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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.…
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Prescribing information has been updated to help to minimise the risk of serious adverse reactions in patients with cardiac disease.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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There is a potential risk of fatal overdose due to confusion between lipid-based and non-lipid-based formulations of parenteral amphotericin B.…
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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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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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A European review has considered MHRA evidence together with additional information from spontaneous reporting and published literature.
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New simplified guidance on treating paracetamol overdose with intravenous acetylcysteine including an updated treatment nomogram.
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New guidance on contraceptive methods and frequency of pregnancy testing to reduce inadvertent exposures during pregnancy in a woman taking a medicine of teratogenic potential.
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Following receipt of a third case of fatal medication error caused by the administration of Fungizone (a non-lipid-based formulation of amphotericin B) instead of a lipid-based formulation (AmBisome, Abelcet), we remind healthcare professionals that these formulations are not interchangeable…
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Rivaroxaban treatment in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) should be stopped and switched to standard of care.
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…It is important to initiate treatment with a small amount of gel and increase the dose gradually, based on tolerability and treatment response.
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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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Importance of establishing wildtype RAS (KRAS and NRAS) status before treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
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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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Healthcare professionals prescribing dupilumab should be alert to the risks of ocular reactions. New onset or worsening ocular symptoms require prompt review. Referral for ophthalmological examination should be made as appro…
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In addition to the 3 risk-based categories of antiepileptic drugs, patient-related factors should be considered when deciding whether it is necessary to maintain continuity of supply for a specific product.…
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Aceclofenac is now contraindicated in patients with certain established cardiovascular diseases.
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines.
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Patients who use products that contain maltose, xylose, or galactose should use glucose-specific monitors.
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A summary of Medical Device Alerts recently issued by the MHRA.
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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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Atypical femoral fractures reported rarely with bisphosphonate therapy, mainly in patients receiving long-term treatment for osteoporosis.
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Epidemiological data suggest that the use of SSRIs in pregnancy, particularly in the later stages, may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to enquire…
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Domperidone is no longer licensed for use in children younger than 12 years or those weighing less than 35 kg. Results from a placebo-controlled study in children younger than 12 years with acute gastroenteritis did not show…
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Perform a quantitative serum anti-JCV antibody test—including index value—to support risk stratification for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. For high-risk patients, consider more frequent MRI screening.
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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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…AEDs have been divided into three risk-based categories to help healthcare professionals decide whether it is necessary to maintain continuity of supply of a specific manufacturer’s product
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Use the central alerting system to view and search new alerts, as well as past alerts that were issued through the public health link and safety alert broadcast system.
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Maternal administration of magnesium sulfate for longer than 5–7 days in pregnancy has been associated with skeletal adverse effects and hypocalcaemia and hypermagnesemia in neonates. If use of magnesium sulfate in pregnancy…
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Patients on nivolumab who present with diarrhoea or other symptoms of colitis, and those who do not respond to steroid treatment for immune-related colitis, should be investigated to exclude other causes, including infection…
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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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Fatal cases of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) have been reported, some occurring in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia receiving the lowest venetoclax dose used in the dose-titration schedule. For all patients, it is i…
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Tofacitinib should not be used in patients older than 65 years of age, people who are current or past smokers, or individuals with other cardiovascular (such as diabetes or coronary artery disease) or malignancy risk factors…
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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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A European review has begun into the safety of radium-223 dichloride following an observed increase in the incidence of deaths and fractures in patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer…
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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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Five cases of necrotising fasciitis have been reported in patients treated with panitumumab in combination with chemotherapy.
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Important to inquire if patients are taking herbal medicines.
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Topical oral salicylate gels are no longer indicated for people younger than 16 years for pain associated with infant teething, orthodontic devices, cold sores, or mouth ulcers.
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Mycophenolate mofetil and its active metabolite mycophenolic acid, both used to prevent transplant rejection, are teratogenic and genotoxic. The available clinical evidence does not indicate an increased risk of malformation…
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Isotretinoin should only be prescribed by consultant dermatologist-led teams and dispensed only by a hospital pharmacy.
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Patients with cancer who received recombinant human erythropoietins in clinical trials had an increased risk of tumour progression and reduced overall survival compared with study controls.
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New safety information for intensive monitoring of Erlotinib.
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We have recently received 2 reports of fatal adverse reactions to the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril). Due to an increased risk of life-threatening reactions, the vaccine must not be given to anyone with a medical history of…
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We are providing an update on a retrospective observational study on the risk to children born to men who took valproate in the 3 months before conception and on the need for the re-analysis of the data from this study befor…
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Patients with epilepsy should not take products that contain St John’s wort as any antiepileptic medicine may interact with St John’s wort.
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Alerts issued include important actions for enFlow IV fluid and blood warmers due to a risk of unsafe levels of aluminium leaching from the device. Other alerts were issued on implantable cardiac pacemakers, Accu-Chek Insigh…
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A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices.