Corticosteroids: rare risk of central serous chorioretinopathy with local as well as systemic administration

The MHRA have issued information on central serous chorioretinopathy, a retinal disorder that has been linked to the systemic use of corticosteroids. Recently, it has also been reported after local administration of corticosteroids via inhaled and intranasal, epidural, intra-articular, topical dermal, and periocular routes.

Healthcare professionals should advise patients to report any blurred vision or other visual disturbances during corticosteroid treatment and consider referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes if a patient presents with vision problems.

Adrenaline auto-injectors: updated advice after European review

The MHRA have issued updated advice on adrenaline auto-injectors to recommend that 2 adrenaline auto-injectors are prescribed, which patients should carry at all times.

Maloff Protect (atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride) antimalarial tablets now available to buy from pharmacies

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reclassified the antimalarial Maloff Protect (atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride) to make it available from a pharmacist without a prescription.

Maloff Protect will be sold at pharmacies after a discussion with the pharmacist. They will be made available to adults aged over 18, weighing more than 40kg, travelling to areas affected by malaria and where the malaria parasite is not resistant to the Maloff Protect ingredients.

GP Management of Infections Survey

Public Health England (PHE), in collaboration with the RCGP, would like to invite you take part in a survey to identify which conditions you would like to see more evidence for management in your daily clinical practice. The survey takes 7 minutes to complete and your response will be used to determine where research is needed and to inform guidance development.

Future Enhancements to Electronic Prescription Service – NHS Digital Survey

NHS Digital are asking users about future enhancements to the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).

For example, would you prefer private prescriptions or personally administered prescriptions to be included in EPS first and would you prioritise adding an alert about urgent antibiotics to the script over automatically cancelling all outstanding repeat dispensing regimes when a patient leaves your practice?

The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete depending on your answers. Please share this with others in the practice as NHS Digital need to know what people in different roles think.

NHS England launches action plan for consultation on eliminating wasteful and ineffective drug prescriptions to save NHS over £190 million a year

Public consultation is being launched on new national guidelines for CCGs on medicines considered of low priority for NHS funding. Guidance states 18 treatments, including homeopathy and herbal treatments, cost taxpayers £141m a year, should generally not be prescribed.

Can patients on levothyroxine take sea kelp?

Medicines Q&A from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Services:

The term kelp can refer to a variety of brown sea weeds. The iodine content in kelp products varies considerably, even between products of the same brand. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism disorders have been attributed to the use of kelp products. UK and American resources caution or advise against the concurrent use of levothyroxine and kelp products. Kelp products should be avoided in patients suffering from thyroid disorders regardless of whether they are taking thyroid supplementation.

Which medicines could cause problems for patients during a heatwave?

This Q&A from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service discusses the issues that need to be considered for patients during a heatwave, including the storage and adverse effects of medicines.