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Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) has been reformulated to meet European Pharmacopoeia requirements on particle size.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Care must be taken with dosing as the 2 products are not equivalent.
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All products to be named and prescribed as caffeine citrate.
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A summary of letters and recent medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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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.…
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…Drug alerts were issued about Accord losartan potassium containing products and Ozurdex implants.…
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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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Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal has been reported very rarely (fewer than 1 in 10 000 patients) with bisphosphonates, mainly in association with long-term therapy (2 years or longer).
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There is a risk of rhabdomyolysis if Systemic fusidic acid (Fucidin) is given with statins.
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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 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.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines
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…Letters were sent about Buccolam (midazolam), misoprostol vaginal delivery system (Mysodelle), noradrenaline, Relenza (zanamivir), mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolic acid, Flolan, and Fludara.…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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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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Letters were sent about alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), Selenase (sodium selenite pentahydrate), and Erelzi▼ (etanercept).…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Children exposed in utero to valproate are at a high risk of serious developmental disorders (in up to 30-40% of cases) and/or congenital malformations (in approximately 10% of cases).
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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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A recent Europe-wide review of the safety information for alli has led to a number of updates, which bring the product information in line with that for Xenical.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices, and a recent National Patient Safety Alert asking organisations to put a plan in place to implement new regu…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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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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Careful monitoring of serum sodium important, co-administration of other drugs that may increase serum sodium not recommended.
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Fatal cases of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) have been reported, some occurring in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia receiving the lowest venetoclax dose used in the dose-titration schedule. For all patients, it is i…
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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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New warnings due to risk of hyperkalaemia, hypotension, and impaired renal function have been agreed following an EU-wide review.
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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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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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Review by two specialists remains in place for patients initiating valproate under 55 years of age but the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has advised that it will not be required for men (or males) currently taking valp…
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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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Clinical trial results suggest an increased risk of atrial fibrillation for zoledronic acid (Aclasta▼), pamidronic acid, and possibly for alendronic acid, although the balance-risk remains favourable for bisphosphonates.
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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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 letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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…Renal function monitoring is recommended after use of zoledronic acid in at-risk patients—especially those with pre-existing renal impairment.…
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…The use of gadobenic acid (also known as gadobenate dimeglumine; MultiHance) and gadoxetic acid (Primovist) will be limited to delayed phase liver imaging only*.…
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Omniscan and intravenous Magnevist are now no longer authorised for use and a product recall of any existing unexpired stock is underway.
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We are aware of reports of serious liver injuries and deaths in patients with primary biliary cholangitis with pre-existing moderate or severe liver impairment who were not adequately dose-adjusted. Follow dose reduction and…
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Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials have highlighted a dose-dependent increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with established cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors treated with omega-3-acid ethyl ester medicines compared to placebo…
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We have received reports of Colobreathe (colistimethate sodium) capsules shattering when pierced by their inhaler device.
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Canagliflozin may increase the risk of lower-limb amputation (mainly toes) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Evidence does not show an increased risk for dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, but the risk may be a class effect. P…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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…Cholestasis of pregnancy associated with thiopurines tends to occur earlier in pregnancy than non drug-induced cholestasis of pregnancy, and elevated bile acid levels may not reduce with ursodeoxycholic acid.…