Bnf Csm Warnings

Front 1

Aminosalicylates

Back 1

Patients receiving these drugs should be advised to report any unexplained bleeding, bruising, purpura, fever or malaise occurring during treatment. A blood count should be performed, and the drug stopped immediately if there is suspicion of blood dyscrasias.

Front 2

Methotrexate

Back 2

Patients should be warned to report immediately any features of blood disorder (e.g. sore throat, bruising, mouth ulcers), liver toxicity (e.g. nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, dark urine) or shortness of breath.

Front 3

Tiaprofenic acid

Back 3

Following reports of severe cystitis the CSM has recommended that this drug should not be given to patients with urinary-tract disorders and should be stopped if urinary symptoms develop. Patients should be advised to stop taking this drug and to report to their doctor promptly if they develop urinary-tract symptoms (e.g. increased frequency, nocturia, urgency, pain on urinating, or blood in urine)

Front 4

Clomifene

Back 4

The CSM has recommended that this drug should not normally be used for longer than 6 cycles (possibly increased risk of ovarian cancer)

Front 5

Timolol

Back 5

The CSM has advised that this class of drugs, even those with apparent cardioselectivity, should not be used in patients with asthma or a history of obstructive airways disease, unless no alternative treatment is available. In such cases the risk of inducing bronchospasm should be appreciated and appropriate precautions taken

Front 6

Corticosteroids

Back 6

Drugs in this class vary in their ability to cross the placenta. There is no convincing evidence that systemic use increases the incidence of congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate or lip, but prolonged or repeated use during pregnancy increase the risk of intra-uterine growth restriction.

Front 7

Quinolones

Back 7

These drugs may induce convulsions in patients with or without a history of convulsions; taking NSAIDs at the same time may also induce them.

Front 8

Quinolones

Back 8

Tendon damage (including rupture) has been reported rarely in patients receiving these drugs. It may occur from 48 hours up until several months after stopping treatment. They are contra-indicated in patients with a history of tendon disorders related to use of this drug. Risk is increased in patients over 60 years and concomitant corticosteroids. If tendonitis is suspected, treatment should be stopped immediately.

Front 9

MMR vaccine

Back 9

Reviews undertaken on behalf of the CSM, the Medical Research Council, and the Cochrane Collaboration, have not found any evidence of a link between this drug and bowel disease or autism.

Front 10

HRT

Back 10

These drugs should NOT be considered first-line therapy for long-term prevention of osteoporosis in women over 50 years of age. HRT is of most benefit for the prophylaxis of postmenopausal osteoporosis if started early in menopause and continued for up to 5 years, but bone loss resumes (possibly at an accelerated rate) on stopping.