Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Safety updates
Thalidomide: increased risk of haematological second primary malignancies
The MHRA has highlighted the risk of haematological second primary malignancies (acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes) when treating patients with thalidomide. The data was from an ongoing study of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were receiving melphalan, prednisolone and thalidomide compared with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone. For more information click here.
Drug updates
Cyclizine 50mg/mL injection supply problem resolved
Cyclizine injection 50mg/mL (Valoid; Amdipharm) is now available through the usual wholesalers in unrestricted quantities.
Latest additions
PCF updated monographs
The online Palliative Care Formulary (PCF) is being continually updated. The following monographs have been updated during May 2013 and supersede those in the publication of the 4th edition of the Palliative Care formulary (PCF4). They can be accessed from the formulary section of the website:
Chapter 2: Anticoagulants (new monograph)
Chapter 2: Low Molecular Weight Heparin LMWH (also replaces the separate dalteparin and enoxaparin monographs, which are no longer available)
Chapter 5: Paracetamol
Chapter 27: Anaphylaxis
The first of a new series of Quick Clinical Guides, Quick Clinical Guide: Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) has been added to the formulary section of the website and can be accessed from the Quick Practice Guide section on the left hand menu or via the new LMWH monograph.
For a full list of all the monographs updated since the publication of PCF4, click here.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock