Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Safety Alerts
Gabapentin and Pregabalin Potential for Misuse
Public Health England and NHS England have published advice for prescribers on the risk of misuse of gabapentin and pregabalin. For more information, click here.
Hot Topics
Drugs and Driving, MHRA Clarification
The new offence of driving with certain controlled drugs above specified limits in the blood which comes into force in March 2015 (see our news item 9 July 2014) is for England, Wales and Scotland only. In Northern Ireland a similar offence is under consideration. MHRA have produced a Patient Information Leaflet. For more information, click here.
New Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
The new Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines have been launched. These national guidelines replace the previous pain & symptom control section of the Lothian Palliative Care Guidelines (2010). For more information, click here.
New Medicines Compliance Aid Database
UK Medicines Information (UKMi) has launched an open access medicines compliance aid database, which makes recommendations on the suitability of transferring solid dose formulations from the manufacturers’ original packaging into multi-compartment compliance aids. For more information, click here.
APPM Master Formulary 2015 3rd Edition Now Available
The 3rd edition of the Association for Paediatric Palliative Medicine (APPM) Master Formulary is now available and can be downloaded from the APPM website here.
Drug Updates
FDA Approves Additional Indication for Denosumab
The US FDA has approved denosumab (Xgeva; Amgen) for the treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy refractory to bisphosphonate therapy. In the UK, denosumab is currently only authorized for prevention of skeletal related events in adults with bone metastases from solid tumours; and treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumour of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. For US Prescribing Information, click here. For the UK SPC, click here.
Haldol Injection Discontinued
The Haldol brand of haloperidol injection 5mg/mL (Janssen-Cilag) has been discontinued. Generic haloperidol 5mg/mL injections are available.
Rivotril Tablets Discontinued
The Rivotril brand of clonazepam 500microgram and 2mg tablets (Roche) has been discontinued. Generic clonazepam 500microgram and 2mg tablets are available.
Macrodantin Capsules Discontinued
The Macrodantin brand of nitrofurantoin 50mg and 100mg hard capsules (Amdipharm Mercury) has been discontinued. Generic nitrofurantoin 50mg and 100mg tablets are available.
Latest Additions
Use of Dexamethasone Formulations in Palliative Care: a palliativedrugs.com Response to Recent Changes
Following the recent changes in the formulation of one of the dexamethasone injections in the UK (see our news item 21 October 2014), we have put together a palliativedrugs.com summary in order to clarify the situation on the use of dexamethasone formulations in adults in palliative care. This can be downloaded here. The on-line PCF systemic corticosteroids monograph will be updated shortly to reflect this guidance.
In addition, there is now a manufacturer’s supply problem with the Hospira brand of dexamethasone base 3.3mg/mL, 1mL ampoules, which is not expected to be resolved until January 2015.
Survey Results
Website Satisfaction Survey Winners and Results
Results from our satisfaction survey (October – November 2014).
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock