Dosage forms

Patients are being underdosed: we need new guidance on small-volume drug infusions

Too many patients are not receiving their full prescribed dose with small-volume drug infusions, but hospital pharmacists can act to ensure patient safety.…

Role of dual and triple fixed-dose combination inhalers in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A review of the current evidence, including the safety and efficacy of dual and triple-combination inhalers for the treatment of stable COPD, and their place in therapy.…

‘Problem’ excipients: be cautious when making clinical decisions on formulation

We are writing in response to the article ‘How to identify and manage ‘problem’ excipients in medicines for children’, written by Sara Arthur and Anna Burgess and published in The Pharmaceutical Journal (2017;299(7903):42­–45). The article helpfully raises aw…

Standardising the use of oral liquid medicines to treat tuberculosis in the UK

We are writing to highlight recent work carried out to improve the provision of anti-tuberculosis oral liquid medicines in the UK. Almost two-thirds of hospital pharmacy departments in the UK have reported problems accessing anti-tuberculosis treatments[1] . The fragility of th…

Accuhaler recall after faulty batches discovered

Patients are being urged to check their Ventolin Accuhalers after a small number were found to not deliver a full dose of the drug.…

Dealing with medicines misuse in execution by lethal injection

New standards of industry best practice have been established for implementing distribution controls on drugs that could be used for execution…

Steroid inhalers linked to increased risk of mycobacterial infection

Use of steroid inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases the risk of mycobacterial infections, according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal.…

All you need to know about using smart infusion pumps

Smart infusion pumps: implementation, management and drug libraries, 2nd edition, edited by Pamela K Phelps.…

New guidance for hepatitis B vaccine shortage

Public Health England has issued “temporary” guidance that restricts providing hepatitis B immunisation to adults and children, in response to the global shortage of the vaccine.…

How to identify and manage ‘problem’ excipients in medicines for children

Children may be exposed to potentially harmful excipients, essential components of drug formulations, through unlicensed and off-label use of adult medicines. Excipient exposure should be minimised, although a medicine containing a problem excipient may be indicated, but only after a caref…