Drug

Changing the culture of fluoroquinolone prescribing

Despite repeated warnings about disabling and irreversible side effects from fluoroquinolones, prescribing of these broad-spectrum antibiotics remains “stubbornly stable”.…

DOACs to be analysed as part of genetic biobank scheme

Patients who report adverse effects from direct oral anticoagulants to the Yellow Card scheme may be contacted to provide a blood sample, from which data will then be added to a biobank for researchers to analyse.…

How to talk to patients about starting antidepressants

Antidepressants are a treatment option for depression, but there are many misconceptions about them. This article summarises what pharmacists should discuss with patients starting treatment.…

Almost all pharmacists say patients have declined medicines prescribed to them because of cost, survey reveals

Of respondents to a survey, 3% of pharmacists said they had “never” experienced patients declining part of their prescription owing to the cost.…

Overactive bladder syndrome: risk factors, diagnosis, management and medicine optimisation in older people

An overview of the symptoms, management and treatment for overactive bladder syndrome in older people.…

NICE recommends new drug for ulcerative colitis that could benefit 25,000 patients

Etrasimod will be offered to patients aged over 16 years, who have had an inadequate response, lost response or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or biological treatment for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.…

Pharmacogenomics and medicines optimisation to be one of eight NHS ‘genomic networks of excellence’

The network will focus on developing the rollout of pharmacogenomics and medicines optimisation in the NHS, including in primary care to address adverse drug reactions.…

How a pharmacist-led primary care clinic can improve respiratory care

Nazir Hussain, a specialist respiratory pharmacist at Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust, shares how he is improving respiratory care by offering GP-based clinics to help patients manage their COPD and asthma.…

EMA committee recommends suspension of almost 400 medicines owing to flawed studies

The European Medicines Agency said irregularities in study data and other inadequacies had “raised serious concerns about the validity and reliability of data” from studies conducted at Synapse Labs.…

PrEP highly effective in cutting HIV transmission but better access needed, study finds

Results of the 'PrEP Impact' trial show that PrEP reduced the chances of someone getting HIV by around 87%.…