MHRA /BNF safety warnings Flashcards
From BNF 76
MHRA warning with corticosteroid use?
Risk of serious chorioretinopathy with local and systemic corticosteroid administration
- chorioretinopathy is an eye disease causing visual impairment
- patients should report any blurred vision/visual disturbances with corticosteroid treatment via any route
- Consider referral to opthamologist if patient presents with vision problems
MHRA warning with Solu-medrone (injectable methylprednisolone)?
Do not use in patient’s with cows milk allergy
- chance of serious allergic reaction including bronchospasm and anaphylaxis
MHRA warning with SLGT2i (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors)?
Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis
- potentially life-threatening
- some cases was atypical presentation with moderately elevated blood glucose
- inform pts of signs and symptoms of DKA and advise to seek immediate medical attention if they occur
- do not start in patients with risk factors for DKA
- *should be suspended in hospital when patients are acutely ill until they are medically fit **
MHRA warning with Canagliflozin?
Increased risk of lower-limb amputation
(also risk of DKA for all SGLT2 inhibitors)
- stop canagliflozin if pt develops a lower limb complication and monitor pts with risk factors
MHRA warnings with Pioglitazone?
- Cardiovascular safety
- incidence of heart failure increased when pioglitazone used with insulin - Risk of bladder cancer
- if pts respond to treatment benefit outweighs risk
- assess pts for risk factors and review treatment after 3-6 months
- Pts should report any haematuria, dysuria or urinary urgency
MHRA warning with insulin?
Never withdraw insulin from pen devices
- risk of fatal overdose
Three MHRA warnings with bisphosphonates?
these also apply to denosumab
- Reports of atypical femoral fractures
- review treatment after 5 years
- patients should report any thigh, hip or groin pain - Osteonecrosis of the jaw
- risk greater with IV bisphosphonates
- patients should have dental check up before treatment, good oral hygiene and report any oral symptoms eg pain, non-healing sores etc - Osteonecrosis of external auditory canal
- consider if pts on bisphosphonates present with ear symptoms
- Risk factors inc steroids, chemo, cotton bud use and ear operations
- Pts should report ear pain, discharge from ear or ear infections
MHRA warning with warfarin?
Reports of calciphylaxis
- patients should consult their doctor if they develop a painful skin rash
- risk factors inc. ESRF
MHRA warning with adrenaline?
Adrenaline auto-injectors, updated from European review - patients should be prescribed 2 and should carry at all times
- esp patients with allergic asthma
- patients and carers should be trained to use devices and check expiry dates
MHRA warning with gentamicin?
Nov 2017
Potential for histamine-related reactions with some batches
- monitor patients for histamine-related adverse reactions (eg cramps, HTN, tachycardia, dizziness etc)
- caution with drugs causing histamine release, children, severe renal imp
MHRA warning with clozapine?
Oct 2017
Potentially fatal risk of intestinal obstruction, faecal impaction and paralytic ileus
- varying degrees of intestinal peristalsis
- seek immediate medical advice before taking clozapine if constipation develops
Safety warning with flucloxacillin?
Risk of hepatic disorders
- cholestatic jaundice + hepatitis can occur rarely up to 2 months after treatment with flucloxacillin is stopped
- risk is increased in elderly pts/ if treatment lasts over 2 weeks
- do not use if history of hepatic dysfunction/jaundice
Two safety warnings with quinolone antibiotics?
- May induce convulsions in patients with or without a history
- cautioned in conditions with seizures
- use with NSAIDs can increase risk of convulsions
- discontinue drug if neurological reactions - Tendon damage including rupture
- C/I in patients with history of tendon disorders
- risks aged over 60 or corticosteroid use
Two safety warnings with linezolid?
- Optic neuropathy
- risk of severe optic neuropathy, treatment should not exceed 28 days
- patients should report signs of visual impairment and monitor visual function - Blood disorders
- haematopoietic disorders have been reported
- FBC weekly during treatment
- risk incr if treatment over 10 days, renal impairment, myelosuppression, other medicines that can cause blood disorders
Safety advice with ketoconazole?
Oral ketoconazole should not be used for treatment of fungal infections
- risk of hepatotoxicity greater than benefit of treatment
MHRA warning with quinine?
Nov 2017
Dose dependent QT-prolonging effects
- cautioned in AV block or risk factors for QT prolongation inc cardiac disease, electrolyte disturbances, elderly
MHRA warnings with antivirals used to treat Hep C?
eg, sofosbuvir, daclatasvir etc
- Interactions with vit K antagonists and changes to INR
- can reduce efficacy of vit K antagonists, monitor INR - Risk of Hep B reactivation
- screen patients for hep B before treatment
MHRA warning with domperidone?
Risk of cardiac side effects
- should only be used for relief of N+V
- lowest dose for shortest duration (usually not over 1 week)
- C/I in conditions where cardiac conduction can be impaired
- does not apply to palliative care (unlicensed)