Letters sent to healthcare professionals in April 2017, including a reminder of the retigabine (Trobalt) withdrawal

A summary of letters sent to healthcare professionals, including an important reminder about the withdrawal of retigabine (Trobalt) from the market.

• From: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Published: 24 May 2017

• Therapeutic area: Anaesthesia and intensive care, Cancer, Cardiovascular disease and lipidology, Haematology, Infectious disease, Neurology, Obstetrics, gynaecology and fertility, Paediatrics and neonatology, Respiratory disease and allergy, Urology and nephrology

In September 2016 we told you about the withdrawal of retigabine (Trobalt) from the market.

In April 2017, a letter was sent reminding relevant healthcare professionals that all patients must be withdrawn from Trobalt by the end of June 2017.

Withdrawal of a patient should be gradual and take place over at least 3 weeks, in accordance with the prescribing information.

Letters were also sent about the following medicines in April 2017:

• Orgalutran (ganirelix) 0.25 mg/0.5 mL: temporary shortage
• Cotellic▼ (cobimetinib): important additional warnings for haemorrhage and rhabdomyolysis, including dose modification recommendations
• Floran (epoprostenol): reminder of replacement of Flolan (with Solvent pH 10.5) with Flolan (with Solvent pH 12)
• ERWINASE 181G: notice of special handling instructions—vials of ERWINASE from batch 181G should be used with a 5-micron filter needle
• Levetiracetam-containing products 100 mg/mL oral solution presentations: risk of medication errors associated with overdose
• Amoxil (amoxicillin trihydrate): updated dosing recommendations for patients undergoing haemodialysis

Article citation: Drug Safety Update volume 10 issue 10, May 2017: 3.

Published 24 May 2017