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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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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 inappropriate insulin administration and subsequent hypoglycaemia.…
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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.
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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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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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SGLT2 inhibitor treatment should be interrupted in patients who are hospitalised for major surgical procedures or acute serious medical illnesses and ketone levels measured, preferably in blood rather than urine. Treatment m…
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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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Test for raised ketones in patients with acidosis symptoms, even if plasma glucose levels are near-normal.
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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, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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Do not use in children aged 16 years or less, except in specialist settings under expert medical supervision.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines
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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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The authorisation holder for dapagliflozin has withdrawn the indication for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The removal of the type 1 diabetes indication is not due to any new safety concerns and the other indications of dapaglifl…
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…GLP-1 receptor agonists are not substitutes for insulin, and any reduction of insulin should be done in a stepwise manner with careful glucose self-monitoring.…
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Letters were sent about alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), Selenase (sodium selenite pentahydrate), and Erelzi▼ (etanercept).…
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Test for raised ketones in patients with ketoacidosis symptoms, even if plasma glucose levels are near-normal.
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Letters were sent to healthcare professionals about Lartruvo▼ (olaratumab), quadrivalent influenza vaccine (split virion, inactivated), SGLT2 inhibitors, and carbimazole and thiamazole (synonym: methimazole)-containing produ…
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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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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, including recommendations to reduce handling errors with leuprorelin-containing depot medicines.
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If Fournier’s gangrene is suspected, stop the SGLT2 inhibitor and start treatment urgently (including antibiotics and surgical debridement). Fournier’s gangrene is a rare but potentially life-threatening infection that requi…
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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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Patients who use products that contain maltose, xylose, or galactose should use glucose-specific monitors.
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False blood glucose readings when used to flush arterial lines leading to incorrect insulin administration and potentially fatal hypoglycaemia.
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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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Careful monitoring of serum sodium important, co-administration of other drugs that may increase serum sodium not recommended.
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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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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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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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Not for use in pregnancy unless there is no effective alternative.
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Monitor glucose levels closely in patients with diabetes during direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, particularly within the first 3 months of treatment, and modify diabetes medication or doses when necessary.…
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Alerts were issued about FreeStyle Libre flash glucose sensors and Arjo Minstrel passive floor lifts (portable hoist).
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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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…We also remind you of an alert about Accu-Chek blood glucose test strips.
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Tazocin (piperacillin/tazobactam) has been reformulated to meet European Pharmacopoeia requirements on particle size.
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An alert was issued recently about Accu-Chek Aviva, Accu-Chek Performa, and Accu-Chek Inform II test strips – risk of strip error messages and false high and low blood glucose results. An alert was also issued recently about Infinity Acute Care System and M540 Patient Monitors.
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…The product information for all Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists has been further updated to highlight the potential risk of severe acute pancreatitis with these products, including rare…
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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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Statin use may be associated with a level of hyperglycaemia in some patients where formal diabetes care is appropriate.
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Letters were sent about daclizumab beta (Zinbryta▼), alteplase (Actilyse), Esmya (ulipristal acetate), and Xofigo▼ (radium-223-dichloride). MHRA issued alerts and recalls for batches of Nutriflex Omega Special 2500 ml and Nu…
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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.