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Paraffin based products such as white soft paraffin can set on fire easily.…
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Smoking or a naked flame could cause patients’ dressings or clothing to catch fire when being treated with paraffin-based emollient that is in contact with the dressing or clothing.
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Epimax Ointment and Epimax Paraffin-Free Ointment can harm the eyes if used on the face. Do not prescribe these ointments for use on the face. Tell patients to wash their hands and avoid touching their eyes after using these products.
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Warnings about the risk of severe and fatal burns are being extended to all paraffin-based emollients regardless of paraffin concentration. Data suggest there is also a risk for paraffin-free emollients.…
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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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We inform healthcare professionals of the recent campaign to promote awareness of the risk and new resources available to support safe use following previous advice to health and care professionals.
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Addition of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based laxative to a liquid that has been thickened with a starch-based thickener may counteract the thickening action, placing patients with dysphagia at a greater risk of aspiration.
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Healthcare professionals should be vigilant for suspected adverse reactions and safety concerns associated with e-cigarettes and e-liquids, commonly known as vapes. Please report adverse reactions to the Yellow Card scheme and promote vigilance among patients.
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A European review has considered MHRA evidence together with additional information from spontaneous reporting and published literature.
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Should not be used for cough under 18 years
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Use the Yellow Card Reporting Scheme to support the safety of e-cigarettes and refill containers (e-liquids).
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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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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Careful monitoring of serum sodium important, co-administration of other drugs that may increase serum sodium not recommended.
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Liver function tests should be carried out at treatment initiation, during treatment, and also when the dose is increased.
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Batches of this medicine are being recalled from the market because of low levels of microbial contamination.
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Be vigilant for any suspected adverse reactions associated with use of e-cigarettes or vaping (including lung injury) and report them to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme. In this article we provide UK case definitions of …
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Updated dosing for paediatric paracetamol liquids has been developed to ensure children receive the optimum dose for their age.
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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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Taking zolpidem is associated with a risk of impaired driving ability the next day.
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Healthcare professionals should be aware of alerts and letters issued about adrenaline auto-injectors in September and October 2019. This article provides a summary of recent advice issued to healthcare professionals, includ…
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Letters were sent to healthcare professionals about Jext adrenaline autoinjectors, rivaroxaban, Ozurdex 700 micrograms intravitreal implant, sildenafil, hydrochlorothiazide, and Epilim Chronosphere (sodium valproate). We als…
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If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor…
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Rare occurrence of serious allergic reactions should not preclude use of parenteral thiamine in patients who need treatment by this route of administration.
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As of 1 April 2019, pregabalin and gabapentin are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as Class C substances and scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as Schedule 3. Evaluate patients carefully for a …
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A summary of letters sent to relevant healthcare professionals.
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Indication restricted to nausea and vomiting, new contraindications, and reduced dose and duration of use.
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New recommendations following a review of the risks of dependence and addiction associated with prolonged use of opioid medicines (opioids) for non-cancer pain. Before prescribing opioids, discuss with the patient the risks …
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Further information is available to support safer use
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Guidance has been published on monitoring of patients on warfarin and other anticoagulants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Needs a summary
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…Since November 2014, letters were sent regarding vismodegib (Erivedge ▼), chlorhexidine solutions, carbocisteine oral liquid (Mucodyne Paediatric 125mg/5ml), regadenoson (Rapiscan), a parenteral nutrition emulsion (Triomel), and telavancin (Vibativ▼).…
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We are running a social media campaign to promote the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions to the Yellow Card Scheme in support of an awareness week from 7 to 11 November 2016. The main message of the campaign is th…
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The seventh annual #MedSafetyWeek social media campaign will take place 7 to 13 November 2022 and this year’s focus is the importance of reporting suspected adverse reactions to medicines and vaccines. We are also encouragin…
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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.
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Restricted dose and duration of use.
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It is essential that the entire contents of the solvent vial is added to the concentrate vial to produce a concentrate-solvent mixture with the intended concentration of 10 mg/mL cabazitaxel.
It is essential that the enti…
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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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Cases of pancreatitis, with or without sphincter of Oddi spasm, have been reported in patients taking eluxadoline. Some cases have resulted in hospitalisation and death, primarily in patients who have undergone cholecystecto…
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Stavudine should only be used when there are no appropriate alternatives, and for the shortest possible time.
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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…
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May cause skin irritation, particularly in children with eczema, possibly due to sodium lauryl sulfate content.
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New simplified guidance on treating paracetamol overdose with intravenous acetylcysteine including an updated treatment nomogram.
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Do not use codeine in children under 12 as it is associated with a risk of respiratory side effects. Codeine is not recommended for adolescents (12 to 18) who have problems with breathing.
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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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Insufficient evidence to confirm a link between oral bisphosphonate use and an increased risk of oesophageal cancer.
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MHRA has received reports of unintentional overdose of fentanyl due to dosing errors, accidental exposure, and exposure of the patch to a heat source.
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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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Following a review of the available toxicological data and a calculation of daily exposure to boron from a typical dosing regimen, we have concluded that the balance between the benefits and risks of chloramphenicol eye drop…
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Pregabalin has been associated with infrequent reports of severe respiratory depression, including some cases without the presence of concomitant opioid medicines. Patients with compromised respiratory function, respiratory …