Express Scripts, which manages drug benefits for companies and health insurers, will downshift branded Lipitor to the third “tier” on its national formulary starting Feb. 1. That means some people filling prescriptions who are covered by Express Scripts will pay a higher co-payment to get the branded drug than they do now, because branded Lipitor is currently on the second tier.

The generics are already on the first tier, Express Scripts said. Co-pay prices vary by plan design, but a generic might cost $10 while a tier 2 drug costs $30 and a tier 3 costs $60.

Per the Government’s request, Kremer’s will be changing their package size on their “Tussionex” from 16oz to 4oz. This conversion took place October 20th.

Effective immediately, Fougera will temporarily discontinue Ciclopirox cream and Fluticasone Propionate Ointment

For a period of time, Sandoz will be unable to supply Bisoprolol Fum W/HCTZ, Bisoprolol, Cafergot 1/100mg Tablets and Thiothixene 2mg and 5mg

At this time Qualitest will be unable to manufacture Cetirizine HCL Syrup and Baclofen 10mg and 20mg due to the inability to obtain approved API

Effective immediately, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will discontinue Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl; Wholesalers will be receiving a product withdrawal package in the mail by October 18th with complete instructions on returning any remaining inventory in your possession on these presentations of AVANDIA, AVANDAMET and AVANDARYL.

*Caduet

*Combivir

*Entocort

**Keppra XR

LoSeasonique

*Lipitor

Ritalin LA

*Solodyn

*Uroxatral

*Zyprexa

*Available through Capital Drug

Benztropine – April 2

Desonide Oint. – Feb. 28

Diazepam 5mg/ml – March

Fluocinonide E Cream – Feb. 1

Galantamine – Feb. 15

Hydroxyurea – Jan. 13

Hydroxyzine Pamoate 100mg – Jan. 20

Lansoprazole ODT – Temporarily Unavailable

Leflunomide – March 9

Lorazepam 2mg/ml – April

Naltrexone 50mg – March 5

Nystatin Oral Tabs – Jan. 23

Tetracycline – Temporarily discontinued

Thiothixene 2mg -  Temporarily discontinued

Late last month, Novartis quietly suspended production at a plant in Lincoln, Nebraska, where various over-the-counter and animal health meds are manufactured. The drugmaker is calling the move a voluntary step that is being taken for “compliance  improvement activities” and to “expedite maintenance and improvements and       continue to strengthen standards.” As a    result, supplies of various popular over-the-counter products will be affected, including Excedrin, Theraflu, Triaminic, Maalox and Lamisil (read here). As for veterinarians, the popular Interceptor and Sentinel treatments for heartworm will also be harder to come by (see this). A Novartis spokeswoman was unable to say how long the shutdown will occur or whether the action was precipitated by regulatory inspections.

http://www.pharmalot.com/2012/01/novartis-suspends-production-at-a-key-plant/

In yet another object lesson about the complexities of drug shortages, The New York Times takes a look at scarce ADHD medications. Anyone who’s been following the ongoing drug-shortage mess knows that these meds–including such standbys as Ritalin and Adderall–have been running short for awhile, and that DEA quotas have taken at least part of the blame. What the NYT points out is that DEA quotas may indeed be too low, given the growth in ADHD prescriptions. The agency only sets quotas once a year, based on the previous year’s sales, which doesn’t allow for much flexibility. But another problem is that each company’s quota covers both branded and generic drugs.

Companies that make both understandably have an incentive to turn out more of the branded versions, because they’re more profitable. Indeed, it appears as if it’s the cheap generics that are most scarce. The DEA doesn’t see that as a problem; the agency is focused on   preventing abuse, not supplying the public with medications at a cheap price. The FDA has a different opinion, thanks to the hundreds of complaints it receives daily. “We have reached out to the DEA and told them that there are shortage issues,” Valerie Jensen, associate director of the FDA’s drug shortage program, told the Times. “But the quota issues are outside of our area of  responsibility.” http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/dea-quotas-allow-adhd-generics-run-short/2012-01-03?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Effective immediately, MATZIM LA TAB 30 counts will be temporarily unavailable. All 30 count inventory has been exhausted. All backorders for the 30 count will be canceled. Product will be available in the 90 count to fulfill orders.

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Aurobindo has temporarily discontinued Cefpodoxime Tablets

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Effective immediately, Wockhardt USA LLC has discontinued Dexchlorpheniramine Maleate Oral Solution 2mg/5mL 473mL.

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Glenmark has temporarily discontinued Fosinopril

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For a period of time, Sandoz will be   unable to supply the Lansoprazole 15mg 100 ODT and Lansoprazole 30mg 100 ODT

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) published its long awaited final rule in the Federal Register today (76 Fed. Reg. 77,330 (Dec. 12, 2011)) placing carisoprodol into schedule IV of the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”).  Federal scheduling of carisoprodol follows control of the drug by eighteen states around the country.  Effective January 12, 2012, DEA’s placement pertains to carisoprodol (widely distributed under the trade name of Soma®), and its salts, isomers and salts of isomers.

A recent jury trial verdict may have created supply issues for the generic fixed-dosed combination of trandolapril/verapamil hydrochloride ER. In order to help prevent disruption in therapy, Abbott wants to make you aware that their branded TARKA (trandolapril/verapamil hydrochloride ER) is available with no supply issues in all four dosage strengths.

How this change affects patients
Patients who have been taking generic trandolapril/verapamil may notice that TARKA looks different from their old medicine (for example, the color and markings). Please see below for images of the tablets for each of the four strengths of TARKA and counsel your patients on the differences.

Learn more

Updated Information from Cardiovascular prevention trial, Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides and Impact on Global Health Outcomes (AIM-HIGH)

On May 26, 2011, Abbott distributed information regarding an interim analysis of the AIM-HIGH study which investigated NIASPAN® (niacin extended-release tablets) in combination with simvastatin versus simvastatin. The final study results were announced today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2011 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. We would like to inform you of the final results of the AIM-HIGH Study.

Click to read more.