David Lipanovic

Senior Clinical Reporter

EMA may ask manufacturers to increase production capacity in response to medicines shortages

The European Medicines Agency has published a list of new recommendations to be implemented on a case-by-case basis, depending on vulnerabilities in the supply chain.…

Antipsychotic drugs in dementia treatment associated with range of adverse reactions

Experts say the findings suggest that the risks of prescribing antipsychotics in people with dementia “may be more severe than previously understood”.…

More than 40% of people with ADHD waiting at least two years to access mental health service, study finds

Healthcare professionals, integrated care board commissioners and people with lived experience of ADHD all reported extended wait times for adult mental health services.…

Diltiazem use with anticoagulants associated with higher risk of bleeding compared with metoprolol in older people, study finds

The study included data from 204,155 Medicare beneficiaries in the United States who filled a prescription for apixaban or rivaroxaban between January 2012 and November 2020.…

Long-term beta blocker use after heart attack did not lower risk of death and recurrence, study results show

A study of more than 5,000 patients showed that death or another myocardial infarction occurred in 199 patients in the beta-blocker group and 208 patients in the no beta-blocker group.…

Reconciling medicine review targets with hospital workforce challenges

As hospital workforce pressures bite, pharmacy teams are questioning whether medicines reconciliation targets are appropriate.…

Structured medication reviews increase in primary care despite end of financial incentive

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS England data show there was a 15% increase in structured medication reviews in the 2023/2024 financial year up to February 2024, compared with the year before.…

Government and NHS England set up clinical reference group to deal with forthcoming shortage of Pabrinex

A medicine supply notification advised NHS trusts to locate and consolidate their current Pabrinex stock, which is likely to be out of stock from August 2024 until September 2025.…

NICE recommends phased roll out of genetic testing for clopidogrel prescribing

In draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said that testing could be rolled out to patients at higher risk of stroke recurrence first, while capacity is established.…

NHS England publishes guidance on withdrawing desflurane from general use, following NICE evidence review

Desflurane can be safely withdrawn from clinical use, the guidance says, but may be warranted in “some specific clinical exceptions”.…