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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 of calcium dose.…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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…Other alerts were issued about paracetamol tablets, docetaxel injection, Baxter potassium-chloride-containing intravenous infusions, and Emerade adrenaline auto-injectors.…
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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 and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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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 recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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…As a result, it can only be diluted with either dextrose 5% solution or sodium chloride 0·9% solution
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines
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High intravenous doses of methylthioninium chloride (methylene blue) should be avoided for patients being treated with serotonergic antidepressants (eg, SSRIs, clomipramine, and venlafaxine).
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Alerts were issued about Rocket and NuSurgix fetal blood sampling (FBS) amnioscopes and kits, Philips Efficia professional-use defibrillators/monitors, and CME T-34 3rd edition syringe driver pumps. A notice was also issued …
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Healthcare professionals may have more responsibility to accurately prescribe an unlicensed medicine or an off-label medicine than when they prescribe a medicine within the terms of its licence.
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Severe infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions have occurred in patients receiving temsirolimus.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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New recommendations are being introduced to minimise the risk of serious hypersensitivity reactions with ferumoxytol.
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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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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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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices, and information about the publication of two recent Device Safety Information pages. The article also includ…
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A summary of letters and recent medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) has been reformulated to meet European Pharmacopoeia requirements on particle size.
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Data suggests that long-term use of carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, and sodium valproate is associated with decreased bone mineral density that may lead to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and increased fractures.
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Monitoring of blood electrolytes is essential in patients coprescribed a potassium-sparing diuretic and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for heart failure.
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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Updated advice on use of nicorandil as second-line treatment for stable angina - some ulcers may progress to complications unless treatment is stopped.
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There have been reports of cardiac events including QT prolongation, torsades de pointes, and cardiac arrest in patients who have taken high or very high doses of loperamide as a drug of abuse or for self-treatment of opioid…
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Updated advice for healthcare professionals not to mix or infuse ceftriaxone with solutions containing calcium.
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Studies of cardiovascular risk don’t support prescribing changes.
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…Use of calcium gluconate injection packed in plastic containers is recommended to reduce aluminium burden in vulnerable patients
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Fatal cases of severe symptomatic hypocalcaemia, and risk of hypocalcaemia at any time during treatment.
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Recent epidemiological evidence of an increased risk of fracture with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
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…Drug alerts were issued about Accord losartan potassium containing products and Ozurdex implants.…
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We have introduced pack size restrictions, revised recommended ages for use, and new safety warnings for over-the-counter stimulant laxatives (orally and rectally administered) following a national safety review. Advise pati…
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Minimising the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw; monitoring for hypocalcaemia.
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Careful monitoring of serum sodium important, co-administration of other drugs that may increase serum sodium not recommended.
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The maximum adult daily dose of hydroxyzine is now 100 mg. Do not prescribe hydroxyzine to people with a prolonged QT interval or risk factors for QT interval prolongation.
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Not for use in pregnancy unless there is no effective alternative.
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A clinically significant interaction between carbapenems and valproic acid results in reduced valproate plasma concentrations with potential for inadequate seizure control. Concomitant use of these agents is not recommended,…
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New warnings due to risk of hyperkalaemia, hypotension, and impaired renal function have been agreed following an EU-wide review.
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Serious and life-threatening hypercalcaemia has been reported with denosumab 60mg (Prolia) in children and adolescents in clinical trials for osteogenesis imperfecta and during off-label use. Denosumab 60mg (Prolia) is autho…
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New recommendations following a recent clinical trial which found that in patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome terlipressin may cause serious or fatal respiratory failure at a frequency higher than previously known, and…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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…MHRA issued alerts and recalls for valsartan-containing medicines, Fiasp FlexTouch pre-filled pens, melatonin capsules, and sodium cromoglicate eye drops.
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Use has been restricted to 48 hours’ maximum parenteral use under specialist supervision, after a European safety review.
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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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Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypercalcaemia after discontinuation of denosumab treatment for giant cell tumour of bone. Cases of rebound hypercalcemia have been reported up to 9 months after cessation of treatm…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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…If use of magnesium sulfate in pregnancy is prolonged or repeated, consider monitoring of neonates for abnormal calcium and magnesium levels and skeletal adverse effects.…
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We have received reports of Colobreathe (colistimethate sodium) capsules shattering when pierced by their inhaler device.