INFORMATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Home  |  Consumers  |  Health Professionals  |  Regulatory  |  Other  |  Hot Topics  |  Search

1. There is evidence that these medicines are no more effective than maximum recommended doses of paracetamol alone, and have the potential to cause more adverse reactions than paracetamol used at recommended doses. Deaths related to overdose (intentional and unintentional) have occurred. Prescribing restrictions failed to ensure these medicines were only used in patients for whom the benefits outweigh the risks. Since these medicines were withdrawn in New Zealand, the FDA has also required their withdrawal in the US, following new clinical trial evidence showing that dextropropoxyphene causes QT interval prolongation at therapeutic doses.
2. The ten most common are:

• Doxycycline
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Amiodarone
• Piroxicam
• Chlorpromazine
• Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Bendroflumethiazide
• Carbamazepine

3. Changing brands of fentanyl patches requires careful clinical monitoring as different brands may not be interchangeable in an individual patient. A change in dose may be required for some patients.
4. b) Class C(4) controlled drug
5. True
6. Finasteride (Fintral)
7. Monitoring valproate plasma levels or adjusting the dose is unlikely to manage this interaction given its extent and rapid onset. Prescribers are advised to avoid the use of carbapenem antibiotics in patients taking sodium valproate.
8. Acitretin is indicated for the treatment of severe psoriasis, disorders of keratinisation and other dermatoses responsive to etretinate (Acitretin is an active metabolite of etretinate) whereas isotretinoin is indicated to treat severe forms of nodulo-cystic acne which are resistant to therapy.
9. Any three of: clarithromycin, erythromycin, chloroquine, pentamidine, domperidone, cisapride, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, methadone, terfenadine.
10. Hypomagnesaemia