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IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED  DISPENSING ERROR ALERT

From: UCB Pharma, Inc.

September 25, 2003

Medication dispensing errors are a serious threat to healthcare and necessitate the combines efforts of all involved to minimize their occurrence.  UBC Pharma, Inc. would like to advise you to that errors may occur between KEPPRA (levetiracetam) tablets and oral solution and KALETRA (lopinavir/ritonavir) capsules and oral solution.  No one is in a better position to help ensure that all patients receive the right treatment than pharmacists.  Patients erroneously receiving either medication would be unnecessarily subjected to to the risk of adverse effects.  In addition, patients with epilepsy who do not receive their antiepileptic drug due to a dispensing error would be inadequately treated and could experience serious consequences, including status epilepticus.

KEPPRA, an antiepileptic, is available as capsules or oral solution.  KEPPRA tablets, 250mg are blue, 500mg are yellow, and 750mg are orange, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets debossed with "ucb" and "strength" on one side. They are supplied in containers of 120 tablets.  KEPPRA oral solution is a clear, colorless, grape-flavored liquid supplied in 16 fl oz white HDPE bottles containing 500mg levtriacetam per 5ml.

KALETRA, an antiretroviral, is available as capsules or oral solution.  KALETRA 113.3mg lopinavir/33.3mg ritonavir capsules are orange soft gelatin capsules imprinted with the Abbot corporate logo and "PK"KALETRA is available in bottles of 180 capsules. KALETRA oral solution is a light yellow to orange colored liquid supplied in amber-colored glass bottles containing 400mg lopinavir/100mg ritonavir per 5mL.

Please be alert when receiving written and oral prescriptions for KEPPRA and share this letter with your pharmacy staff.  TO decrease the potential for dispensing errors, please continue to employ at least two independent checks in the dispensing process and consider opening the prescription bottle in front of the patient to confirm expected appearance while reviewing the indication. Please also provide the patient leaflet packaged with the product.

If you become aware of a prescription dispensing error involving KEPPRA, please contact UCB Pharma, Inc. immediately at 1-800-477-7877, option 9; the USP Medication Errors Reporting Program at 1-800-233-7767 or the FDA MEDWATCH program by telephone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178, or by the Internet http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Thank you for your continued support in this very important matter.

Leslie Magnus, MD     Vice President, Medical Affairs   UCB Pharma, Inc.

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