The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7435 p71
20 January 2007

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 60K, Acrobat Reader

Announcements

• Diftavax
• Dopamine agonists

Announcements

Diftavax
Diftavax (adsorbed diphtheria [low dose] and tetanus vaccine for adults and adolescents) was discontinued by sanofi pasteur MSD in January 2006. Diftavax is now unavailable and adsorbed diphtheria [low dose], tetanus and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (Revaxis; sanofi pasteur MSD) is now recommended by the Department of Health.

Further information at www.spmsd.co.uk

Dopamine agonists
The European Pharmacovigilance Working Party has reviewed the available data on the following dopamine agonists: levodopa (in combination with carbidopa, benserazide or entacapone), a-dihydroergocryptine, apomorphine, bromocriptine, cabergoline, lisuride, pergolide, piribedil, pramipexole, quinagolide, rotigotine and ropinirole. Evidence from spontaneous reports and scientific literature suggests that pathological gambling and increased libido, including hypersexuality, may be class effects of dopamine agonists, especially at high doses, generally reversible upon reduction of the dose or treatment discontinuation.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has requested that marketing authorisation holders for all dopamine agonists for all indications, including restless legs syndrome, endocrine disorders and Parkinson’s disease, update their summaries of product characteristics accordingly.