Medicine Information

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK

The MHRA issue regular Drug Safety Updates advising on the latest advice for medicines users. Some of the recent updates include but are not limited to:

Hydrochlorothiazide: risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, particularly in long-term use

November 2018 – Studies have shown a dose-dependent increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer with exposure to increasing cumulative doses of Hydrochlorothiazide (contained in some combination products used for high blood pressure). Patients taking Hydrochlorothiazide should:

• Regularly check for and report any new or changed skin lesions or moles
• Limit their exposure to sunlight and UV rays and use adequate protection when exposed to sunlight and UV rays to minimise the risk of skin cancer
• Make an appointment to discuss alternative options to the use of hydrochlorothiazide if you would like to and particularly if you have had a previous skin cancer

Further information at: https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/hydrochlorothiazide-risk-of-non-melanoma-skin-cancer-particularly-in-long-term-use

SGLT2 inhibitors: Serious side effects

February 2019 – SGLT-2 inhibitors are medicines that lower blood sugar by increasing the amount of glucose excreted in the urine. SGLT-2 Inhibitors are used in diabetes and also have benefits in kidney disease heart failure.

They include:

empagliflozin (Jardiance®)

canagliflozin (lnvokana®)

dapagliflozin (Forxiga®)

ertugliflozin (Steglatro®).

If you take one of these medications you should be aware of the potential side effects as, if they are not identified early, they can serious problems. As with all medication please read any information that accompanies the medication carefully. Please ask your Pharmacist, diabetic nurse or GP if you have any questions. The major side effects include:

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Symptoms include: Nausea, vomiting, fast breathing, abdominal pains, unusual drowsiness, or fever.

Fournier’s gangrene

An extremely rare side effect affecting about 1.6 out of 100,000 people

Symptoms include: Severe pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the genital or groin area accompanied by fever or malaise.

If you have any of these symptoms, please contact a medical professional, such as a doctor or nurse immediately, even if your blood sugars are near normal.

Further information at: SGLT2 inhibitors: reports of Fournier’s gangrene (necrotising fasciitis of the genitalia or perineum) – GOV.UK /

Teratogenic : Contraception advice

March  2019 –

Some medicines are known or suspected to have the potential to increase the risk of birth defects and development disorders (teratogenic potential) when taken during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester (up to week 12 of pregnancy), when a woman may not know she is pregnant. The product information for these medicines advise that pregnancy should be avoided during treatment, with advice on the need to use contraception including, in some cases, formal pregnancy prevention programmes.

When using any medicine with teratogenic potential, a woman should be advised of the risks and encouraged to use the most effective contraceptive method taking into account her personal circumstances.

Further information at: Medicines with teratogenic potential: what is effective contraception and how often is pregnancy testing needed? – GOV.UK