WHO Pharmaceuticals Newsletter 2004, No. 01: DRUGS OF CURRENT INTEREST

WHO Pharmaceuticals Newsletter 2004, No. 01
(2004; 17 pages)

Table of Contents

	REGULATORY MATTERS
		ANTIDEPRESSANTS - FDA warns of paediatric suicide risk; CSM reports poor paediatric benefit/risk profile with SSRIs
		ATYPICAL ANTI-PSYCHOTICS - FDA requests class label change
		BISPHOSPHONATES - Ocular disorders: discontinue therapy if scleritis occurs
		COX-2 Inhibitors - CPMP advises stronger risk warnings
		DIDANOSINE/LAMIVUDINE/TENOFOVIR - Virologic failure with once-daily triple combination therapy
		EFALIZUMAB - Monitoring for thrombocytopenia recommended USA.
		EPHEDRA - Weight-loss aid ephedra to be banned
		LITARGIRIO - Presence of dangerous levels of lead
		LORATADINE - Not recommended during pregnancy
		OSELTAMIVIR - Not indicated in patients less than one year of age
		PARACETAMOL - Label to warn about liver damage with overdose
		STAMEN AND BELL MAGICC BULLET - Presence of sildenafil
		VALGANCICLOVIR - Not approved for CMV prevention in liver transplant patients
		VORICONAZOLE - Not to be available to general practitioners
	SAFETY OF MEDICINES
		ANTIEPILEPTICS - ADR update from Australia
		BOTULINUM TOXIN TYPE A - Place in therapy not clearly defined
		CELECOXIB/ROFECOXIB - Acute temporary visual impairment
		DACLIZUMAB - Increased mortality in cardiac transplant patients
		FLUTICASONE - Update on adrenal insufficiency reports
		INTERFERON BETA - Safety information about risk of liver injury
		METHADONE - Risk of QT prolongation
		METHOTREXATE - Update on pulmonary effects
		MIRTAZAPINE - ADR update from Australia
		MORPHINE - Accidental overdose of concentrated oral solutions
		NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDs) - Postpartum administration may cause hypertension
		PERGOLIDE - Danger of falling asleep during daily activities
		PYRAZINAMIDE & RIFAMPICIN - Serious liver injury with combined use in latent tuberculosis
		SIBUTRAMINE - ADR update
		TOPIRAMATE - Warning about metabolic acidosis
		WARFARIN - Interaction with cranberry juice
	DRUGS OF CURRENT INTEREST
		Antipsychotics - metabolic effects
		Lapdap - a threat or an opportunity?
		Venlafaxine and severe respiratory disorders
	FEATURE
		Improved ADR Reporting: Report from Working Groups at the Twenty-sixth Annual Meeting of National Centres, WHO International Drug Monitoring Programme, 8-10 December 2003

DRUGS OF CURRENT INTEREST

Several drugs, both old and new, were discussed in the session on ‘Drugs of Current Interest’ during the Twenty-sixth Annual Meeting of the National Centres participating in the WHO International Drug Monitoring Programme. Given below are summaries of some of the presentations: