The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7405 p715
17 June 2006

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Products

Prescription Products
• Aclasta
• Keppra
SPC changes
• Decapeptyl
• Xenical
Discontinued products
• Benzhexol
• Ergometrine
• Lidocaine
Supply issues
• Norphyllin SR
Products miscellany
• Adartrel

Recall Blood glucose meters

Prescription Products

Aclasta
Aclasta (zoledronic acid) solution for infusion 5mg/100ml is now available from Novartis. Aclasta is licensed for the treatment of Paget’s disease of the bone. Net price, 100ml, £283.74. Legal category: POM.

Keppra
Keppra (levetiracetam) concentrate for solution for infusion 100mg/ml is now available from UCB Pharma. Net price, 10 x 5ml vials, £135. Legal category: POM.

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SPC changes

Decapeptyl
Decapeptyl (triptorelin; Ipsen) is now indicated for the treatment of precocious puberty. The dose is one intramuscular injection of Decapeptyl SR 11.25mg repeated every three months. Treatment should be stopped around the physiological age of puberty. The summary of product characteristics warns that initial ovarian stimulation followed by treatment-induced oestrogen withdrawal may lead to vaginal bleeding. The undesirable effects and pharmacodynamic properties sections have been updated to reflect the new indication. See SPC.

Xenical
The summary of product characteristics for Xenical (orlistat; Roche) now states that orlistat may indirectly reduce the availability of oral contraceptives and lead to unexpected pregnancies in some individual cases. An additional contraceptive method is recommended in cases of severe diarrhoea. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Benzhexol
Benzhexol tablets 100 x 2mg and benzhexol tablets 100 x 5mg have been discontinued by TEVA.

Ergometrine
Ergometrine tablets 21 x 500µg have been discontinued by UCB Pharma.

Lidocaine
The following products have been discontinued by TEVA: lidocaine gel 1 per cent 12 x 15ml; lidocaine gel 1 per cent Anti 12 x 15ml; lidocaine gel 2 per cent 12 x 15ml; and lidocaine gel 2 per cent Anti 12 x 15ml (all in packs of 1).

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Supply issues

Norphyllin SR
Norphyllin SR (aminophylline; TEVA) tablets 225mg in packs of 56 (Ivax livery) are temporarily unavailable.

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Products miscellany

Adartrel
GlaxoSmithKline has decided not to launch 84 x 0.5mg and 84 x 2mg packs of Adartrel (ropinirole). The following packs will be available: 12 x 0.25mg; 28 x 0.5mg; and 28 x 2mg. Enquiries on 0800 221441.

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