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The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has endorsed changes to isotretinoin prescribing guidance. In addition, CHM is seeking further information from dermatology services who prescribe isotretinoin to inform any future cha…
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The annual #MedSafetyWeek campaign takes place from 3 to 9 November 2025. This year’s campaign theme is ‘we can all help make medicines safer.’
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Patients should be reminded and reassured that there is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children. Paracetamol is recommended as the first-choice pain reliever for pregnant women, used at…
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Fezolinetant treatment is associated with a risk of drug induced liver injury. New recommendations have been introduced to minimise this risk. Liver function should be monitored before and during treatment in all patients ta…
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A safety review has been conducted by the MHRA following a Yellow Card report concerning a patient who was taking bromocriptine. The review concluded that blood pressure monitoring of patients prescribed with this drug is es…
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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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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…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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Taking warfarin and tramadol together can cause harmful drug interactions, which can raise the International Normalised Ratio (INR), and result in severe bruising and bleeding, which in some patients could be fatal.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.
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Advice for healthcare professionals on the reclassification of codeine linctus to a prescription-only medicine (POM), following a public consultation.
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There have been very rare reports of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) with pseudoephedrine.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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We have strengthened the safe use of isotretinoin through the introduction of additional oversight of the initiation of isotretinoin in patients under 18 years and through improved assessment and monitoring of mental health …
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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 prescribing fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin) are reminded to be alert to the risk of psychiatric reactions, including depression and ps…
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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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Healthcare professionals prescribing fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin) are reminded to be alert to the risk of disabling and potentially long-lasting or irrevers…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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There have been a small number of reports of serious and life-threatening anticholinergic side effects associated with hyoscine hydrobromide patches, particularly when used outside the licence. Healthcare professionals, pati…
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We have launched a public consultation on the proposal to reclassify codeine linctus to a prescription-only medicine.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices and details of two recent MHRA National Patient Safety Alerts to remove from service Philips Health Systems V…
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Recent MHRA National Patient Safety Alerts to remove from service Philips Health Systems V60 and V60 Plus ventilators and to recall Emerade adrenaline auto-injectors from patients, pharmacies and wholesalers. We also provide…
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Advice for healthcare professionals regarding the withdrawal of pholcodine-containing medicines from the market.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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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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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines, and a patient safety alert on mexiletine hydrochloride.
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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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Decreased vitamin B12 levels, or vitamin B12 deficiency, is now considered to be a common side effect in patients on metformin treatment, especially in those receiving a higher dose or longer treatment duration and in those …
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We have issued a National Patient Safety Alert following serious reports of harm associated with insulin leakage during use of the Accu-Chek Insight Insulin pump with NovoRapid PumpCart prefilled insulin cartridges. Patients…
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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices
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Serious and life-threatening hypercalcaemia has been reported with denosumab 60mg (Prolia) in children and adolescents in clinical trials for osteogenesis imperfecta and during off-label use. Denosumab 60mg (Prolia) is autho…
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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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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices. Includes a recent recall of Accupro (quinapril hydrochloride) and advice on Xagrid (anagrelide hydrochloride…
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A new study has suggested pregabalin may slightly increase the risk of major congenital malformations if used in pregnancy. Patients should continue to use effective contraception during treatment and avoid use in pregnancy …
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Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the March 2022 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 14 April 2022.
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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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Amiodarone has been associated with serious and potentially life-threatening side effects, particularly of the lung, liver, and thyroid gland. We remind healthcare professionals that patients should be supervised and reviewe…
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A large study has shown no safety issues of concern relating to the use of metformin during pregnancy. The licence for metformin now reflects that it can be considered for use during pregnancy and the periconceptional phase …
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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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As the safety of COVID-19 antivirals in pregnancy has not been established, please report any pregnancies which occur during use of an antiviral, including paternal use, to the UK COVID-19 Antivirals Pregnancy Registry. This…
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Carefully consider the benefits and risks before prescribing systemic azithromycin or other systemic macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin or clarithromycin) to patients being treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine. An…
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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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A summary of recent letters, medicine recalls and notifications sent to healthcare professionals.