Macular degeneration treatment among drugs accepted by SMC
Paul Parker/Science Photo Library
Ophthalmoscope image of macular degeneration |
Pegaptanib (Macugen) intravitreal injection, a new medicine for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (PJ, 20 May, p580 and p588), has been accepted by the Scottish
Medicines Consortium for use throughout NHS Scotland. The SMC is restricting pegaptanib use based on patients' visual acuity, and a guideline on when treatment should be stopped is provided by the consortium.
Travoprost/timolol (Duotrav) eye drops — used for patients with
open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension — are also accepted
by the SMC.
Ertapenem (Invanz) has been accepted for the second-line treatment of
children and adolescents with intra-abdominal infection resistant to
current conventional treatments and under the advice of local microbiologists
or infectious disease specialists. This updates the SMC’s previous
approval for the
use of ertapenem in adults (PJ, 15 January 2005, p40).
The SMC has also accepted the following CFC-free inhaled medicines: salmeterol
(Serevent Evohaler) for the regular symptomatic treatment of reversible
airways obstruction in patients with asthma including those with nocturnal
asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and for the prevention
of exercise-induced asthma; and beclometasone diproprionate (Clenil Modulite)
for the prophylactic management of mild, moderate or severe asthma in
adults or children.
The SMC notes that Clenil Modulite inhaler doses are not equivalent to
the other CFC-free inhalers currently on the market (see p181).
Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (Cozaar-Comp 100/25) has been accepted for
use in Scotland for the treatment of essential hypertension in patients
whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on hydrochlorothiazide
or losartan therapy alone.
The SMC has rejected the following medicines for use throughout NHS Scotland:
· Paricalcitol (Zemplar) for the prevention and treatment of secondary
hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing
haemodialysis
· Rotigotine (Neupro) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of
early-stage idiopathic Parkinson’s disease as monotherapy (without
levodopa)
· Pregabalin (Lyrica) for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain
in adults
· Fondaparinux (Arixtra) for the prevention of venous thromboembolic
events in patients undergoing abdominal surgery who are judged to be
at high risk of thromboembolic complications |
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