EMA launches ‘urgent safety review’ of alemtuzumab after two patient deaths The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has launched a safety review of alemtuzumab following reports of two deaths and several other cases of people experiencing life-threatening reactions shortly after taking the medicine.…
RPS urges home secretary to ban DNP ‘diet’ drug The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has written to Sajid Javid, the home secretary, requesting an immediate ban on the diet drug 2,4-dinitrophenol.…
MHRA expert working group launches review of opioid use An expert working group of the UK’s Commission on Human Medicines, a committee within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, has launched a review looking into the risks and benefits of opioid medicines.…
Emollient packaging should include fire risk warning, says MHRA People who use emollient creams to treat dry and itchy skin conditions should be warned about the potential fire hazard, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said.…
Pharmacists told to report packages containing unidentified substance The chief medical officer has issued a ‘class one’ alert to all hospital and community pharmacists regarding unsolicited packages being sent to health-related organisations over the past 24 hours.…
Newer anticoagulants have no more safety risks than warfarin Treating venous thromboembolism with direct oral anticoagulants creates no greater risk of major bleeding or death in the first 90 days of treatment compared with warfarin.…
Diarrhoea treatment associated with serious heart problems The MHRA has warned of serious cardiac adverse reactions in patients misusing or abusing loperamide by taking high or very high doses of the drug.…
MHRA warns students against self-prescribing The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a strong warning to students about the risks of self-prescribing and self-medicating with medicines bought online.…
Community pharmacists can help highlight valproate risks, says PGEU Medicines use reviews and the new medicine service provide the perfect opportunity to discuss risks of sodium valproate with younger women, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union is advising.…
Comprehensive drug reference resource from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists This new edition of the popular drug reference includes oncology drugs approved under the US Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval programme.…
