Abstract
Availability of Anticholinergic Agents
The Committee on Psychotropic Drugs and Other Physical Treatments has now been formally notified by the Essential Drugs Program (Australian Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing) that benztropine mesylate 2 mg tablets (Cogentin) will not now be discontinued and will be relisted on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on 1 March 2002. The manufacturer Pharmalab will be the new sponsor and distributor of Cogentin 2 mg tablets until current stocks are depleted later this year. By that time, Pharmalab expects to have their generic benztropine 2 mg tablets available to the Australian market. A scored 1 mg tablet is also expected to be available. Fellows will recall from a previous notice that no notice has been given of the withdrawal of parenteral Cogentin.
Merck Sharpe and Dohme (Australia) has confirmed that Merck & Co. Inc. has redirected existing supplies of Cogentin 2 mg tablets to meet the Australian demand, so no interruption to the availability of benztropine tablets is anticipated before the generic product becomes available.
We have also been informed by the Essential Drugs Program that the sponsors of Artane and Akineton are reconsidering the discontinuation of these products, even though advance notice of its withdrawal on the 1st May 2002 has been given. The Committee has written to the sponsor (Wyeth) asking for clarification.
The situation in New Zealand is still unclear and we are actively pursuing further information.