News | Neurological conditions

News

First non-cannabis treatment for rare form of epilepsy made available on NHS

Fenfluramine is a non-cannabis treatment for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome who do not respond to existing treatments or clobazam owing to its side effects.…

Published: 20 February 2025

News

More than half of pharmacy staff struggle with mental health over medicines shortages, reveals survey

Respondents to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Workforce Wellbeing Survey also cited inadequate staffing, lack of work–life balance and increased financial pressures as factors that negatively impact their mental health.…

Published: 18 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

Feature

The novel schizophrenia drug showing renewed potential for better outcomes

A novel acetylcholine receptor drug has become the first new medicine to treat schizophrenia in decades. But even after gaining approval in the United States, experts are still conflicted on its benefits over current antipsychotic medicines.…

Published: 5 February 2025

Letter

Look out for PANDAS in the UK

'Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection' (PANDAS) is a neuropsychiatric disease found in children. The onset is sudden and is characterised by symptoms akin with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), such as tics and anxiety (including separation anxie…

Published: 29 January 2025

Opinion

Psychotropic deprescribing in ethnic minority individuals with a learning disability requires a more nuanced approach

People from ethnic minority backgrounds who have a learning disability face ‘double discrimination’ when accessing healthcare services. Culturally sensitive psychotropic deprescribing is just one way this can be improved.…

Published: 23 January 2025

Letter

Enhancing medicines safety for people with learning disabilities and autism through STOMP

Healthcare professionals will be familiar with ‘The Oliver McGowan mandatory training on learning disability and autism’. This training serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences related to inappropriate prescribing and emphasises the need for reform in how we manage medicines…

Published: 20 January 2025

News

Coroners raise concerns about medicines shortages following two patient deaths

The ‘Prevention of future deaths’ reports, published on 20 and 31 December 2024, were issued following deaths of patients who had experienced supply issues with their ADHD and epilepsy medications, respectively.…

Published: 14 January 2025

Feature

A bumpy road for pharmacy in 2024 

From the launch of Pharmacy First and the promise of a new government, to ongoing struggles with medicines shortages, funding and workforce, there have been some highs and lows for pharmacy during 2024. Here, we look back at the biggest headlines of the year.…

Published: 13 December 2024

News

Pfizer and Flynn Pharma fined £69m for ‘excessive’ pricing of epilepsy drug

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld the Competition and Markets Authority's 2016 decision that Pfizer and its distributor Flynn “were gouging the market” when the pricing of phenytoin sodium capsules resulted in costs to the NHS increasing from £2m in 2012 to around £50m in 2013.…

Published: 25 November 2024