Drug Advisories
CMAJ is committed to publishing
advisories and warnings of serious adverse drug reactions from Health
Canada (HC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as soon as
they are available. In addition, we regularly create practical,
readable summaries of the important information contained in some
advisory and warning letters. For more information about drug reactions
reported in Canada, see the Health
Canada Web site.
2008 | 2007
| 2006
| 2005 |
2004
| 2003
| Advisory |
From |
Date posted |
| Antidepressant Venlafaxine (Effexor)': Increased risk of death in overdose situations' |
HC |
October 29, 2008 |
| Thoratec HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System: lead failure |
FDA |
October 29, 2008 |
| LifePak defibrillator failures |
HC |
October 22, 2008 |
| Psoriasis treatment efalizumab (Raptiva): risk of life threatening infections |
FDA |
October 22, 2008 |
| Transvaginal Placement of Surgical Mesh complications |
FDA |
October 22, 2008 |
| Tylenol with codeine in rapid metabolizing nursing mothers |
HC |
October 8, 2008 |
| Tiotropium (Spiriva): no increased risk of stroke |
FDA |
October 8, 2008 |
| Statin drugs and ALS: No increased incidence is trials |
FDA |
October 1, 2008 |
| Anemia treatment erythropoietin (Epoetin-alpha): increased deaths compared to placebo in trial |
FDA |
September 26, 2008 |
| Lung cancer chemotherapy agent erlotinib (Tarceva) : liver failure and hepatorenal syndrome |
FDA |
September 24, 2008 |
| Phosphocol P 32 and increased risk for leukemia |
FDA |
September 19, 2008 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis treatment Rituximab (Rituzan) and PML: New prescribing information after a patient death |
FDA |
September 12, 2008 |
| Tumour necrosis factor-alpha blockers (TNF blockers) Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), and Remicade (infliximab): risk of opportunistic infections |
FDA |
September 5, 2008 |
| Exenatide (Byetta) type 2 diabetes treatment: hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis |
FDA |
September 4, 2008 |
| HIV drug Viracept (nelfinavir mesylate) Can Be Used Again In Non-Pregnant Patients |
HC |
September 4, 2008 |
| Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) trial: possible increased incidence of cancer |
FDA |
September 4, 2008 |
| Natalizumab (Tysabri) monotherapy for multiple sclerosis: progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) |
FDA |
September 3, 2008 |
| Milk Allergy Risk with some brands of "Non-Dairy" Acidophilus Products |
HC |
August 14, 2008 |
| Amiodarone and simvastatin: Rhabdomyolysis interaction possible |
FDA |
August 14, 2008 |
| Immune modulator temsirolimus (TORISEL) injection and hypersensitivity reactions |
HC |
August 14, 2008 |
| Alcohol dependence treatment naltrexone (Vivitrol): injection adverse effects |
FDA |
August 14, 2008 |
| Fatal reaction of antibiotic ceftriaxone and calcium |
HC |
August 1, 2008 |
| Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents: Procrit, Epogen, Aranesp warnings |
FDA |
August 1, 2008 |
| Contaminated metformin lot |
HC |
July 30, 2008 |
| Timolol eye drop recall |
HC |
July 30, 2008 |
| Multiple Sclerosis treatment mitoxantrone (Novantrone): Measure LVEF first |
FDA |
July 30, 2008 |
| Abacavir/Ziagen : Hypersensitivity reactions linked to specific HLA allele |
FDA |
July 25, 2008 |
| DDAVP Nasal Spray (desmopressin acetate nasal spray): risk of hyponatremia |
HC |
July 23, 2008 |
| Bubble contrast agents: Concerns |
FDA |
July 18, 2008 |
| Sodium polystyrene suspension recall: contamination of product |
FDA |
July 17, 2008 |
| Failure of electronic medical devices after exposure to Xrays from CT scans |
FDA |
July 17, 2008 |
| Multidose epinephrine autoinjector: Device failures |
HC |
July 17, 2008 |
| Bevacizumab (AVASTIN) and sunitinib malate: microangiopathic anemia |
HC |
July 17, 2008 |
| Fluoroquinolone use and tendinitis and tendon rupture |
FDA |
July 10, 2008 |
| Slow release morphine recall: Inconsistent dosing |
HC |
July 10, 2008 |
| Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein: Reports Of Life-threatening Complications In Cervical Spine Fusion |
FDA |
July 2, 2008 |
