Updates
What's New in AusDI – March, 2023
Browse the latest AusDI drug updates and medicines information – created and curated by trusted Australian editorial pharmacists, monthly.
New Product Summaries |
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Content Updates to Monographs |
| As part of our rigorous editorial updating process, the AusDI editorial team monitors safety information issued by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe), and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). FDA-approved indications and dosing information in adults and children are also reviewed by our editorial team and included in selected monographs.
The Influenza Virus Vaccine (Systemic) monograph has been updated with information for the Australian 2023 influenza season. The composition of the 2023 vaccine differs from last year's southern hemisphere vaccine and the 2022/2023 northern hemisphere recommendations with the inclusion of one new strain for the A(H1N1)pdm09-like virus. |
New Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
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New Product Information (PI)
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Past Content Updates |
February 2023As part of our rigorous editorial updating process, the AusDI editorial team monitors safety information issued by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe), and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). FDA-approved indications and dosing information in adults and children are also reviewed by our editorial team and included in selected monographs. The Aminoglycosides (Systemic) monograph has been updated to include information about mitochondrial DNA mutations based on product information for aminoglycosides including amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin. Patients who have mitochondrial DNA mutations, especially the m.1555A>G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene, may have an increased risk of ototoxicity with aminoglycoside treatment, even when aminoglycoside serum concentrations are within the recommended range. It is recommended that alternative treatments be considered in patients with a family history of aminoglycoside-induced deafness or known mitochondrial mutations in the 12S rRNA gene. January 2023The Thiazide Diuretics (Systemic) monograph has been updated to include acute respiratory toxicity based on product information for hydrochlorothiazide. Severe cases of acute respiratory toxicity, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, have been reported very rarely with hydrochlorothiazide treatment. Pulmonary oedema usually develops within minutes to hours following hydrochlorothiazide administration. If acute respiratory distress syndrome is suspected, it is recommended that hydrochlorothiazide be discontinued and appropriate treatment be initiated. In addition, patients should not be administered hydrochlorothiazide if they have previously experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome with hydrochlorothiazide treatment. December 2022The Liraglutide (Systemic) monograph has been updated to include cutaneous amyloidosis as an adverse effect based on recent updates to product information for liraglutide. It is recommended that injection sites be continuously rotated to reduce the risk of developing cutaneous amyloidosis. There is also the risk that injecting liraglutide into sites with cutaneous amyloidosis may change the absorption or effect of liraglutide. November 2022The Azacitidine (Systemic) monograph has been updated to include differentiation syndrome (also known as retinoic acid syndrome) based on a product information for azacitidine. Cases of differentiation syndrome have been reported in patients receiving parenteral azacitidine. Clinical findings and symptoms include fever, hypotension, pericardial effusions, peripheral oedema, pleural effusions, pulmonary infiltrates, pulmonary oedema, rapid weight gain, renal dysfunction, respiratory distress, and skin rash. Differentiation syndrome may be fatal. It is recommended that treatment with high-dose intravenous corticosteroids and haemodynamic monitoring be considered at the first signs or symptoms suggestive of differentiation syndrome. It is also recommended that temporary discontinuation of parenteral azacitidine be considered until symptoms resolve. October 2022Information for adrenaline (epinephrine) has been reviewed and included in a new monograph, the Adrenaline (Epinephrine) (Systemic) monograph. It includes information from the latest Product Information for adrenaline (epinephrine) and some guidelines for use in anaphylaxis from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). September 2022The Ondansetron (Systemic) monograph has been updated to include myocardial ischaemia as a side effect of unknown frequency following recent updates to some Australian and international product information for ondansetron. There have been reported cases of myocardial ischaemia occurring in patients treated with ondansetron. In some cases, symptoms appeared immediately after administration of ondansetron, especially intravenous ondansetron. It is recommended that patients be alerted to the signs and symptoms of myocardial ischaemia. August 2022The Metformin (Systemic) monograph has been updated with more information about decreased vitamin B 12 concentrations based on a recent UK MHRA Drug Safety Update. Metformin can commonly decrease vitamin B 12 concentrations in patients, which may cause vitamin B 12 deficiency. The risk of low vitamin B 12 concentrations increases with a higher metformin dose, longer duration of treatment, and in patients with pre-existing risk factors. It is recommended that vitamin B 12 serum concentrations be checked in patients who have symptoms suggestive of vitamin B 12 deficiency (e.g., megaloblastic anaemia or new-onset neuropathy). July 2022The Lamotrigine (Systemic) monograph has been updated with more information about aseptic meningitis and photosensitivity based on recent updates to several Product Information for lamotrigine. There have been postmarketing reports of aseptic meningitis in adult and paediatric patients receiving lamotrigine. Aseptic meningitis was reversible on withdrawal of lamotrigine in most cases, but recurred upon re-exposure to lamotrigine in some cases. There have also been postmarketing reports of photosensitivity reactions with lamotrigine. Discontinuation of lamotrigine should be considered if associated photosensitivity occurs. If continued treatment with lamotrigine is required, the patient should be advised to avoid exposure to sunlight and artificial ultraviolet light, and to take other precautionary measures. June 2022The Pregabalin (Systemic) monograph has been updated based on a UK MHRA Drug Safety Update about the risks during pregnancy. An observational study of more than 2700 pregnancies exposed to pregabalin has shown a slightly increased risk of major congenital malformations associated with pregabalin use during the first trimester. It is recommended that women of child-bearing potential continue to use effective contraception during treatment with pregabalin. Pregabalin should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary and if the anticipated benefits outweigh the potential risks. If pregabalin is used during pregnancy, it is recommended that the lowest effective dose be used. May 2022The Hydroxychloroquine (Systemic) monograph, Azithromycin (Systemic) monograph, and monographs for other systemic macrolide antibiotics have been updated based on a UK MHRA Drug Safety Update. An observational retrospective study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has shown that the concurrent use of hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (including angina and heart failure) and cardiovascular mortality. Similar risks may be associated with the concurrent use of hydroxychloroquine and other systemic macrolide antibiotics. It is recommended that risk-benefit be carefully considered before initiating systemic macrolide antibiotics in patients being treated with hydroxychloroquine. April 2022The Donepezil (Systemic) monograph has been updated with precautions about the risk of cardiac problems based on a recent TGA safety alert and updates to Product Information. QT interval prolongation and torsades de pointes have been reported with donepezil. Caution is recommended in patients with pre-existing or family history of QT interval prolongation, certain cardiac disease (e.g., bradyarrhythmia, heart failure, or recent myocardial infarction), electrolyte disturbances (hypokalaemia or hypomagnesaemia), or taking other medications that prolong the QT interval. Clinical monitoring may be necessary. March 2022The Influenza Virus Vaccine (Systemic) monograph has been updated with information for the Australian 2022 influenza season. The composition of the 2022 vaccine differs from last year's southern hemisphere vaccine and the 2021/2022 northern hemisphere recommendations with the inclusion of two new strains for the A (H3N2)-like and B Victoria lineage viruses. February 2022The Mycophenolate (Systemic) monograph has been updated with a precaution for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the Cellcept Product Information. Mycophenolate may increase the severity of COVID-19 because of its cytostatic effect on B- and T-lymphocytes. It is recommended that a dose reduction or discontinuation of mycophenolate be considered in patients with clinically significant COVID-19. January 2022The Clindamycin (Systemic) monograph has been updated with information about potential nephrotoxicity based on updates to some Product Information for clindamycin. There have been reports of acute kidney injury, including acute renal failure, associated with clindamycin use. Renal function monitoring should be considered during therapy in patients with pre-existing renal function impairment or taking concurrent nephrotoxic medications. Renal function monitoring should be performed during prolonged therapy. December 2021The Octreotide (Systemic) monograph has been updated with information about atrioventricular (AV) block based on a recent TGA Medicines Safety Update. AV blocks, including complete AV block, have been reported in Europe in patients receiving high doses of octreotide continuous intravenous infusion (100 micrograms per hour) and in patients receiving bolus octreotide intravenously (50 micrograms bolus followed by 50 micrograms per hour continuous infusion). In Australia, the TGA-approved indications for octreotide do not involve intravenous administration. However, some off-label uses do involve intravenous administration. |
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