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Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has been very rarely reported in patients treated with mesalazine. Following a recent review, warnings for IIH are being added to the product information for all mesalazine products…
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Amended advice on the insertion site for Nexplanon contraceptive implants following concerns regarding reports of neurovascular injury and implants migrating to the vasculature (including the pulmonary artery).
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals in December 2016.
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Healthcare professionals should be aware of epidemiological data showing a small increased risk of fractures associated with the use of TCAs and SSRIs, and should take this risk into account in their discussions with patient…
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New maximum daily dose restrictions (including in elderly patients), contraindications, and warnings.
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An alert was recently issued about Oxoid ceftazidime antimicrobial susceptibility test discs.
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Safety review initiated following post-surgical fatalities in ultra-rapid metabolisers
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the October 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 24 November 2022.
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A group of independent experts will review all evidence provided; we will publish a report of the group’s findings.
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Safety studies of Spiriva Respimat▼
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices and details of two recent MHRA National Patient Safety Alerts to remove from service Philips Health Systems V…
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The European Medicines Agency has advised that no change in recommendations for use is required at present.
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals in January 2017.
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Letters were sent about cladribine (Litak and Leustat), radium-223-dichloride (Xofigo▼), and ERWINASE.
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In May 2016, letters were sent regarding Nexplanon (etonogestrel implant) and ERWINASE.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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An alert was recently issued about Prismaflex haemofiltration machines.
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We have recently advised that talc preparations for pleurodesis are to be considered as medicinal products.
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An alert was issued about T34 ambulatory syringe pumps.
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Warnings about the risk of severe and fatal burns are being extended to all paraffin-based emollients regardless of paraffin concentration. Data suggest there is also a risk for paraffin-free emollients. Advise patients who …
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Physicians should remain vigilant for pneumonia and other infections of the lower respiratory tract (ie, bronchitis) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are treated with inhaled products that contain s…
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There is a risk of harmful drug interactions with the ritonavir component of the COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid▼ due to its inhibition of the enzyme CYP3A, which metabolises many commonly used drugs. Prescribers should obtain a…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded that oral fluoroquinolone norfloxacin (Utinor) shouldn't be used to treat acute or chronic, complicated pyelonephritis.
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Recent epidemiological evidence suggests a possible small increased risk of congenital cardiac defects in association with fluoxetine in early pregnancy, similar to that seen with paroxetine. There are insufficient data to d…
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Reminder that paediatric paracetamol liquids had been developed to ensure children receive optimum dosing for their age.
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Alerts were recently issued by MHRA about all Philips HeartStart MRx monitors/defibrillators and Boston Scientific pacemakers and CRT-P.
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Check pumps after MRI.
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To be used only in patients with acute blood loss and when crystalloids alone are not sufficient.
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An alert was issued about Dialog+ haemodialysis machines.
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the November 2021 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 3 December 2021.
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Don't apply aqueous calamine cream onto the skin before an X-ray examination because it may affect the outcome of the radiograph.
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Alerts were recently issued about high concentration oxygen masks, metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements, and BVM (Bag-Valve-Mask) manual resuscitation systems.
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There have been rare reports of Nexplanon implants having reached the lung via the pulmonary artery. An implant that cannot be palpated at its insertion site in the arm should be located as soon as possible and removed at th…
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Increased risk of stroke in older women should be taken into account in prescribing decisions.
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Taking zolpidem is associated with a risk of impaired driving ability the next day.
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A notice was issued by Allergan about the availability of textured breast implants in the UK.
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Now only authorised for use in patients with symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastases who have had 2 previous systemic treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer or who cannot receive …
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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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Cases of severe hypersensitivity syndromes, sometimes fatal, have been reported with etravirine.
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A review of the latest evidence on the risk of thromboembolism advises to consider risk factors and remain vigilant for signs and symptoms.
- the risk of blood clots with all low-dose CHCs is small
- there is good evid…
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An alert was recently issued by MHRA on JM103 and JM105 Jaundice Meters. We also remind you of an alert about Accu-Chek blood glucose test strips.
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Cataract surgeons should check past or current use of α-1 adrenoreceptor antagonists for prostatic hypertrophy before surgery.
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A signal of increased lower limb amputation (primarily of the toe) in people taking canagliflozin compared with placebo in a clinical trial in high cardiovascular risk patients is currently under investigation.
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Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) treatment has been associated with very rare cases of life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necro…
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Healthcare professionals should not prescribe them to newly diagnosed patients as first-line treatment, except for those with severe hypertriglyceridaemia or those who cannot take statins.
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Advise patients and their caregivers to seek urgent medical attention if any signs or symptoms of communicating hydrocephalus develop during nusinersen therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. Patients with communicating hydroce…
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A case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with a fatal outcome was reported in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who had not previously received treatment with methotrexate or a TNF antagonist.
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Risk of intraocular lens opacification.