Sophie Willis

Investigations editor

Newborns given precautionary antibiotics can go home for treatment, says NICE

Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has advised that babies born after 35 weeks who are on IV antibiotics can be offered liquid oral antibiotics to be completed at home, if they meet certain conditions.…

No increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children of fathers using valproate

In a review of previous studies, researchers examined the paternal use of valproate with lamotrigine or levetiracetam and their effects on offspring.…

Psychiatric and sexual dysfunction warnings strengthened for finasteride and dutasteride

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it had reviewed evidence for both drugs and recommended the further measures to minimise risks to patients.…

MHRA seized more than 2 million doses of illegal medicines in two-week period

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that more than half of the medicines seized during its operation were controlled drugs, while the rest were classified as prescription-only medicines.…

Coroner raises concern over prescribing errors following prison death

A prisoner at HMP Thameside died of cardiac arrest as a result of an epileptic seizure with the coroner stating that a “significant contributing factor” was “toxicity related to pregabalin and sodium valproate level in someone with epilepsy”.…

Pharmacies deliver almost 16,000 RSV vaccinations as programme found to cut newborn hospitalisations by up to 85%

Babies born at least four weeks after their mother received a respiratory syncytial virus vaccination had nearly 85% protection against the virus.…

Gabapentinoids found to increase risk of drug toxicity

Researchers found that patients taking gabapentinoids with benzodiazepines were at double the risk of being hospitalised with drug poisoning, while combining the drug with opioids has a 30% increase in risk.…

More than 550 patients seen under pharmacy cholesterol testing pilot

The pilot rolled out a seven-minute point-of-care cholesterol test across seven community pharmacies in north east London to estimate patients’ potential future risk of heart problems.…

Mounjaro approved for use in children in UK in ‘significant advance in paediatric care’

The approval marks the first time tirzepatide has been available for use in children in the UK.…

Manufacturer to warn of fatal adverse reactions from blood-clotting drug and anaesthetic mix-ups

A letter from Pfizer cautions healthcare professionals to use extreme caution when storing, handling and administrating IV formulations of tranexamic acid.…