Drug classes

Health news round-up: prescribing, deprescribing and medication considerations

A weekly summary of important developments in health news that you may have missed.…

Norovirus and strategies for infection control

How to recognise the signs and symptoms of norovirus infection, with an overview of pharmacy’s role in its management.…

Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists recommends ‘ring-fencing’ diamorphine stock amid supply issues

Medicine supply alerts sent in December 2025 and January 2026 have requested that prescribers switch to morphine sulphate 10mg/1mL injections, where possible.…

Higher-dose Wegovy could increase patient expectation, warns PDA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved a 7.2mg dose of Wegovy after the higher dose showed success in clinical trial patients.…

Community pharmacy cholesterol testing pilot expands across east London

Under the scheme, pharmacies use a seven-minute test to assess patients’ cholesterol levels and offer an estimate of their risk of heart problems over the next ten years.…

Management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Pharmacological treatment approaches for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, including pharmacogenomic considerations for first-in-class myosin inhibitors.…

Addiction warnings on opioid and z-drug packaging to be strengthened

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that patient information leaflets for gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines and z-drugs will include clearer definitions of dependence and addiction.…

Risks of nasal decongestant spray overuse need to be made clearer, says RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said manufacturers must make the seven-day limit for nasal decongestant sprays clear, owing to the risk of dependency.…

Weight regain after weight-loss medicine shows need for sustained lifestyle change

Researchers found that people who used weight-loss medication regained weight more rapidly, with an average monthly weight regain of 0.4kg compared with 0.1kg in those who followed behavioural weight management programmes.…

RPS joins call for better collaboration in contraceptive commissioning

The Advisory Group on Contraception has called for integrated care boards and local authorities to be mandated to collaboratively commission women's health and contraception services.…