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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Fluoroquinolones should only be used after careful benefit-risk assessment and after consideration of other therapeutic options in patients at risk for heart valve regurgitation (incompetence).
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Erythromycin has been associated with events secondary to QT interval prolongation such as cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation. Erythromycin should not be given to patients with a history of QT interval prolongation…
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Updates have been made to the magnitude of the known risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis following exposure to erythromycin in infancy as a result of new epidemiological data. The risk is particularly increased i…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Flucytosine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil used to treat systemic yeast and fungal infections and can cause life-threatening and severe toxicity in patients with complete and partial dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) def…
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Updated safety recommendations have been issued as part of the European review evaluating cases of neural tube defects in babies born to mothers who became pregnant while taking the HIV medicine dolutegravir. Evidence collec…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals, including recommendations to reduce handling errors with leuprorelin-containing depot medicines.
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A summary of Medical Device Alerts recently issued by the MHRA.
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Make a clear distinction between liposomal, pegylated-liposomal, lipid-complex and conventional formulations when prescribing, dispensing, administering, and communicating about these medicines. Medicines with these formulat…
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A summary of Medical Device Alerts recently issued by the MHRA.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Caution should be used in patients with known risk factors for venous thromboembolism in addition to the underlying disease. Patients older than 65 years of age are at an increased risk of serious infections and should be tr…
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Letters were sent about methotrexate, modafinil, Ecalta, Picato, Nexplanon, valproate medicines, e-cigarettes, and Lemtrada. Alerts were issued about finasteride, codeine/paracetamol, and Picato.
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Alerts were issued about Arrow EZ-IO intraosseous vascular access needle sets, Medicina IV Luer Slip syringes, and Spectra Optia apheresis systems.
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Letters were sent about ranibizumab and Emerade adrenaline auto-injectors. Alerts were issued about ranitidine, paracetamol, omeprazole, mitomycin-C Kyowa, folic acid, and Emerade adrenaline auto-injectors.
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The Commission on Human Medicines has issued a series of recommendations to strengthen measures to minimise risk with the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril) following very rare fatal reactions. Key recommendations include new a…
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Establish hepatitis B status before initiating carfilzomib and in patients with unknown hepatitis B virus serology who are already being treated with carfilzomib.
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Letters were sent about quadrivalent influenza vaccine, fentanyl ampoules, and Volibris (ambrisentan), and a number of pharmacy-level recalls were issued for ranitidine-containing products. Other alerts issued in October 201…
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Patients on nivolumab who present with diarrhoea or other symptoms of colitis, and those who do not respond to steroid treatment for immune-related colitis, should be investigated to exclude other causes, including infection…
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For most patients and most medicines, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is an appropriate measure of renal function for determining dosage adjustments in renal impairment; however, in some circumstances, the Cockcr…
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Cases of pigmentary maculopathy leading to visual impairment have been reported with pentosan polysulfate, particularly after long-term use at high doses. Ensure patients taking pentosan polysulfate have regular ophthalmic e…
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A letter was sent to advise healthcare professionals about a restriction to the indication and route of administration for Mitomycin-C Kyowa 40 mg following the observation of increased sub-visible particles in the drug prod…
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Establish hepatitis B virus status before initiating daratumumab and in patients with unknown hepatitis B virus serology who are already being treated with daratumumab.
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Letters were sent about Oncaspar▼ (pegaspargase), Ketalar (ketamine) injection, and Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium). A recall was issued for several medicines taken out of the regulated medicines supply chain, includin…
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Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels should be measured before starting treatment with tocilizumab and monitored every 4–8 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment followed by every 12 …
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Letters were sent about Myocrisin (sodium aurothiomalate), Cerliponase alfa (Brineura▼), Darzalex▼(daratumumab), retinoids▼, and febuxostat (Adenuric). A recall alert was issued for medicines that were taken out of the regul…
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An alert was issued about Dialog+ haemodialysis machines.
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Letters were sent about tofacitinib (Xeljanz▼), Trisenox (arsenic trioxide), lapatinib (Tyverb), direct-acting oral anticoagulants, and Lartruvo▼ (olaratumab). Alerts were issued about Epanutin (phenytoin) oral solution, Mac…
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Letters were sent about alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), Selenase (sodium selenite pentahydrate), and Erelzi▼ (etanercept).
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We have recently received 2 reports of fatal adverse reactions to the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril). Due to an increased risk of life-threatening reactions, the vaccine must not be given to anyone with a medical history of…
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Clinical trials, including interim findings from a randomised trial, show an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation or behaviour, or self-injury in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving belimumab comp…
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Pharmacokinetic data indicate exposure of elvitegravir boosted with cobicistat (Genvoya▼, Stribild) is lower during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy than postpartum. Low elvitegravir exposure may be associated wi…
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Letters were sent about Xeljanz▼ (tofacitinib), ranitidine, Nulojix (belatacept), fluoroquinolone antibiotics, Genvoya▼, Stribild▼, Tybost, and belimumab (Benlysta▼). Drug alerts were issued about Accord losartan potassium c…
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Alerts were issued about Pagewriter Cardiographs and Efficia Monitors and Fresenius 5008 & 5008S haemodialysis machines.
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Disabling, long-lasting or potentially irreversible adverse reactions affecting musculoskeletal and nervous systems have been reported very rarely with fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Fluoroquinolone treatment should be discont…
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Letters were sent about Vyxeos (cytarabine, daunorubicin) and Ozurdex 700 micrograms intravitreal implant (dexamethasone). Alerts were issued about irbesartan, amoxicillin, atropine sulfate, and paracetamol infusion.
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If Fournier’s gangrene is suspected, stop the SGLT2 inhibitor and start treatment urgently (including antibiotics and surgical debridement). Fournier’s gangrene is a rare but potentially life-threatening infection that requi…
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Letters were sent to healthcare professionals about Lartruvo▼ (olaratumab), quadrivalent influenza vaccine (split virion, inactivated), SGLT2 inhibitors, and carbimazole and thiamazole (synonym: methimazole)-containing produ…
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Patients on ipilimumab who present with diarrhoea or other symptoms of colitis, and those who do not respond to steroid treatment for immune-related colitis, should be investigated to exclude other causes, including infectio…
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In December 2018, a letter was sent to notify healthcare professionals of the discontinuation of Zovirax (Aciclovir) eye ointment. We also highlight the recent recall of Actavis batches of irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide…
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Monitor glucose levels closely in patients with diabetes during direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, particularly within the first 3 months of treatment, and modify diabetes medication or doses when necessary. Pa…
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A pharmacy-level recall of some valsartan-containing products took place due to possible contamination, including advice to healthcare professionals and information on supply. Letters were also sent about quadrivalent influe…
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Alerts were issued about ConvaTec Suction catheters, gastro-enteral tubes, intermittent urology catheters and sterile urine drainage bags, CME T34 ambulatory syringe pumps, and HeartStart MRx monitor/defibrillators.
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Advise patients taking hydrochlorothiazide-containing products of the cumulative, dose-dependent risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, particularly in long-term use, and the need to regularly check for (and report) any suspiciou…
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In patients at risk for aortic aneurysm and dissection, fluoroquinolones should only be used after careful assessment of the benefits and risks and after consideration of other therapeutic options.
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Sildenafil is not authorised for use in pregnancy for the treatment of intrauterine growth restriction. The STRIDER clinical trial, which was studying the use of sildenafil in pregnancy for intrauterine growth restriction, h…