New medicines
Macugen
Composition: Pegaptanib sodium.
Presentation: Pre-filled syringe containing solution for injection 0.3mg.
Action: Inhibitor of extracellular vascular endothelial growth factor.
Indication: Treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration
(AMD).
Dosage: The recommended dose is 0.3mg once every six weeks (nine injections
per year), administered by intravitreal injection into the affected eye.
Precautions: Macugen is contraindicated for patients with active or suspected
ocular or periocular infection. If transient increase in intraocular
pressure is seen after intravitreal injection, it is recommended that
perfusion of the optic nerve be verified and elevation of intraocular
pressure be managed appropriately. Immediate or delayed intravitreous
haemorrhage may occur following Macugen injection. It is recommended
that patients report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis immediately
and that patients should be monitored closely for endophthalmitis in
the two weeks following Macugen injection. Patients may experience temporary
blurred vision after Macugen injection and should not drive or use machines
until this has resolved.
Side effects: Very common (>=1/10) eye disorders (see
SPC); common (>=1/100 to <1/10) headache, rhinorrhoea, eye disorders
(see SPC).
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 1 x 0.3mg £514.
Contact details: Pfizer Ltd, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Walton-on-the-Hill,
Surrey KT20 7NS. Telephone 01304 616161.
Tygacil
Composition: Tigecycline.
Presentation: Vial containing powder for solution for infusion 50mg.
Class: Glycylcycline antibiotic.
Indication: Treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections
and complicated intra-abdominal infections.
Dosage: The recommended adult dose is 100mg followed by 50mg every 12
hours for five to 14 days, administered by intravenous infusion over
30 to 60 minutes.
Precautions: Tygacil may have adverse reactions similar to tetracycline
class antibiotics. Caution is advised when treating patients with severe
underlying diseases and consideration should be given to the use of combination
antibacterial therapy whenever Tygacil is used to treat severely ill
patients with complicated
intra-abdominal infections secondary to clinically apparent intestinal
perforation, or patients with incipient sepsis or septic shock. It is
recommended that patients with cholestasis be closely monitored when
receiving Tygacil. Coagulation tests should be used to monitor patients
who receive Tygacil with anticoagulants. Patients who present with diarrhoea
during, or after receiving Tygacil, should be assessed for pseudomembranous
colitis and patients should be monitored during therapy for signs of
super infection with non-susceptible organisms, including fungi. Tygacil
may be associated with permanent tooth discolouration if used during
tooth development. Tygacil may cause dizziness, which could affect the
ability to drive and use machines.
Side effects: Very common (>=1/10) nausea, vomiting,
diarrhoea; common (>=1/100 to <1/10) abscess, infections, prolonged
activated partial thromboplastin time, prolonged prothrombin time, dizziness,
phlebitis,
abdominal pain, dyspepsia, anorexia, elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase,
elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubinaemia, pruritus, rash,
headache, elevated serum amylase, increased blood urea nitrogen.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 10 x 50mg vials £323.10.
Contact details: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Huntercombe Lane South, Taplow,
Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 0PH. Telephone 01628 604377.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal
DuoTrav (travoprost 40µg/ml, timolol 5mg/ml) eye drops are now
available from Alcon. Net price, 1 x 2.5ml £13.20, 3 x 2.5ml £37.62.
Legal category: POM.
Curanail (amorolfine) nail lacquer 5 per cent w/v is now available from
Galderma. Recommended retail price, 3ml £18.61. Legal category:
P.