by Kazeem Olalekan A BNF and BNFc app convert like myself knows to press the ‘Update Now’ button whenever I am prompted to do so. It is the best way to be up-to-date in clinical decision making. What I thought I would do today is highlight some
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by Kazeem Olalekan Over the last month, a number of important alerts have been posted on the MHRA website which we, at bookapharmacist.com, will like to draw attention (NOTE: We continue to Tweet MHRA alerts on our Twitter page – @bookapharmacist under the hashtag #mhra – so be
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by Kazeem Olalekan MRPharmS In August a number of communications on medicines safety were sent out to healthcare professionals via the MHRA. If you missed any of it then here are the summary. Full details are available on the MHRA website. Number 1: Number 2: Number 3:
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by Kazeem Olalekan Attention has just been drawn to the Drug Safety Update on Febuxostat (Adenuric) via the PJOnline website. In summary, there have been rare but serious reports of hypersensitivity reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and acute anaphylactic shock, with febuxostat (Adenuric). Febuxostat must be stopped immediately
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by Kazeem Olalekan MRPharmS Cyclizine Lactate Injection 50mg/ 1ml ampoules PL 00156/0096 Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd is recalling all remaining unexpired ampoules of the above discontinued product as a precautionary measure. This is due to a GMP concern at a third-party supplier and their own site. It is likely
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A class 4 alert has been issued for Priadel Liquid by the MHRA. Priadel Liquid (Lithium Citrate 520mg/5ml equivalent to Lithium Carbonate 204mg/5ml) appears cloudy rather than clear. A detailed investigation carried out by Sanofi, the manufacturer, “has shown that the cloudiness is not due to microbial
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A class 1 drug alert (FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION) was posted on the MHRA website last week for Co-codamol 8/500 (codeine phosphate 8mg, paracetamol 500mg) containing rogue Co-codamol 30/500 tablets! The brand affected was manufactured by Wockhardt UK Ltd. Batch No: LL11701. Excerpts from the MHRA website
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by Kazeem Olalekan MRPharmS Early result from the ALiskiren Trial In Type 2 diabetes Using cardiovascular and renal Disease Endpoints (ALTITUDE) study has shown that: study patients were unlikely to benefit from aliskiren; and an increased incidence of non-fatal strokes, renal complications (including acute renal failure), hyperkalaemia
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by Kazeem Olalekan A safety alert has come to our attention via the MHRA: Following a review by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the marketing authorisation (licence) for levothyroxine 100 microgram tablets manufactured by Teva has been suspended. Teva levothyroxine 100 microgram tablets will cease to
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by Kazeem Olalekan MRPharmS There is no better time than the present to start putting forward the list of the changes we will like to see at the MHRA. MHRA is making valuable contribution to the safety of medicines and devices in the UK although its work
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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received warning of possible bacterial contamination in batches of the saline nasal spray Sterimar Isotonic 100ml. The spray is sold online and at high street retailers and is commonly used to cleanse the nasal passage. As part of
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Kazeem Olalekan MRPharmS An avid listener to the BBC Radio stations will not fail to notice a series of six short tones broadcast at one-second intervals (1) to mark the precise start of each hour. When in May last year the pips went missing (2), a typical
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by Kazeem Olalekan The discovery of blister packs of Seroquel XL (manufactured by AstraZeneca) and Neurontin 100mg capsules (manufactured by Pfizer) in Reckitt Benckiser’s Nurofen Plus OTC tablets is odder than odd (1)! As far as I can tell, these were not even manufactured in the same
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The MHRA has just posted a safety update that the use of pioglitazone is associated with a small increased risk of bladder cancer. Healthcare professionals should be aware of new warnings and precautions for use in at-risk patients. The advice for healthcare professionals include: Patients with active
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Counterfeit medicine is a menace that must be stopped. Mike Deats, MHRA Head of Enforcement was quoted recently as saying “The MHRA will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine public health.” This follows the successful prosecution of Graham Dawson, the mastermind behind a scam
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