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Benzodiazepines and opioids can both cause respiratory depression, which can be fatal if not recognised in time. Only prescribe together if there is no alternative and closely monitor patients for signs of respiratory depres…
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Disabling, long-lasting or potentially irreversible adverse reactions affecting musculoskeletal and nervous systems have been reported very rarely with fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Fluoroquinolone treatment should be discont…
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Carbimazole is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, especially when administered in the first trimester of pregnancy and at high doses. Women of childbearing potential should use effective contracep…
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Key MHRA advice and guidance issued so far on medicines safety and pharmacovigilance, including on reporting to the Yellow Card Scheme.…
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We are no longer requesting all suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to be reported for children.
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A patient alert card is being introduced for men taking finasteride to help raise awareness of the risk of psychiatric side effects and sexual dysfunction, including the potential for sexual dysfunction to persist after trea…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the February 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 11 March 2022
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If an adverse reaction is suspected, ask patients whether they are taking any herbal medicines and discuss with them the importance of reporting this via the Yellow Card Scheme.…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the June 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 20 July 2022.
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Report to the Yellow Card Scheme suspected adverse reactions associated with medicines taken during pregnancy experienced by women or the baby or child.…
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The human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme is now entering its second year and this article summarises the safety experience to date.
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You can use our free e-learning modules to find out more about how and when to report suspected adverse drug reactions and earn CPD credits at the same time.
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Reporting to the new site will enable the MHRA to rapidly identify new and emerging side effects and medical device incidents in COVID-19 treatment, including side effects for medicines taken by patients to manage long-term …
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the April 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 13 May 2022.
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the November 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 8 December 2022.
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Clinical trials, including interim findings from a randomised trial, show an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation or behaviour, or self-injury in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving belimumab comp…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the September 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 21 October 2022.
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Healthcare professionals working in primary and secondary care should ensure that clinically significant immunosuppression in a patient is identified before administration of a live attenuated vaccine.
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Updated safety recommendations have been issued as part of the European review evaluating cases of neural tube defects in babies born to mothers who became pregnant while taking the HIV medicine dolutegravir. Evidence collec…
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Healthcare professionals prescribing aripiprazole are reminded to be alert to the risk of addictive gambling and other impulse control disorders. Healthcare professionals should advise patients, their families and friends to…
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Second year safety review
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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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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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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 that reporting helps make medicines safer and saves lives.…
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Information on the newly launched Safer Medicines in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Consortium and a new report on optimising data on medicines used during pregnancy.
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The third-line treatment indication for rucaparib has been withdrawn following a review of the findings of the ARIEL-4 trial, which showed lower overall survival for rucaparib treatment versus standard chemotherapy in patien…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the January 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 11 February 2022.
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the August 2021 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 9 September 2021.
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For most patients and most medicines, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is an appropriate measure of renal function for determining dosage adjustments in renal impairment; however, in some circumstances, the Cockcr…
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In patients at risk for aortic aneurysm and dissection, fluoroquinolones should only be used after careful assessment of the benefits and risks and after consideration of other therapeutic options.
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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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Healthcare professionals prescribing montelukast should be alert to the risk of neuropsychiatric reactions in all patients including children and adolescents. Reported neuropsychiatric reactions include sleep disorders, hall…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the July 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 19 August 2022.
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the October 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 24 November 2022.
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Diabetic ketoacidosis has been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes on a combination of a GLP-1 receptor agonist and insulin who had doses of concomitant insulin rapidly reduced or discontinued. GLP-1 receptor agonists …
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Increase the frequency of blood pressure monitoring to at least weekly for the first 2 months, and then monitor monthly for the first year and periodically thereafter during treatment, following recent reports of onset of se…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the May 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 17 June 2022.
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Tapentadol may increase seizure risk in patients taking other medicines that lower seizure threshold, for example, antidepressants and antipsychotics. Serotonin syndrome has also been reported when tapentadol is used in comb…
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the October 2021 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 12 November 2021.
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Monitoring blood concentrations of clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex) for toxicity is now advised in certain clinical situations. Blood level monitoring of other antipsychotics for toxicity may also be helpful in certa…
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The medicines used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency (hydroxocobalamin, cyanocobalamin) contain cobalt. There are case reports in the literature describing cobalt sensitivity-type reactions in patients being treated for vitami…
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Revisions have been made to the information for healthcare professionals and information for UK vaccine recipients for the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine following a thorough review of extremel…
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We are launching a pilot scheme for healthcare professionals in the UK to report suspected adverse reactions to illicit drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances.
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When children receiving replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency are being switched from hydrocortisone tablets to Alkindi granules, parents or carers should be informed of the need to be extra vigilant for symptoms of …
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There is a small increase in the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome following vaccination with Abrysvo (Pfizer respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine) and Arexvy (GSK RSV vaccine) in adults aged 60 years and older. Healthca…
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Administration of parenteral nutrition without a filter has been associated with a number of adverse incidents including an embolism which resulted in a fatal outcome.
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We have published guidance about the use of remote consultations for pregnancy prevention in women of childbearing potential and monitoring for signs of psychiatric reactions (especially depression) and other safety risks in…
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Liver monitoring requirements for cladribine in the treatment of multiple sclerosis have been introduced following uncommon cases of serious liver injury. Advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they develop any …
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Risk of insufficient cortisol absorption and life-threatening adrenal crisis if muco-adhesive buccal tablets are used as adrenal replacement therapy.
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the August 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 23 September 2022.