admin May 6th, 2008
The MHRA have issued May’s Drug Safety Update, including:
- Rimonabant (Acomplia): depression; psychiatric adverse reactions
- Exenatide (Byetta): risk of acute pancreatitis
- Has this reaction been reported before? Finding out about suspected adverse drug reactions reported to the MHRA
- Monitoring the safety of antiretroviral drugs
- Abacavir and didanosine: results of D:A:D study
- Enoxaparin (Clexane) contamination: advice for healthcare professionals
- Intrathecal drug pumps
- Patient Information Leaflet of the month: Vicks Sinex Soother Nasal Spray
- Pregnancy testing: top tips leaflet
admin May 2nd, 2008
The FDA note Amgen and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals’ revisions to prescribing information for etanercept:
The revisions include a BOXED WARNING about infections, including serious infections leading to hospitalization or death that have been observed in patients treated with Enbrel. Infections have included bacterial sepsis and tuberculosis. The ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the label was updated to include information regarding global clinical studies and the rate of occurrence of tuberculosis in patients treated with Enbrel. Healthcare professionals should screen patients for latent tuberculosis infection before beginning Enbrel. Patients should be educated about the symptoms of infection and closely monitored for signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with the drug. Patients who develop an infection should be evaluated for appropriate antimicrobial treatment and, in patients who develop a serious infection, Enbrel should be discontinued.