Drug Safety Update

We have designed the bulletin so that you can find quickly the information that is relevant to your practice. Keywords on main articles enable you to locate items of particular relevance to your area of interest. Where possible, we have indicated where you can access additional information, and websites are highlighted with hyperlinks for ease of use. The bulletin will include regular updates on the Yellow Card Scheme, which remains a vital part of the Agency’s vigilance activities.

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Latest Drug Safety Updates

• 06 Nov 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008

  The November issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: a reminder about the risk of psychiatric adverse reactions with the smoking-cessation drug varenicline; drug safety advice for the antibacterial tigecycline after its reformulation; a hot topic article on ezetimibe; and ‘Stop press’ information about the European suspension of the marketing authorisation for rimonabant.

• 06 Oct 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 2 Issue 3 October 2008

  The October issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for ergot-derived dopamine agonists in endocrine disorders, and for use of antibiotics in premature labour; a hot topic article on pseudoephedrine and ephedrine nasal decongestants; and ‘Stop press’ information about the bronchodilator theophylline.

• 01 Sep 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 2, Issue 2 September 2008

  The September issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for fentanyl patches for chronic pain; a hot topic article on the national immunisation programme against human papillomavirus; and ‘Stop press’ information about natalizumab for multiple sclerosis.
  

• 04 Aug 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 2, Issue 1 August 2008

  The August issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for antiepileptics and recombinant human erythropoietins; a hot topic article on thalidomide and lenalidomide for multiple myeloma; and ‘Stop press’ information about moxifloxacin.
  

• 07 Jul 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 12 July 2008

  The July issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for varenicline and bisphosphonates; a hot topic article on inhaled products that corticosteroids; and Stop press articles with new information for rotigotine, etoricoxib, ergots, and recombinant human erythropoietins.
  

• 04 Jun 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 11, June 2008

  The June issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for natalizumab (a treatment for multiple sclerosis) and nicorandil (a treatment for angina); a hot topic article on ezetimibe in cholesterol management; and a Stop press article on herbal products marketed for erectile dysfunction.

• 06 May 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 10, May 2008

  The May issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for rimonabant (an adjunct to diet and exercise for obese or some overweight patients) and exenatide (a first-in-class incretin mimetic for type 2 diabetes); a hot topic article on monitoring the safety of antiretroviral drugs; and a Stop press article on results from the recent D:A:D safety study for abacavir and didanosine.

• 07 Apr 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 9, April 2008

  The April issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for contraceptives and the antiepileptic agent carbamazepine; a hot topic article on safe use of herbal medicines; and a Stop press message from Prof Rosalind Smyth (Chair of the Paediatric Medicines Expert Advisory Group) on the use of cough and cold medicines in children. To accompany drug safety advice for contraceptives, a question and answer sheet and an information sheet for women are also available for download.

• 03 Mar 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 8, March 2008

  The March issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for the antifungal agent ketoconazole and the nucleoside analogue telbivudine; a hot topic article on nasal decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine; and a summary of recent letters sent to healthcare professionals to inform of new safety information.

• 04 Feb 2008| Drug Safety Update: Volume 1, Issue 7, February 2008

  The February issue of ‘Drug Safety Update’ includes: drug safety advice for statins and the smoking-cessation drug varenicline; a hot topic article on biosimilar medicines; and a summary of important emerging drug safety information, including the suspension of the Marketing Authorisation for Duphaston (dydrogesterone).