Searching social networks to detect adverse reactions Regulators and pharmaceutical companies are monitoring social media posts for potential adverse drug reaction signals.…
Women taking valproate should be told about risks of developmental disorders in offspringWomen taking valproate should be told about the risks of developmental disorders in children exposed to the drug during pregnancy, says the UK medicines regulator.…
Risk of heart problems prompts removal of OTC diclofenac from UK pharmacy shelves Oral diclofenac tablets, used for short-term pain relief, will no longer be available as an over-the-counter pharmacy medicine in the UK.…
Increased risk of severe skin reactions with expectorants containing ambroxol or bromhexinePatients taking expectorants containing ambroxol or bromhexine have a small increased risk of severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.…
Anaesthetists campaign for pholcodine cough medicines to become prescription-only products Anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand are campaigning for pholcodine-containing cough medicines to become prescription-only products.…
Redesigned aminoglycoside may eliminate risk of hearing loss Researchers have diminished the toxicity of the aminoglycoside sisomicin — which can cause hearing damage or loss — by altering its molecular structure.…
Interim results of stem cell treatment for multiple sclerosis show promise Stem cell treatment after high-dose immunosuppressive therapy could be an effective way to manage relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.…
2014: The Pharmaceutical Journal’s news in review Looking back at some of the biggest news stories from the past year. …
Risk modelling study suggests aspirin’s harms outweigh benefits for younger women For most women, the long-term benefits of aspirin do not outweigh the increase in major gastrointestinal bleeding, say researchers.…
Ebola clinical trial suspended after volunteers complain of joint pains A phase I clinical trial of the fast-tracked Ebola vaccine VSV-ZEBOV has been halted in Switzerland because some trial participants developed mild joint pain.…