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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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Advice for healthcare professionals on the reclassification of codeine linctus to a prescription-only medicine (POM), following a public consultation.
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There have been very rare reports of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) with pseudoephedrine.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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New safety and educational materials have been introduced for men and women and healthcare professionals to reduce the harms from valproate, including the significant risk of serious harm to the baby if taken during pregnanc…
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Healthcare professionals prescribing aripiprazole are reminded to be alert to the risk of addictive gambling and other impulse control disorders. Healthcare professionals should advise patients, their families and friends to…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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We have strengthened the safe use of isotretinoin through the introduction of additional oversight of the initiation of isotretinoin in patients under 18 years and through improved assessment and monitoring of mental health …
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Unless there are exceptional circumstances, valproate-containing medicines must always be dispensed in the manufacturer’s original full pack.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines, and a recent National Patient Safety Alert highlighting the risk of deaths and serious injuries from entrapment or falls relatin…
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We are providing an update on a retrospective observational study on the risk to children born to men who took valproate in the 3 months before conception and on the need for the re-analysis of the data from this study befor…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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There have been a small number of reports of serious and life-threatening anticholinergic side effects associated with hyoscine hydrobromide patches, particularly when used outside the licence. Healthcare professionals, pati…
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Calcium salts (either calcium chloride or calcium gluconate) are used to stabilise the myocardium and prevent cardiac arrest in patients experiencing severe hyperkalaemia. However, the two salts are not equivalent in terms o…
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We remind healthcare professionals that accidental use of glucose-containing solutions as flush fluid for arterial lines may contaminate blood samples and result in falsely high glucose readings. This may lead to inappropria…
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Recent MHRA National Patient Safety Alerts to remove from service Philips Health Systems V60 and V60 Plus ventilators and to recall Emerade adrenaline auto-injectors from patients, pharmacies and wholesalers. We also provide…
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Advice for healthcare professionals regarding the withdrawal of pholcodine-containing medicines from the market.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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In view of data showing ongoing exposure to valproate in pregnancy, this article reminds healthcare professionals of the risks in pregnancy and the current Pregnancy Prevention Programme requirements, and provides informatio…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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Healthcare professionals prescribing dupilumab should be alert to the risks of ocular reactions. New onset or worsening ocular symptoms require prompt review. Referral for ophthalmological examination should be made as appro…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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Prescribers and dispensers should use caution if switching patients between different long-acting formulations of methylphenidate (Concerta XL, Medikinet XL, Equasym XL, Ritalin LA, and generics) as different instructions fo…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines, and a patient safety alert on mexiletine hydrochloride.
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We have initiated a new safety review into topiramate as a result of an observational study reporting an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children whose mothers took topiramate during pregnancy.
Topir…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices. Includes a recent recall of Accupro (quinapril hydrochloride) and advice on Xagrid (anagrelide hydrochloride…
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A new study has suggested pregabalin may slightly increase the risk of major congenital malformations if used in pregnancy. Patients should continue to use effective contraception during treatment and avoid use in pregnancy …
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices. Includes a recent recall of Accuretic (quinapril hydrochloride and hydrochlorothiazide).
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Liver monitoring requirements for cladribine in the treatment of multiple sclerosis have been introduced following uncommon cases of serious liver injury. Advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they develop any …
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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Maintenance doses of brolucizumab (after the first 3 doses) should not be given at intervals of less than 8 weeks apart.
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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We remind healthcare professionals that elderly patients are at an increased risk of adverse neurological and cardiac effects when being treated with haloperidol for delirium. The lowest possible dose of haloperidol should b…
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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The paediatric indication for chloral hydrate (for children aged 2 years and older) and cloral (previously chloral) betaine (children aged 12 years and older) has been restricted to short-term treatment (maximum 2 weeks) of …
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals
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Following a review of the available toxicological data and a calculation of daily exposure to boron from a typical dosing regimen, we have concluded that the balance between the benefits and risks of chloramphenicol eye drop…
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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 recent medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and recent medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and recent medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Pregabalin has been associated with infrequent reports of severe respiratory depression, including some cases without the presence of concomitant opioid medicines. Patients with compromised respiratory function, respiratory …
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A review of the risks of major congenital malformations and of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for antiepileptic drugs by the Commission on Human Medicines has confirmed that lamotrigine (Lamictal) and levetiracetam (Kep…