Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Drug updates
Two strengths of insulin now available in UK
Insulin degludec (Tresiba®; Novo Nordisk, Crawley, UK) has been launched in two strengths in the UK as 100 units/mL and 200 units/mL. This 200 units/mL is higher than any other strength in the UK. Both strengths are available as pre-filled pen devices with distinct labeling to differentiate between the two strengths.
The pre-filled pen devices both have a dose counter window and deliver the dose in units, regardless of the strength, therefore dose conversion is not required if swapping patients from one strength to another. For more information click here.
Dexamfetamine sulphate 5mg caution in use alert
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have issued a caution in use alert for dexamfetamine sulphate 5mg (Auden McKenzie; pack size 28, batch number 12123/A) first distributed on 10-01-2013. A very small number of packs from the above batch may contain three blister strips instead of two. Contact Auden McKenzie (01895 627420) if packs with extra blister strips are found. For more information click here.
Oxymorphone new crush resistant strengths in USA
Oxymorphone modified release, crush resistant tablets (Opana® ER; Endo pharmaceuticals, USA) are now available in 7.5mg and 15mg strengths joining the rest of the strength range (5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 30mg, and 40mg). For the SPC click here.
SMC accepts palonosetron capsules
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted palonosetron 500microgram soft capsules (Aloxi®; Sinclair IS Pharma, Chester, UK) for use within NHS Scotland for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy in adults.
The soft capsule formulation has been shown to be clinically non-inferior to the intravenous formulation and is cost neutral. SMC has previously accepted palonosetron intravenous injection for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy. For more information click here.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock