News | Medicines safety

News

SIGN rejects opioids and medicinal cannabis for chronic pain in draft guidance

Draft guidance on management of chronic pain included medicinal cannabis for the first time, not recommending it on the basis of limited clinical evidence and consistent evidence of adverse effects.…

Published: 25 February 2025

News

More than 90% of pharmacists oppose self-selection of P medicines, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association says any potential changes to current regulations “should only be made following full consultation with pharmacists, ensuring decisions align with best practices in medicine safety and patient care”.…

Published: 17 February 2025

News

Two-clinician review for men taking valproate not required, says MHRA

The requirement that two specialists must review any patient aged under 55 years taking valproate will now only apply to patients who are starting the drug.…

Published: 14 February 2025

News

Community pharmacies should be contracted to deliver medication reviews, report concludes

Public Policy Projects has said that community pharmacies are well placed to conduct medication reviews to lessen pressures on the NHS and offer patients more convenient access to care through close relationships with local communities.…

Published: 14 February 2025

Feature

The dangers of propranolol for anxiety

Despite warnings issued five years ago about the risks of prescribing propranolol to treat anxiety, experts say there is still not enough being done to protect patients.…

Published: 12 February 2025

News

GPs raise confidentiality and safety concerns about online prescribing of weight-loss drugs

The Medical Defence Union has advised GPs to ensure that pharmacies review online records with patients to keep in line with prescribing guidelines.…

Published: 6 February 2025

News

MHRA warns of pulmonary aspiration risk for GLP-1 receptor agonists during general anaesthesia or deep sedation

A review has found that all available data support a risk of pulmonary aspiration from glucagon-like peptide-1 or dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonists, owing to their association with delayed gastric emptying.…

Published: 31 January 2025

News

More than £40m of illegally-traded medicines seized by MHRA in 2024

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency partnered with UK Border Force to target medicines illegally entering the UK, with most of the medicines not licensed for sale.…

Published: 30 January 2025

News

EMA safety committee to review link between semaglutide and rare eye condition

The review will include data from clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance, studies on the mechanism of action and medical literature.…

Published: 27 January 2025

News

Weight-loss drug use linked to reduced risk of substance misuse, study shows

Results of the cohort analysis suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists cut the risk of use of substances including alcohol, cannabis and opioids.…

Published: 20 January 2025