Drug Safety Update - July 2023
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published Drug Safety Update for July 2023 (PDF).
This issue warns clinicians of the risk of anticholinergic side effects, including hyperthermia, noted during use of hyoscine hydrobromide patches. There have been a small number of reports of serious and life-threatening anticholinergic side effects associated with use of these patches, especially when used outside of the licensed indication (prevention of travel sickness symptoms). It is recommended that patients, parents and carers are counselled to monitor for side effects including a high temperature, inability to urinate, confusion, disorientation, seeing or hearing things that are not there, fits or convulsions, reduced consciousness and breathing difficulties. Should any of these symptoms occur they should seek medical help and remove the patch immediately.
This issue also raises awareness of a public consultation on the proposal to reclassify codeine linctus to a prescription-only medicine. Responses are invited through the consultation process. Codeine linctus is currently available for purchase via pharmacies to treat dry or non-productive coughs but recent drug safety reports indicate it is being used recreationally for its opioid effects.
Lastly in this issue is a summary of letters to healthcare professionals in June. These generally related to supply issues and recalls.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this month's new guidance and implement any necessary changes to practice.
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