Dispensing errors in have had relatively little scrutiny in the UK, and most of the research is in the hospital sector. Arguments have been made for increased reporting and dissemination of dispensing errors in order to improve safety. However, an acceptance of no-blame culture is needed and in community pharmacy dispensing errors are either [...]
Corporate sponsorship of "independent" lay groups.
Published in the BMJ and reported by the BBC as ‘Dangers of drug errors exposed’ this is an interesting piece of work involving disguised observation of intravenous administration of drugs. About half of intravenous drugs were incorrect and a third of those potentially harmful.
A call for improved post-marketing safety monitoring of children’s medicines.
Again the dangers of sending wrong ideas out about risk are highlighted. A letter in The Lancet [registration required] discusses the case of an alarmist letter about Coenzyme Q10 and statins, which suggests that statins may cause cardiovascular deaths. In fact, statins have been shown to reduce death in clinical trials. On [...]
While regulatory agencies in the developed world protect their populations from serious adverse effects of drugs, in the developing world things are a little different. A letter in the BMJ highlights the life-threatening hepatotoxicity of nimesulide. Attention is drawn to the lack of education about adverse effects and inadaquate reporting of adverse [...]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ‘During January 24 to February 14, 2003, smallpox vaccine was administered to 4,213 civilian health-care workers in 27 jurisdictions. No potentially life threatening or moderate-to-severe adverse events have been reported.’
More in JAMA about Ephedra, in an accompanying editorial [registration required]to the paper reported here recently.
‘The reports by Shekelle et al, along with other studies documenting the increased risk of adverse reactions associated with ephedra, are sufficient evidence to restrict the use of this agent. However, the most important lessons from the new [...]
SSRIs: According to The Guardian the MCA have disbanded the expert committee for the review of SSRI anti-depressants.
‘We can confirm that we have now decided to dissolve the original group and appoint a new expert group to conduct the review. The membership of this new expert group has yet to be decided, and individuals’ interests [...]