Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Drug updates
Ketamine injection supply problems
Pfizer UK has confirmed that there is a supply problem with ketamine (Ketalar) 10mg/mL and 100mg/mL injection. All orders for these products are now being re-directed to a Pfizer central ordering point (0845 608866), to allow close monitoring of the stock situation. It is anticipated that the 100mg/mL injection will run out completely in September 2012 and will not be available until November 2014. Pfizer has stated that this situation has occurred due to a transfer of the manufacturing site which was beyond their control. More ketamine 10mg/mL injection are being manufactured as an interim measure. The stock situation of ketamine 50mg/mL is currently sufficient but is being monitored. For further details please contact Pfizer customer services (01304 606161).
Oxycodone m/r generic launched in UK
Qdem Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, UK) have launched generic oxycodone m/r (Longtec prolonged release) 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg tablets. Supplies will come from Bard Pharmaceuticals, the production and supply chain business of Napp, and will be available through the usual wholesalers. The NHS cost and product range comparison with Oxycontin m/r (Napp) is:
Longtec (Qdem)
Tablets m/r 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg, 28 days @ 1 tablet b.d.= £21, £21, £42, £85, and £170 respectively.
Oxycontin (Napp)
Tablets m/r 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg and 120mg, 28 days @ 1 tablet b.d. = £25, £25, £37, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300 respectively.
Note: The remains of the m/r tablet may appear in the patient’s faeces (‘ghost tablets’), as can also occur with Oxycontin and Targinact (oxycodone/naloxone combined m/r tablet). These are inert residues, and do not affect the efficacy of the products.
For more information click here.
Epistatus product description change
There has been a change made to the product description of the unauthorized (unlicensed) midazolam product Epistatus (Special Products Limited; Weybridge, Surrey, UK) as follows:
Midazolam (Epistatus) 10mg in 1mL Buccal Liquid x 5mL
has been replaced with
Midazolam (Epistatus) 10mg in 1mL Oromucosal Solution x 5mL.
Paracetamol overdose: new guidance on treatment
New simplified guidance on the treatment of acute paracetamol overdose with acetylcysteine is now in place following an evidence-based review by the Commission on Human Medicines in the UK. Full details can be found in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) September 2012 Drug Safety Update.
Batch recall of Lyrica 50mg capsules (Kosei Pharma)
A company-led recall of a batch of Lyrica (pregabalin) hard capsules 50mg (parallel distributed in the UK by Kosei Pharma Limited) has been issued, as the label applied by the parallel distributor states the strength as 25mg instead of 50mg. It is understood that a very small number of units have been distributed. The affected batch number is 0605032P/2 (first distributed 7th September 2012; expiry date February 2015). For further information contact Kosei Pharma UK Customer Services (01753 569528) or click here.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock