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A summary of recent letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals, to inform them of updated safety information.
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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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Safety review initiated following post-surgical fatalities in ultra-rapid metabolisers
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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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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 letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals in December 2016.
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals in January 2017.
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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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An alert was recently issued about Oxoid ceftazidime antimicrobial susceptibility test discs.
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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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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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To be used only in patients with acute blood loss and when crystalloids alone are not sufficient.
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Safety studies of Spiriva Respimat▼
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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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After every use, an ambulance should be called even if symptoms are improving, the individual should lie down with legs raised and, if at all possible, should not be left alone.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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An alert was issued about T34 ambulatory syringe pumps.
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Letters were sent about cladribine (Litak and Leustat), radium-223-dichloride (Xofigo▼), and ERWINASE.
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We have recently advised that talc preparations for pleurodesis are to be considered as medicinal products.
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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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An alert was recently issued about Prismaflex haemofiltration machines.
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals.
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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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In May 2016, letters were sent regarding Nexplanon (etonogestrel implant) and ERWINASE.
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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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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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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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Alerts were recently issued by MHRA about all Philips HeartStart MRx monitors/defibrillators and Boston Scientific pacemakers and CRT-P.
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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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Increased risk of stroke in older women should be taken into account in prescribing decisions.
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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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Cases of severe hypersensitivity syndromes, sometimes fatal, have been reported with etravirine.
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Check pumps after MRI.
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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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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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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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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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An alert was issued about Dialog+ haemodialysis machines.
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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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Taking zolpidem is associated with a risk of impaired driving ability the next day.
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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 notice was issued by Allergan about the availability of textured breast implants in the UK.
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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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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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Repeat enhanced cardiovascular monitoring when restarting fingolimod after treatment interruption,
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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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Risk of serious side effects on fertility, the liver, kidneys, immune system, blood, and heart.
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A summary of letters sent to healthcare professionals, including an important reminder about the withdrawal of retigabine (Trobalt) from the market.
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Serious liver injury has been reported during treatment with pirfenidone in the first year after initiation, including 2 cases with a fatal outcome. Measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), a…