WHO Pharmaceuticals Newsletter 2001, No. 02&03
(2001; 21 pages)

Table of Contents

	EDITORIAL
	REGULATORY MATTERS
		ARISTOLOCHIA - Alert against products containing aristolochic acid Canada, USA.
		AMIODARONE - Important monograph additions Canada, USA.
		BOTULINUM TOXIN - Warning against unauthorised use Ireland.
		CANNABIS - Medical use legalized Canada.
		CERIVASTATIN - Voluntary withdrawal by Bayer Worldwide.
		CLARITHRO-MYCIN - Change of labelling Japan.
		EPHEDRA - Serious reactions with other stimulants Canada.
		GAMMA HYDROXY BUTYRATE - Fantasy drugs to be classified New Zealand.
		ITRACONAZOLE - Labelling changes USA.
		LEVACETYL- METHADOL - Suspension of marketing authorisation Europe.
		LEVOCARNITINE - Revised labelling USA.
		METHADONE - New regulations to promote safer use Germany.
		MICONAZOLE - Possible interaction with warfarin prompts labelling changes Canada.
		OXYCODONE - Labelling changes to address inappropriate prescribing USA.
		PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE (PPA) - Product withdrawal from the market Canada.
		PROPOFOL - Not to be used for sedation in paediatric patients USA.
		RITUXIMAB - Revised warnings section Canada.
		SEIROGAN - OTC remedy and hepatic dysfunction Japan.
		TERBINAFINE TABLETS - Revised monograph for usage information Canada, USA.
		THIORIDAZINE - QT prolongation risk prompts prescribing update New Zealand.
	SAFETY OF MEDICINES
		ACICLOVIR & VALACICLOVIR - Reports of Neurotoxicity Sweden.
		ALLOPURINOL - Adverse reactions include fatal aplastic anaemia Sweden.
		BLEOMYCIN - Vascular complications: a reminder Sweden.
		BUPROPION - Early prediction of ADRs following widespread use Australia, Singapore, UK.
		CETIRIZINE - Serious liver disorders underlying non-specific symptoms Sweden.
		ETHINYL-ESTRADIOL/DESOGESTREL - Fatal pulmonary embolism in patient with risk factors for thrombosis Sweden.
		GEMFIBROZIL - Pancreatitis: serious case report Sweden.
		LEFLUNOMIDE - Concomitant therapy with methotrexate can precipitate adverse reactions Australia.
		NEFAZODONE - Risk of severe liver injury Canada.
		NSAIDs - Risk of lower GI tract damage New Zealand.
		OMEPRAZOLE - Iron deficiency anaemia: first case report Sweden.
		PRAMIPEXOLE & ROPINIROLE - Sleep attacks Canada.
		PROPOFOL - Warnings against heart failure with high dosages Norway.
		RANITIDINE - Serious haemolytic anaemia in an elderly patient Sweden.
		ROSIGLITAZONE - Hepatic and cardiovascular ADRs reported Canada.
		SILDENAFIL - Not to be prescribed with nitrates New Zealand.
		TRASTUZUMAB - Avoid anthracyclines for 22 weeks following therapy Europe.
	FOLLOW-UP
		Mesenteric ischaemia during the use of sumatriptan and other triptans
		Clopidogrel, agranulocytosis and other blood dyscrasias
		Signal follow-up: Itraconazole use during pregnancy
		Events
	COUNTERFEIT DRUGS
		A growing menace Russia, USA.
	FEATURE
		WHO project on implementation and development of national and regional systems of pharmaco-vigilance in the Newly Independent States of Eastern Europe Prof Vladimir K. Lepakhin, Senior Clinical Adviser, Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy, WHO

WHO Pharmaceuticals Newsletter 2001, No. 02&03