| Organ transplant drug mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept): Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in some patients |
FDA |
July 2, 2008 |
| Acromegaly treatment pegvisomant (SOMAVERT) in combination with octreotide: liver effects |
HC |
June 11, 2008 |
| natalizumab (Tysabri): Serious liver injury |
HC |
June 9, 2008 |
| Ultrasound contrast agent DEFINITY (Perflutren Injectable Suspension): serious adverse cardiopulmonary reactions |
HC |
May 28, 2008 |
| Toothpaste alert |
HC |
May 28, 2008 |
| Immune modulator drug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and congetinal anomalies |
FDA |
May 21, 2008 |
| Darunavir (Prezista): hepatotoxicity |
HC |
May 16, 2008 |
| Aprotinin (Trasylol) and high risk cardiac surgery |
HC |
May 16, 2008 |
| Arthritis
immune modifier etanercept (Enbrel): sepsis and tuberculosis infections |
FDA |
May 2, 2008 |
| Foreign
product warnings: contamination with pharmaceuticals |
HC |
May 2, 2008 |
| Organ
rejection drugs CellCept and Myfortic: association with progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) |
FDA |
April 16, 2008 |
| Daptomycin
for injection (Cubicin)- Impurity Isolated From Reconstituted Product |
FDA |
April 10, 2008 |
| Inhaled
insulin Exubera (insulin human rDNA origin) and lung cancer cases |
FDA |
April 10, 2008 |
| Influenza
treatment zanamivir (Relenza): delirium |
FDA |
April 3, 2008 |
| Oral
asthma treatment montelukast (Singulair) and suicidality |
FDA |
March 28, 2008 |
| Regranex
(becaplermin) Gel, for leg and foot ulcers: possible increased risk of
death from cancer |
FDA |
March 28,
2008 |
| HIV
drugs Abacavir (Ziagen) and didanosine (Videx) and heart attacks |
FDA |
March 28, 2008 |
| Predictors
for skin reactions to carbamazepine |
HC |
March 26, 2008 |
| Heparin
products contaminated with oversulphated condroitin sulphate: Recall to
B.Braun |
HC |
March 26,
2008 |
| Contaminated
lots of PediaCol inffant colic treatment |
HC |
March 26, 2008 |
| AneuRx
Stent Graft System for abdominal aortic aneurysms: rupture risk |
FDA |
March 19, 2008 |
| COPD
treatment tiotropium (Spiriva) and possible risk of stroke |
FDA |
March 19, 2008 |
| Additional
Ephedra/Ephedrine weight loss product warnings |
HC |
March 13,
2008 |
| Hep
B treatment telbivudine (SEBIVO) and interferon: peripheral neuropathy |
HC |
March 13, 2008 |
| HIV
treatment darunavir (Prezista): hepatotoxicity |
FDA |
March 13,
2008 |
| Erythropoiesis
Stimulating Agents: increased mortality and more rapid tumour
progression |
FDA |
March 13, 2008 |
| Iron
overload treatment deferasirox (Exjade): hepatotoxicity |
HC |
March 12,
2008 |
| Cough
suppressant long acting hydrocodone (Tussionex) suspension and
respiratory depression in children |
FDA |
March 12, 2008 |
| MMR
vaccine lots and anaphylaxis in Alberta: no link found |
HC |
March 5,
2008 |
| Influenza
treatment oseltamivir (Tamiflu): Neuropsychiatric symptoms |
FDA |
March 5, 2008 |
| Inhaled
medications Tiotropium bromide (Spiriva) and Formoterol fumarate
(Foradil): Patients swallowing capsules |
FDA |
February
29, 2008 |
| natalizumab
(Tysabri) : Liver Injury |
FDA |
February 27, 2008 |
| Omeprazole
(Losec) and Esomeprazole (Nexium): No evidence of cardiovascular risk |
HC |
February
27, 2008 |
| New
medication guide from FDA on diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) |
FDA |
February 27, 2008 |
| Botox
safety review |
HC |
February
21, 2008 |
| Canadian
fentanyl (Duragesic) patch recall |
HC |
February 20, 2008 |
| Fentanyl
(Duragesic) patch recall |
FDA |
February
20, 2008 |
| Botox
adverse reactions |
FDA |
February 13, 2008 |
| Smoking
cessation aid varenicline (Champix, Chantix): Neuropsychiatric symptoms |
FDA |
February 6, 2008 |
| Suicidality
and Antiepileptic Drugs |
FDA |
February 1, 2008 |
| Growth
factor sargramostim (Leukine) liquid withdrawn due to adverse events
including syncope |
FDA |
January 25, 2008 |
| Erythropoesis
stimulating agents Aranesp, Epogen, Procrit: Worse survival
and faster tumour growth |
FDA |
January 16, 2008 |
| Bisphosphanates
and severe bone pain |
FDA |
January
16, 2008 |
| Unretrieved
device fragment risk |
FDA |
January 16, 2008 |
|