Medicines

Admin errors reason for most disallowed NCSO claims

24 May 13 | 15.28 | England

Unsuccessful "no cheaper stock obtainable" (NCSO) claims are mostly due to administrative errors...
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Some higher-potency statins linked with diabetes

24 May 13 | 16.54 | International

Taking certain higher-potency statins could put patients at a higher risk of developing diabetes than taking lower-potency statins...
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The medicines optimisation revolution gathers pace

24 May 13 | 15.02 | England

Many new organisations have been created as part of the NHS reforms in England. Here, we explore how one, the NHS Trust Development Authority, will be tackling the medicines optimisation agenda
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Is increased dialogue the answer to the scourge of counterfeit medicines?

24 May 13 | 12.36 | England Scotland Wales

Solving the problem of counterfeit medicines and their risk to patient safety requires the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals to talk to each other
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Five-days of corticosteroid enough for acute COPD

23 May 13 | 14.01 | International

A five-day course of systemic corticosteroid is enough for most patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease... more >
BNF updates include TB dose changes

23 May 13 | 13.46 | England Scotland Wales

The doses of rifampicin and ethambutol in the treatment regimen for tuberculosis have been increased in this month’s BNF... more >
EMA recommends measures to minimise Dianette’s risks

23 May 13 | 13.25 | EU

Benefits of Dianette (cyproterone acetate 2mg, ethinylestradiol 35micrograms) and its generics outweigh the risks... more >
Do not use paracetamol just to reduce fever, says NICE

22 May 13 | 14.33 | England Wales

Advice on the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen to treat feverish illness in children less than five years of age...
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NICE endorses ranibizumab . . .

22 May 13 | 14.29 | England Wales

Ranibizumab (Lucentis) should be offered as a treatment for sight problems caused by macular oedema...
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. . . but rejects bevacizumab

22 May 13 | 14.27 | England Wales

The NHS should not fund treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin) for advanced ovarian cancer...
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