The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7398 p501
29 April 2006

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 40K, Acrobat Reader

Products

SPC changes
• Mirapexin
Discontinued products
• Carace
• Fungilin
• Tetabulin
• Varidase
Supply issues
• Eskamel Cream
Products miscellany
• Canesten
• Varivax

SPC changes

Mirapexin
The summaries of product characteristics for Mirapexin (pramipexole; Boehringer Ingelheim) have been updated to include an additional indication for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe idiopathic restless legs syndrome. The recommended starting dose for RLS is 0.088mg of base (0.125mg of salt) taken once a day, two to three hours before bedtime. The dose may be increased, if needed, every four to seven days up to a maximum of 0.54mg of base (0.75mg of salt). If treatment is interrupted for more than a few days, Mirapexin should be reintroduced from the starting dose and titrated. The SPCs say that, when used for RLS at a dose not exceeding 0.54 mg of base, Mirapexin can be discontinued without tapering, but rebound symptoms cannot be excluded. The SPCs now contain information about augmentation phenomena (where, with dopaminergic treatment, symptoms of RLS can worsen, begin earlier in the day or spread to involve other extremities). The undesirable effects sections of the SPCs have been updated and now include adverse reactions for Mirapexin use in RLS (for example, common [>=5 per cent] nausea, headache, fatigue). See SPCs.

Back to Top

Discontinued products

Carace
Carace (lisinopril; Bristol-Myers Squibb) tablets 2.5mg have been discontinued.

Fungilin
Fungilin (amphotericin; Bristol-Myers Squibb) oral tablets 100mg have been discontinued.

Tetabulin
Tetabulin (human tetanus immunoglobulin; Baxter Healthcare) has been discontinued with immediate effect.

Varidase
Varidase Topical (streptokinase, streptodornase; Wyeth) combi-pack has been discontinued with immediate effect.

Back to Top

Supply issues

Eskamel Cream
Eskamel Cream (resorcinol 2 per cent, sulphur 8 per cent; Goldshield), formerly experiencing supply problems, is now fully available in the UK.

Back to Top

Products miscellany

Canesten
Bayer has launched new packaging for its Canesten range. Canesten thrush products containing fluconazole display a pink “wheatsheaf” (as a reminder that they are contraindicated in pregnancy) and those containing only clotrimazole display a yellow “wheatsheaf”. Additionally, Bayer is relaunching the following products under new names: Canesten Cream Combi (formerly Canesten Complete); and Canesten Internal Cream (formerly Canesten Once). New indications have been added for Canesten AF Spray for the treatment of jock itch and Canesten Cream 1 per cent for fungal nappy rash.

Varivax
The shelf life of Varivax (varicella vaccine, live; sanofi pasteur MSD) has been increased from 18 months to two years.

Back to Top