Recommendations of the Pharmaceutical benefit Advisory Committee
July 2008
1. SUMMARY
The Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee met on 15th July 2008 to consider the inclusion and/or deletion of certain products from the Prescribed List. The PBAC recommended the inclusion of 5 products, the deletion of 3 products detailed in this report. This report also includes work to update the list by removing discontinued preparations and revision of 22 items to generic formulations only.
- BACKGROUND
Items for inclusion
2.1. Ondansetron tablets 4mg, 8mg/oral lyophilisates; injection 4mg/2mL, 8mg/4mL (Green drug)
This is a 5-HT3 antagonist licensed for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with surgery or emetogenic radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The approval is specifically for restricted, short-term use (no more than 5 days) in patients with terminal illness and intractable nausea/vomiting.
2.2. Co-codamol effervescent tablets 8/500mg (Green drug)
This is a non-opioid analgesic that is licensed for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and pyrexia. The approval must be specifically for generic only formulation.
2.3. Losartan tablet 100mg (Green drug)
This is a Angiotensin-II receptor antagonist that is licensed for the treatment of hyper tension (including reduction of stroke risk in hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy); diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The patent for losartan expires in September 2009 and the annual cost for Losartan 100mg daily is £211. In comparison, the annual costs of the alternatives available on the list are:
Losartan 50mg tablet £167
Losartan 25mg tablet £211
2.4. Novolizer budesonide 200mcg inhalation powder; Salbulin (salbutamol) MDPI Novolizer 100mcg inhalation powder (Green drug).
This is licensed for the prevention and treatment of asthma in patients aged 6 years and over. Its addition provides an alternative dry powder inhalation device for patients who are unable to coordinate activation of a pressurised metered-dose inhaler. Novolizer is less expensive than other dry powder devices. Novolizer budesonide is of similar cost or slightly more expensive than breath-actuated inhalers.
2.5. Uvistat UVB-SPF 50 cream (Green drug)
This item is used for photoprotection and is not a licensed medicine. Nevertheless, it is classified as a borderline substance and regarded as a drug when prescribed for skin protection in abnormal cutaneous photosensitivity.
3.0 Items/brands to be deleted from the Prescribed List with three months notice
3.1. Items to be deleted
3.1.1. Beclometasone CFC-containing MDI 50mcg, 100mcg, 200mcg, 250mcg
3.1.2. Chlordiazepoxide tablets 5mg, 10mg
3.1.3. Didronel PMO
3.2. Items to be listed as Generic only with three months notice
3.2.1. Clarithromycin tablets 250mg, 500mg
3.2.2. Co-cyprindiol tablets
3.2.3. Co-dydramol tablets 10/500mg
3.2.4. Colchicine tablets 250mcg, 500mcg
3.2.5. Cyproterone tablets 50mg
3.2.6. Haloperidol capsules 500mg; tablets 1.5mg, 5mg, 10mg
3.2.7. Imipramine tablets 10mg, 25mg
3.2.8. Meloxicam tablets 7.5mg, 15mg
3.2.9. Oxybutynin tablets 2.5mg, 5mg
3.2.10. Paracetamol tablets 500mg; soluble tablets 500mg
3.2.11. Pergolide tablets 50mcg, 250mcg, 1mg
3.2.12. Pizotifen 500mcg, 1.5mg
3.2.13. Prednisolone tablets 1mg, 5mg; e/c tablets 2.5mg, 5mg
3.2.14. Risperidone liquid 1mg/mL; tablets 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, 4mg, 6mg
3.2.13. Spironolactone tablets 25mg, 50mg, 100mg
3.2.14. Sumatriptan tablets 50mg, 100mg
3.2.15.Tramadol capsules 50mg
3.2.16. Zopiclone tablets 3.75mg, 7.5mg
3.2.17. Zolpidem tablets 5mg, 10mg
4. RECOMMENDATION
The Minister is asked to approve all other changes to take effect from 1st October 2008.
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