E-DRUG: Fixed-dose tranylcypromine/trifluoperazine combination to be
withdrawn from the U.K. Market
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Product discontinuation: Parstelin
Fixed-dose tranylcypromine/trifluoperazine combination to be withdrawn
The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) recently considered whether
the licence for Parstelin (tranylcypromine/trifluoperazine) should be
renewed.
The CSM considered that the continued availability of Parstelin is no
longer appropriate, due to concerns over drug interactions and the risk
of severe hypertensive crises. It recommended that the licence should
not be renewed. As a result, SmithKline Beecham, the company that holds
the licence will withdraw the product from the UK market.
All patients currently treated with Parstelin should be assessed and
have Parstelin withdrawn over the next few months. An appropriate
washout period of at least two weeks should be instituted for patients
who need to be transferred to treatment with an alternative
antidepressant (unless transferring to tranylcypromine alone).
[Editorial note: The above fixed dose combination is not listed in the
1999 edition of the Physicians' Desk Reference in the U.S. Both drugs
tranylcypromine (Parnate: SmithKline Beecham) and trifluoperazine
(Stelazine: SmithKline Beecham and others) are available as single
ingredient products. Syed Rizwanuddin Ahmad]
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.