The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7489 p175
16 February 2008

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Products

Accessing SPCs
The summaries of product characteristics and patient information leaflets for medicines licensed in the UK are available online

Prescription Products
• Actonel Combi
• Asacol MR
• Cozaar-Comp
SPC changes
• Alimta
• HBvaxPRO
• Lamisil
• Lantus
Supply issues
• Desmomelt
• Lyrinel XL
Products miscellany
• Avastin

Medical device alert Blood glucose meters and test strips

Prescription Products

Actonel Combi
Actonel Combi (risedronate, calcium, vitamin D₃) is now available from Procter & Gamble. One 28-day pack contains 4 x 35mg Actonel (risedronate) film-coated tablets and 24 effervescent granules sachets containing 2,500mg calcium carbonate (equivalent to 1,000mg calcium) and 22µg colecalciferol (vitamin D₃). One Actonel tablet should be taken on day 1 each week, with one calcium/vitamin D₃ sachet taken daily on days 2–7.

Net price: £20.30
Legal category: POM

Asacol MR
Asacol MR (mesalazine) is now available from Procter & Gamble in 800mg modified-release tablets.

Net price: 180, £124.86
Legal category: POM

Cozaar-Comp
Cozaar-Comp (losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide) is now available from Merck Sharp & Dohme as 100mg/12.5mg tablets.

Net price: 28, £16.18
Legal category: POM

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SPC changes

Alimta
Cases of radiation recall (a radiotherapy/chemotherapy skin reaction) have been reported in patients who have received radiotherapy weeks or years previously, according to the updated summary of product characteristics for Alimta (pemetrexed; Lilly).

HBvaxPRO
Eczema and polyarteritis nodosa have been added as side effects in the summaries of product characteristics for HBvaxPRO (hepatitis B vaccines; Sanofi Pasteur MSD). A warning about the potential for apnoea in very premature infants has been added to the SPC for the 5µg/ml strength of HBvaxPRO.

Lamisil
Rare cases of changes in international normalised ratio and/or prothrombin time have been reported for patients receiving terbinafine concomitantly with warfarin, the summary of product characteristics for Lamisil (terbinafine; Novartis) now states.

Lantus
The following warning has been added to the summaries of product characteristics for Lantus (insulin glargine; Sanofi Aventis): “Insulin administration may cause insulin antibodies to form. In rare cases, the presence of such insulin antibodies may necessitate adjustment of the insulin dose in order to correct a tendency to hyper- or hypoglycaemia.”

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Supply issues

Desmomelt
Desmomelt (desmopressin; Ferring) sublingual tablets 240µg are out of stock. The 120µg strength remains available. Further information on 01753 214860.

Lyrinel XL
Lyrinel XL (oxybutynin hydrochloride) modified-release tablets 5mg are available again from Janssen-Cilag after being out of stock.

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Products miscellany

Avastin
Roche is currently supplying Avastin (bevacizumab) vials 100mg and 400mg with different caps and embossing to that previously supplied. All other vial and content specifications remain the same. This alternative supply is expected to continue for a number of months. Further information on 0800 3281629.

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