INFORMATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
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Web site: December 1999
Prescriber Update No. 19, February 2000
The medicines currently being monitored are:
| Medicine | Proprietary name | Indications/Action |
|---|---|---|
| Copper IUCD (follow-up only) |
Multiload Cu 375 | IUCD |
| Eformoterol | Foradil, Oxis | potent long-acting β2-agonist |
| Levonorgestrel intrauterine system | Mirena | progestogen-releasing intrauterine system |
| Montelukast | Singulair | antiasthmatic/leukotriene inhibitor |
| Nefazodone | Serzone | antidepressant/5HT2 blocker |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa | atypical antipsychotic |
| Quetiapine | Seroquel | atypical antipsychotic |
| Salmeterol | Serevent | potent long acting β2-agonist |
| Tolcapone | Tasmar | Parkinson's disease |
Olanzapine and quetiapine are atypical antipsychotic agents which have affinity for a number of neuroreceptors including clinically relevant action at serotonin and dopamine receptors. They belong to the same therapeutic class as clozapine, but are not thought to be associated with agranulocytosis. The continued monitoring of olanzapine and quetiapine in the IMMP is currently under review.
Tolcapone is a selective inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase and is used as adjunct treatment to levodopa and benserazide or carbidopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It has been associated with serious hepatotoxicity leading to withdrawal of tolcapone from the market in some overseas countries.
Mirena is an intrauterine device which releases a standard dose of levonorgestrel 20µg/day into the woman’s uterine cavity. It is indicated for contraception and the treatment of menorrhagia (provided there is no underlying pathology). Mirena is the first progestogen-releasing intrauterine device available on the New Zealand market.
Montelukast is administered orally for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma. It reduces the inflammatory response of the lungs by inhibiting the action of leukotrienes, and is the first agent of this sort to be available in this country. It is not to be used for rescue medication in asthma attacks.
Nefazodone is one of a new class of antidepressants which act by antagonism of postsynaptic serotonin type 2 (5HT2) receptors. It also inhibits reuptake of serotonin and to a lesser degree noradrenalin.
Please report all adverse clinical events occurring in patients on these medicines to the Medical Assessor, Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring, PO Box 913, Dunedin.
New patients are no longer being added to the cohort for the copper IUCD, Multiload Cu 375, but follow-up of existing patients is continuing.
Form for Reporting Clinical Events for IMMP (Microsoft Word 42KB)