Medical device alert: insulin delivery devices

26th October 2016

UK MHRA have issued a Medical device alert (MDAS/2016/020) informing health professionals that they should warn patients not change their insulin delivery device without first checking with their diabetes specialist. This relates to disposable patch pumps, reusable ambulatory infusion pumps, handsets and insulin cartridges. Patients should contact their diabetes specialist if they are invited by a manufacturer or other organisation to try a new device, e.g. via social media, to avoid risk of hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.

The action deadline for putting systems into place to inform diabetic patients of this is 21 December 2016.

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IV carbamazepine authorized in the US

12th October 2016

The FDA has authorized a parenteral formulation of carbamazepine (Carnexiv; Lundbeck) for short-term replacement therapy for oral forms of the drug in adults with certain seizure types when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.

The IV total daily dose is 70% of the PO total daily dose of carbamazepine, and should be divided equally into four infusions to be administered q6h. Each dose should be diluted in 100mL of diluent and infused IV over 30 minutes.

The company has not yet filed for a marketing authorization in Europe.

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PCF5+ 2016 pdf available soon!

6th October 2016

PCF5+ 2016 pdf version is anticipated to be available in November 2016. This annual version of the Palliative Care Formulary will contain the updates made to the on-line PCF over the last 12 months, and will reflect the content of the website as of 1st September 2016.

We are pleased to announce that we will be able to keep the cost of this version at £25.

The on-line formulary will still be continually updated, providing the most up to date version of the Palliative Care Formulary. The more members subscribe, the more we can reduce the cost of subscription.

We would like to thank you for your support over the last 12 months. Please note if you require bulk purchases of the pdf format please contact hq@palliativedrugs.com to discuss your requirements.

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