Document 6431530

Gantanol
Roche
Successful
sulfonamide
therapy in:
cystitis
prostatitis
pyelitis
urethritis
and prevention
of secondary
infections following urologic
instrumentation
'Gantanol' 'Roche' (sulfamethoxazole)
Rx Summary
Indications:
Bacterial infections due to the sulfonamide
sensitive organisms; prevention of infection following urologic instrumentation.
Contraindications:
In premature and newborn infants, general
sulfonamide intolerance and severe liver
damage. In pregnant women, the week
before term.
Adverse reactions:
Headache, nausea, vomiting, urticaria,
blood dyscrasias, drug fever, skin rash
and hematuria. If one or more of these
reactions occur, drug should be
withdrawn.
Precautions:
The usual precautions in sulfonamide
therapy should be observed. In prolonged
therapy blood counts should be performed.
Dosage:
Adults - 4 tablets or 4 teaspoonfuls of
suspension initially, then 2 tablets or two
teaspoonfuls of suspension b.i.d. Children
(up to 40 kg) 1 tablet or 1 teaspoonful of
suspension per 10 kg/body weight, then
1/2 tablet or 1/2 teaspoonful of suspension
per 10 kg/body weight b.i.d.
Supply:
Tablets, 500 mg; 100, 500.
Duplex pack, containing 28 'Gantanol'
Tablets and 12 Uro Gantanol® Tablets.
Suspension, 500 mg/tsp. (5 ml); 100,
400 ml.
Information on request
®FReg. Trade Mark
/jj\ Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
is no reason why a group of physicians
who are determined to deal directly
with their patients should not take
advantage of Chargex, Master Charge,
American Express, etc.
I should be interested to hear from
those physicians who support the concept of the use of a medical charge
card, or favor entering into some form
of association with established credit
card organizations in Canada.
A. G. Dawrant, MD
Edmonton, Alta.
New Association Formed
A seminar on correctional medicine
was held in Calgary in June during the
annual meeting of the Canadian Medical Association. This meeting was well
attended by physicians working in
penitentiaries and jails across the
country.
During this meeting numerous
papers were presented which were of
great interest to the members present
and during the business portion of the
meeting a permanent executive was
elected to continue defining and promoting the aim of high quality medical
care in such institutions.
The executive consists of the following persons: Dr. C. Roy, Abbotsford, B.C., president; Dr. G. S. L.
Wilson, Drumheller, Alta., vice-president; Dr. D. G. Workman, Amherstview, Ont., secretary; Dr. R. M. MacMillan, Peterborough, Ont., treasurer;
Drs. J. G. Harris, Laval, Que., and R.
Sivasankar, Prince Albert, Sask., as
members at large.
D. G. Workman, MD,
Amherstview, Ont.
Data Bank on Stress
We wish to announce the unrestricted
availability of our documentation
service on all subjects relating to stress
in medicine or daily life. Since the first
description of biologic stress and the
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
in 1936, we have collected approximately 110,000 original articles
(among them several hundred books)
all of which are indexed in depth
according to the Symbolic Shorthand
System (SSS) for rapid information
retrieval.
Scientists from all parts of the
world regularly visit our Institute to
make use of this collection, and any
competent investigator is welcome to
consult the original publications. An
appointment should, however, be
arranged in advance by writing to the
CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN/SEPTEMBER
undersigned in order to be assured of
suitable office space and assistance. No
charge is made for this service, but
original articles cannot be removed
from the library.
A complete list of references including title (with English translation if
published in another language),
journal, year and inclusive page numbers is available at $0.25 per reference
upon request to the undersigned.
Photocopies of articles may be obtained at an additional charge of $0.15
a page. These prices include handling
charges and postage by surface mail.
This offer is made on a cost basis in
order to facilitate stress research
throughout the world since although
in the past we have received many
requests for documentation of this
type, it has come to our attention that
many scientists are reluctant to ask for
such information gratis. Actually, we
feel it is wasteful to limit access to
our data bank on stress, and so we
shall attempt to satisfy all requests.
However, we must warn the scientific
community that this service may have
to be restricted or terminated if requests should exceed our facilities.
Antonio Rodriguez,
Chief Documentalist,
Institut de mldecine et de
chirurgie experimentales,
University of Montreal,
Montreal, Que.
Wheelchair Power!
On May 22 and 23, a conference was
held at York University on the subject
of housing and supportive services for
the physically disabled. Present at this
conference were 120 delegates from all
over Ontario as well as resource personnel.
During the conference, it was repeatedly brought to my attention that
very few doctors' offices or clinics
have access for wheelchairs. I know
this from personal experience, but I
am in a fortunate position, having
more contact with members of the
medical fraternity, so that I can shop
around for accessible facilities.
I have repeatedly checked new
architectural designs for clinics which
are published in the medical magazines. Seldom are these accessible for
wheelchairs and if there is front
entrance accessibility, there are nearly
always architectural barriers inside the
building.
It was a strong recommendation of
the recent conference that every public building should have mandatory
21
PVF*
SUSPENSION
(benzathine phenoxymethyl
penicillin suspension, Frosst Std.)
PVF* K
TABLETS
(potassium phenoxymethyl
penicillin tablets, U.S.P.)
