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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Make a clear distinction between liposomal, pegylated-liposomal, lipid-complex and conventional formulations when prescribing, dispensing, administering, and communicating about these medicines. Medicines with these formulat…
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The MHRA has reviewed the warnings regarding addiction, dependence, withdrawal, and
tolerance for gabapentin, pregabalin, benzodiazepines, and z-drugs. The findings (detailed in the Public Assessment Report) were that it wa…
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Initiate orlistat treatment only after careful consideration of the possible impact on efficacy of antiretroviral HIV medicines.
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Alerts were issued about T34 ambulatory syringe pumps, Gripper needles, and 1-day Acuvue Moist for astigmatism contact lenses.
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Benefits of these medicines used in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the control of asthma symptoms in children outweigh any apparent risks.
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No evidence of increased risk of febrile convulsions in children.
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Alerts were issued about Convex two-piece skin barriers for use with ostomy bags and HeartStart XL+ defibrillators. A notice was also issued following reports of falsely depressed creatinine results for patients on phenindio…
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Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) has been reformulated to meet European Pharmacopoeia requirements on particle size.
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Patients who require a liquid oral formulation of a β-agonist should be switched to a more-selective short-acting β2-agonist such as salbutamol or terbutaline.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Report of febrile promptly.
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Alerts issued include important actions for enFlow IV fluid and blood warmers due to a risk of unsafe levels of aluminium leaching from the device. Other alerts were issued on implantable cardiac pacemakers, Accu-Chek Insigh…
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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 pharmacy-level recall of some valsartan-containing products took place due to possible contamination, including advice to healthcare professionals and information on supply. Letters were also sent about quadrivalent influe…
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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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Restricted use and new monitoring requirements.
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Should not be used for cough under 18 years
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Letters were sent about alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), Selenase (sodium selenite pentahydrate), and Erelzi▼ (etanercept).
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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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Healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential risk of pulmonary aspiration in patients using GLP-1 or dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists who undergo surgery or procedures with general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
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Use only when other antibiotics are unsuitable
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Linezolid is not active against infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, and treatment should be started only after specialist microbiological advice.
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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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Following receipt of a third case of fatal medication error caused by the administration of Fungizone (a non-lipid-based formulation of amphotericin B) instead of a lipid-based formulation (AmBisome, Abelcet), we remind heal…
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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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Use a lower starting dose of thalidomide in patients with untreated multiple myeloma who are older than age 75 years.
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Strengthening surveillance of medicines throughout the EU
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Risk minimisation materials are available to support the safe use of new paediatric formulations of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa). In addition, we ask healthcare professionals to consult the curren…
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Continued monitoring of medicines with a black triangle status.
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Risk of early psychiatric side-effects is one of several important safety issues for healthcare professionals to discuss with patients and carers, who should seek urgent medical advice in the event of any worrying symptoms.
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The Yellow Card App has been updated to make it easier to use, to have useful new features, and to support reporting a suspected reaction related to medicine exposure during pregnancy. Download the App today and let us know …
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We are no longer requesting all suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to be reported for children.
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…The product information for Xaqua has been updated to clarify that references to comparative bioavailability with other metolazone products relate specifically to Metenix and not to any other metolazone preparations.…
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A retrospective observational study has indicated a possible association between valproate use by men around the time of conception and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in their children.
Inform male p…
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The risk of foetal malformation with oral retinoids is extremely high, even when used at a low dose or for a short time during pregnancy. All oral retinoids have an associated Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP), which is s…
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Care needed when transferring from unlicensed formulations.
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The Department for Transport has introduced a new offence of driving with certain controlled drugs above specified limits in the blood; this is likely to come into force on 2 March 2015.
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We ask healthcare professionals to be vigilant to adverse incidents involving software, apps, and artificial intelligence (AI) as medical devices and to report incidents to us via the Yellow Card scheme.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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Healthcare professionals should monitor the use and safety of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV as they are advanced.
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New recommendations are being introduced to minimise the risk of serious hypersensitivity reactions with ferumoxytol.
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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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Support this initiative to explore whether there is a genetic basis of side effects associated with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and allopurinol.
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New monitoring instructions to detect these side effects as soon as possible.
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Extension of the indication for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to include harm reduction.
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Letters were sent about Insuman insulin products, mecasermin, and valproate medicines. Recalls were issued about ranitidine medicines and Paclitaxel.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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There is an increased risk of myopathy associated with high-dose (80 mg) simvastatin. The 80-mg dose should be considered only in patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia and high risk of cardiovascular complications who h…