Tag: pharmacovigilance
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MedSafetyWeek 2024: MHRA Urges Public to Report Side Effects and Suspected Fake Medicines
What is MedSafetyWeek and why it matters MedSafetyWeek is an international initiative now in its tenth year, uniting more than 130 medicines regulators and health organisations across 117 countries. The campaign emphasizes the importance of public participation in pharmacovigilance: reporting suspected side effects from medicines and incidents involving medical devices. When people share experiences with…
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MHRA Urges Public to Report Medicine Side Effects and Suspect Counterfeits During MedSafetyWeek
Overview: MedSafetyWeek Spotlight on Medicines Safety As the tenth annual MedSafetyWeek kicks off, regulatory bodies and health organisations from more than 130 regulators across 117 countries unite to emphasise a simple, powerful idea: report safety concerns about medicines and medical devices. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom is joining…
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MedSafetyWeek 2025: MHRA Urges Public to Report Side Effects and Suspected Fakes
Why MedSafetyWeek Matters The tenth annual MedSafetyWeek mobilizes regulators, health organisations, and the public in a joint effort to safeguard medicine use worldwide. Coordinated by more than 130 medicines regulators and health bodies across 117 countries, the campaign emphasizes the critical role citizens play in pharmacovigilance. By reporting unexpected side effects and concerns about medicines…
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FDA Recalls Blood Pressure Drug Prazosin Hydrochloride Over Potential Carcinogen
Overview: FDA Notice on Prazosin Hydrochloride Recall The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of more than 500,000 bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride. The recall stems from concerns that the drug may contain a cancer-causing impurity, prompting manufacturers to pull affected lots from the market and instruct patients…
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Adverse Reactions to Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in Children: A Narrative Review
Overview: Why a Narrative Review on Pediatric ADRs Matters Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are among the most commonly used over-the-counter medications for fever and pain in children. While their safety profiles are well established when used correctly, reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in pediatric populations have risen in recent years. This trend coincides with…
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WHO Warns Against 3 Cough Syrups in India Over DEG Contamination
Overview: WHO’s alert on contaminated cough syrups in India The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning identifying three cough syrups in India as potentially contaminated with toxic diethylene glycol (DEG). This advisory follows a tragic wave of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh earlier this year, where the syrups were linked to severe illnesses.…
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Tramadol: Limited Relief for Chronic Pain, with Serious Risk Increases
Overview: Tramadol’s Role in Chronic Pain Management Tramadol, a dual-action opioid commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain, has long been a staple in clinical guidelines for managing chronic conditions. Yet a comprehensive data synthesis published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine suggests its benefits may be far more modest than once believed, while the risks…
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Free Cough Syrup Tragedy in Rajasthan: 2-Year-Old Dies After Medication
Overview of the Tragedy A disturbing health incident has raised questions about the safety of medicines provided under Rajasthan’s government free medicines scheme. A two-year-old boy from Vair tehsil, Luhasa village, died after reportedly consuming a cough syrup prescribed by a local health center. The case, which follows earlier reports of children falling ill after…
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Valproate in pregnancy falls to new low as safety measures take effect
The latest data on valproate in pregnancy A new update from the NHS Medicines and Pregnancy Dashboard, published on 25 September 2025, shows a continued drop in the use of sodium valproate by women of childbearing age and a very small number of pregnancies affected by the drug. Between October 2024 and March 2025, five…
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Record-low NHS data show valproate prescriptions in pregnancy as more women stop before pregnancy
Key findings from the NHS Medicines and Pregnancy Dashboard New data released by NHS England reveal a continued decline in the number of women prescribed sodium valproate during pregnancy. Between October 2024 and March 2025, five women were prescribed valproate while pregnant, and notably, none of these women started the medication during pregnancy. In the…