must only be administered after delivery of an infant by Caesarean section, as soon as possible after delivery, preferably before removal of the placenta. Patients with eclampsia or pre-eclampsia should be monitored for changes in blood pressure for up to eight hours. Pabal is contraindicated in the following conditions: during pregnancy and labour before delivery of the infant; hypersensitivity to carbetocin or oxytocin; and hepatic or renal disease.

Side effects: Frequent (10–40 per cent of patients): nausea, abdominal pain, pruritis, vomiting, feeling of warmth, hypotension, headache and tremor. Infrequent (1–5 per cent of patients): back pain, dizziness, metallic taste, anaemia, sweating, chest pain, pain, dyspnoea, chills and tachycardia.

Legal category: POM.

Net price: 5 x 1ml ampoules £60. For the forseeable future Pabal solution for injection will only be available from Ferring Pharmaceuticals direct.

Contact details: Ferring Pharmaceuticals, The Courtyard, Waterside Drive, Langley, Berkshire. SL3 6EZ. Telephone 01753 214800.

Prescription Products

Bedol
Bedol (estradiol) tablets 2mg will be available from 1 May from Resource Medical. Net price, 3 x 28 tablets £5.07. Legal category: POM.

Bonviva
Bonviva (ibandronic acid) solution 3mg/3ml for injection in prefilled syringe is now available from Roche. Net price, one syringe, £80. Legal category: POM.

Clarelux
Clarelux (clobetasol propionate) cutaneous foam 0.05 per cent (500µg/g) is now available from 3M Health Care. Net price, 100g pressurised container £11.06. Legal category: POM.

Climanor
Climanor (medroxyprogesterone) tablets 5mg will be available from 1 May from Resource Medical. Net price 3 x 28 tablets, £9.23. Legal category: POM.

Clinorette
Clinorette (estradiol/norethisterone) tablets will be available from 1 May from Resource Medical. Net price, 2 x 14 tablets £3.27. Legal category: POM.

Correction
Climanor tablets 5mg come as 2 x 14 tablets, net price £3.27, and Clinorette tablets come as 3 x 28 tablets, net price £9.23, not as stated.

SPC changes

Avandamet
The summary of product characteristics for Avandamet (rosiglitazone/metformin; GlaxoSmithKline) has been updated to include an additional indication in triple oral therapy with sulphonylurea in patients with insufficient glycaemic control despite dual oral therapy with their maximally tolerated dose of metformin and a sulphonylurea. See SPC.

Lyrica
The summary of product characteristics for Lyrica (pregabalin; Pfizer) has been updated to include an additional indication for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder in adults. For this indication, Lyrica is given in two or three divided doses, with a starting dose of 150mg per day. The maximum dose is 600mg per day. See SPC.

Discontinued products

Cymbalta
Cymbalta (duloxetine; Lilly) capsule 60mg 84 capsule pack is being discontinued at the end of July. Further information on 01256 315999.

Lacticare lotion
Lacticare (lactic acid/sodium pidolate; Stiefel) has been discontinued.

Humaject prefilled disposable insulin pens
Humaject S prefilled disposable insulin pens (Lilly) 5 x 3ml and Humaject M3 prefilled disposable insulin pens (Lilly) 5 x 3ml are being discontinued. Further information on 01256 315999.

Sulfadiazine injection
Sulfadiazine injection 10 x 4ml ampoules will be discontinued by Concord Pharmaceuticals at the end of April. Further information is available on 0870 2412330.

Supply issues

HeliClear
Wyeth is experiencing a short-term problem supplying HeliClear (lansoprazole [Zoton] capsules 30mg, amoxicillin capsules 500mg, clarithromycin [Klaricid] tablets 500mg) triple pack. Further information at www.wyeth.co.uk

Counter products

Benadryl for Children Allergy Solution
Benadryl for Children Allergy Solution (cetirizine 1mg/ml) is now available from Pfizer. Recommended retail price, 70 ml, £3.79. Legal category: GSL.

Products miscellany

Nifopress Retard
From 1 May Nifopress Retard (nifedipine; Goldshield) tablets 20mg will be available in a pack of 56 tablets. This will replace the 112-tablet pack,which is being discontinued. Medical information on 020 8410 2592.