Antihistamines are class of medications which are commonly used in getting relief from allergic symptoms. The most common therapeutic/adverse effect produced by antihistaminergic drugs is drowsiness (sleepiness). These sedating antihistaminic drugs are available as over the counter (OTC) medicine category and can be used for a range of conditions in both adults and children. MedSafe,…
Arsenic trioxide is a chemotherapeutic medication used in the treatment of newly diagnosed low-to-intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) and relapsed/refractory APL characterized by the presence of leukaemia/retinoic-acid-receptor-alpha (PML/RAR-alpha) gene. The initial approved formulation available in market for arsenic trioxide is 1 mg/ml single-use 10 ml of glass ampoule (This formulation comprises 10 mg of…
Biogen released a direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) pertaining to the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) associated with Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) to alert healthcare professionals for safe usage of this medicine and implementing the recommended risk minimizing measures. This DHPC released in agreement with European Medicines Agency (EMA) and national health authority of Ireland…
United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) has issued a safety communication on the potential risk of oligohydramnios in pregnant women when exposed to medicinal products that belongs to the class of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) during pregnancy of 20 weeks gestational age. FDA issued this communication to alert health care professionals and consumers for…
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a drug safety communication to update health care professionals and consumers on the significant safety information pertaining to the benzodiazepines class of medications which included “serious risks of drug abuse, drug addiction, physical dependence, and drug withdrawal reactions” which require a boxed warning to be included in all…
A new safety labelling change for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) drug was approved by United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA). Hydrochlorothiazide is loop diuretic (acts on kidneys by eliminating excess fluids) used in the treatment of high blood pressure and oedema associated with the congestive heart failure. A new safety information identified through routine pharmacovigilance (PV)…
New Measures for the Safety Use of Stimulant laxatives Stimulant laxatives are medicines used in the treatment of constipation (infrequent bowel moments). These class of medicines stimulates intestinal motility by promoting secretion of water into the bowel which in turn facilitates bowel movements. The OTC medicines available in the UK market are bisacodyl (such as…
Health Canada has published new drug safety information to raise awareness to health care professionals and public about the below safety concern which recently made safety labelling changes for the product monograph. –Health Product Info Watch –July 2020. The safety topics discussed below in brief. Risk of cerebrovascular accidents with ibrutinib Severe 6-mercaptopurine toxicity associated…
On 23-Jul-2020, United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has released a recommendation for the use of Naloxone in the treatment of opioid use disorder and for patients who are at increased risk of opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs which are used to reduce moderate to severe pain in patients who are…
The safety profiles of the below listed Iodine containing contrast agents have updated as per the new drug safety updates published by Japan Health Authority–Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Iodixanol: Iodixanol comes under the therapeutic category of x-ray contrast media which is a hydrophilic iodinated radiocontrast agent used in diagnostic imaging. This compound is…