Drug Safety Update, Issue 5

December 4, 2007 at 9:27 am | In Prescribing Extra - Other |

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published Drug Safety Update Issue 5 (PDF).

This fifth issue includes the following drug safety advice articles:

Recombinant human erythropoietins: new prescribing advice
Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone: cardiovascular safety
Dosulepin: measures to reduce risk of fatal overdose
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists: not for use in pregnancy
Short-acting Î² agonists: myocardial ischaemia

In addition, this issue contains hot topics focussing on potential side effects of varenicline and balancing of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks of NSAIDs. There is also a reminder to prescribers about the withdrawal of lumiracoxib and the risk of severe allergic reactions with strontium ranelate.

Action: Clinicians will find this publication to be a useful review of current issues in drug safety.