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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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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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Updated advice for healthcare professionals not to mix or infuse ceftriaxone with solutions containing calcium.
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Fatal cases of severe symptomatic hypocalcaemia, and risk of hypocalcaemia at any time during treatment.
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Studies of cardiovascular risk don’t support prescribing changes.
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…Use of calcium gluconate injection packed in plastic containers is recommended to reduce aluminium burden in vulnerable patients
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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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Recent epidemiological evidence of an increased risk of fracture with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
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Minimising the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw; monitoring for hypocalcaemia.
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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 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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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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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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Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypercalcaemia after discontinuation of denosumab treatment for giant cell tumour of bone. Cases of rebound hypercalcemia have been reported up to 9 months after cessation of treatm…
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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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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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A summary of letters and drug alerts recently sent to healthcare professionals.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines
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…If use of magnesium sulfate in pregnancy is prolonged or repeated, consider monitoring of neonates for abnormal calcium and magnesium levels and skeletal adverse effects.…
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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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Emerging clinical trial evidence of increased cardiovascular risk.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices and a reminder of a recent MHRA National Patient Safety Alert to highlight the potential risk of underdosing with calcium gluconate in severe hyperkalaemia.…
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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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Monitor serum phosphate levels in patients treated with multiple high-dose administrations, or those on long-term treatment, and in those with pre-existing risk factors for hypophosphataemia. Re-evaluate ferric carboxymaltos…
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Take particular care when prescribing or dispensing medicines that could be confused with others (ie, they sound-alike or look-alike).
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Severe infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions have occurred in patients receiving temsirolimus.
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A summary of letters and recent medicine recalls and notifications 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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Updated advice on use of nicorandil as second-line treatment for stable angina - some ulcers may progress to complications unless treatment is stopped.
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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 recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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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 inappropria…
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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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New advice for extended early monitoring for those with significant bradycardia or heart block after first dose.
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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, and information about the publication of two recent Device Safety Information pages. The article also includ…
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Advise patients taking hydrochlorothiazide-containing products of the cumulative, dose-dependent risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, particularly in long-term use, and the need to regularly check for (and report) any suspiciou…
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The maximum recommended dose for simvastatin in conjunction with amlodipine and diltiazem is now 20 mg/day.
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We have introduced pack size restrictions, revised recommended ages for use, and new safety warnings for over-the-counter stimulant laxatives (orally and rectally administered) following a national safety review. Advise pati…