INDICATIONS: The treatment of mild to moderately
severe infections due to penicillin G susceptible
organisms including streptococcal pharyngitis,
staphylococcal infection without bacteremia and
pneumococcal infections, which usually respond
to oral therapy; to prevent recurrences following
rheumatic fever and/or chorea. To prevent bacterial
endocarditis in patients with congenital and/or
rheumatic heart lesions, prior to undergoing dental
procedures or minor upper respiratory tract surgery
or instrumentation; for the prevention of bacteremia
following tooth extraction.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Patients with a history
of penicillin or cephalosporin allergy; oral therapy
not recommended in the active treatment of syphilis,
subacute bacterial endocarditis, diphtheria, gas
gangrene or other severe infections due to penicillin-
susceptible organisms.
WARNINGS: Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions, more likely in individuals with
a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens, reported
with penicillin therapy. Individuals with a history
of penicillin hypersensitivity have experienced
severe reactions when treated with cephalosporin.
Anaphylaxis, though more frequent following parenteral therapy, has occurred with oral penicillin, and
must be treated promptly by cessation of drug
therapy and with epinephrine. Milder reactions of
the hypersensitivity types may be relieved with
antihistamines.
PRECAUTIONS: Should not be administered un-
less enquiry has been made to ensure that the patient
has had no previous allergic reactions to penicillin;
should be used with caution in individuals with
histories of significant allergies and/or asthma. As
with any antibiotic, prolonged use and treatment
with high doses may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms, including fungi. The opal
route of administration should not be relied upon
in patients with severe illness or with nausea,
vomiting, gastric dilatation, cardiospasms or intestinal hypermotility. In streptococcal infections
therapy must be sufficient (a minimum of ten
days) to eliminate the organism, as shown by
culture; otherwise the sequelae of streptococcal
disease may occur. Occasional patients will not
absorb orally therapeutic amounts.
ADVERSE REACTIONS: Although much less
frequently after oral than after parenteral penicillin
therapy, all degrees of hypersensitivity including
fatal anaphylaxis have been observed with oral
penicillin. The most common reactions are nausea,
vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhea and black,
hairy tongue. The hypersensitivity reactions noted
are skin eruptions (ranging from maculopapular to
exfoliative dermatitis), urticaria; reactions resembling
serum sickness, including chills, fever, edema; and
anaphylaxis. Fever and eosinophilia may frequently
be the only reactions observed. Hemolytic anemia,
leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neuropathy and
nephropathy are infrequent reactions and are usually
associated with high doses of parenteral penicillin.
DOSAGE SUM MARY: Dosage should be individualized according to the sensitivity of the causative
microorganisms and severity of the infection and
adjusted to the clinical response of the patient.
The usual dosage range for adults and children 12
years and over is 250,000 up to 500,000 I.U. three
to four times a day. Therapy for children under twelve
years of age is calculated on the basis of body
weight. For infants and small children, the suggested
daily dose is 25,000 to 90,000 I.U. (15 to 50 mg)
per kg in three to six divided doses.
DETAILED INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON
REQUEST
HOW SUPPLIED
No. 994- PVF * 500 Suspension. Each 5 ml
teaspoonful, fruityflavoured, orange colour, contains
500,000 I.U. (300 mg) of Phenoxymethyl Penicillin
as Benzathine salt, and is supplied in bottles of
100 ml and 450 ml (16 fI. oz.).
No. 993- PVF * 250 Suspeosion. Each 5 ml
teaspoonful, fruity flavoured, canary yellow colour,
contains 250,000 l.U. (150 mg) of Phenoxymethyl
Penicillin as Benzathine salt, is supplied in bottles
of 100 ml and 450 ml (16 fl. oz.).
No. 860- PVF * K 500 Tablets, 500,000 I.U.
(300 mg) each, of Phenoxymethyl Penicillin as
Potassium salt, are white, round, 7/16" diameter,
upper surface engraved PVF with score line, are
'500
supplied in bottles of 20 and 500.
(MC-301 )
*Trademark
.
'
°-,
accessibility for wheelchairs, and such
mandatory architectural construction
may very well become legal in the near
future. Nevertheless, many older buildings will continue to exist for some
time to come.
Surely the medical profession could
be setting an example for the architects and designers of the future.
J. S. Whittaker, MD
Clinical Director,
Outpatients 'Dept.
Ontario Crippled Children's
Centre,
Toronto. Ont.
Should Milk Formulae
Be on Prescription Only?
In view of the recent comments on the
advantages of breastfeeding (editorial,
Can. Med. Assoc. J. 112: 1281, 1975
and Myres, CFP 21:4:73, 1975) attributing to bottlefeeding such diverse and
occasionally life-threatening conditions
as obesity, colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by E.coli, recurrent
rhinorrhea, bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, necrotizing enterocolitis
and sudden infant death syndrome,
the time has come to call a halt to the
sale of milk formulae except on prescription, until such time as their
safety can be established. Surely any
°
CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN/SEPTEMBER
other drug suspected of causing such
morbidity and mortality would be
banned?
I am not suggesting that formula
foods be totally unavailable, as they
obviously are of great yalue and importance when used properly and
under the guidance of a physician who
has decided, in the words of the drug
companies, "That the expected benefits outweigh the possible risks". I
have no doubt that it will be argued by
the companies marketing these
products that it is not the product
itself which is dangerous, but the
manner in which it is used. However,
the same argument could as well be
applied. to heroin! It is up to the
company to anticipate that use of the
product by the general public will be
less than perfect.
There is also bound to be much
protesting from mothers who are so
overwhelmed by advertising that they
are unable to see the convenience of
breastfeeding, and its numerous benefits. Thus a policy change would have
to be accompanied by a massive educational campaign to appraise them of
the dangers of bottlefeeding and the
advantages of breastfeeding.
T. Hancock. MB, BS,
Chipman, N.B.
II
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C\JI Tower
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