Drug safety advice
-
Insulin degludec (Tresiba▼): available in additional higher strength than existing insulins—care needed to minimise risk of error, including training for patients
Insulin degludec (Tresiba▼) is available in prefilled pen devices (known as FlexTouch) in two strengths: 100 units/mL; and 200 units/mL. The 100 units/mL strength is also available in cartridge form (called Penfill).
-
Cilostazol (Pletal): risks of cardiovascular and bleeding events—indication restricted to second-line treatment and contraindicated with some cardiovascular conditions and medicines
Cilostazol (Pletal) is restricted to second-line use in patients for whom life-style modifications and other appropriate interventions have failed to sufficiently improve their symptoms.
Hot topics
-
Recent drug-name confusion: please be vigilant as life-threatening errors may occur
We would like to remind healthcare professionals to remain vigilant with regard to drug names because serious errors have occurred when medicines with similar names have been confused
Stop Press
-
Strontium ranelate (Protelos): risk of serious cardiac disorders—restricted indications, new contraindications, and warnings
A review of available safety data for strontium ranelate (Protelos) has raised concern about its cardiovascular safety beyond the already recognised risk of venous thromboembolism. An analysis of randomised controlled trial data has identified an increased risk of serious cardiac disorders, including myocardial infarction