The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7312 p217
14 August 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Denzapine
• Acnocin
• Pravastatin
SPC changes
• Herceptin indication
• Betaferon storage
Discontinued products
• Terra-Cortril ointment
Counter products
• Vantage Heartburn Relief
• Zovirax legal category

Prescription Products

Denzapine
Denzapine (clozapine) tablets are now available from Denfleet Pharmaceuticals; net price 25mg 28 £12.33, 84 £36.97, 100mg 28 £49.28, 84 £147.84.

Acnocin
Acnocin (co-cyprindiol, cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol) tablets 2000/35 are now available from Sandoz; net price, 3 x 21 £9.79.

Pravastatin
Pravastatin sodium tablets are now available from:

· Almus; net price, 10mg 28 £8.50, 20mg 28 £13.75, 40mg 28 £21.60.

· Alpharma; net price, 10mg 28 £16.18, 20mg 28 £29.69, 40mg 28 £29.69.

· Ivax; net price, 10mg 28 £14.56, 20mg 28 £26.72, 40mg 28 £28.20.

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SPC changes

Herceptin indication
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is now additionally indicated in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumours overexpress HER2 and who have not received chemotherapy for their disease (Roche). The summary of product characteristics has been updated accordingly and now states that in trials paclitaxel or docetaxel was administered the day following the first dose of Herceptin and immediately after the subsequent doses of Herceptin if the preceding dose of Herceptin was well tolerated. The undesirable effects section has been expanded to include adverse effects reported with Herceptin plus docetaxel. See SPC.

Betaferon storage
Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) can now be stored at room temperature, provided it is less than 25C, for up to two years (Schering Health Care). See SPC. The product will continue to be distributed refrigerated to pharmacies during the summer months, but upon receipt it may be stored on pharmacy shelves.

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Discontinued products

Terra-Cortril ointment
Terra-Cortril (oxytetracycline and hydrocortisone) ointment 30g will be discontinued from 16 August (Pfizer). Terra-Cortril ointment 15g remains available.

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Counter products

Vantage Heartburn Relief
Vantage Heartburn Relief (omeprazole) tablets 10mg are now available, recommended retail price, 14 £6.49. Legal category: P.

Zovirax legal category
Zovirax (aciclovir) Cold Sore Cream has been reclassified to GSL (GlaxoSmithKline). The prices remain the same.

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