Medicines safety

• MHRA Drug Safety Update: Valproate: new safety and educational materials to support regulatory measures in men and women under 55 years of age (Jan 2024)
• MHRA National Patient Safety Alert: Valproate: organisations to prepare for new regulatory measures for oversight of prescribing to new patients and existing female patients (Nov 2023)
• MHRA Guide for healthcare professionals: Information on the use of valproate in all patients
• Location of the Valproate referral form in Ardens
• Annual Risk Acknowledgement Form (ARAF) for females (for completion by specialists)
• Risk Acknowledgement Form for male patients starting valproate (for completion by specialists)

Patient resources

• MHRA: Patient guide: What you need to know about valproate
• NHSE: Is valproate the right epilepsy medication for me?
• NHSE: Bipolar disorder: Is valproate the right medication for me?

• Clozapine Fact Sheet for Primary Care Clinicians
• Clozapine Fact Sheet for non-clinicians in Primary Care
• Identifying and minimising risks of Clozapine prescribing
• MHRA safety update regarding potentially fatal constipation
• MHRA safety update regarding blood monitoring for toxicity

MHRA safety update regarding risks of severe and fatal burns

Resources for practices:

• IB Emollients and fire risk
• Emollients MHRA leaflet
• Emollient Safety letter to patient to accompany patient leaflet
• Emollients Campaign - Poster
• Emollients Campaign - Postcard

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Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) medication supply tool: latest information on supply issues, actions to take, alternatives to use, and expected resolution dates. Content provided by DHSC and CMU. Healthcare professionals can register for a free account.  www.sps.nhs.uk

GLP-1 RAs

There are very limited, intermittent supplies of all glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) licensed in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).  Supply is not expected to return to normal until at least mid-2024.  Please find resources for managing this drug shortage below.  Contact your medicines optimisation team for further advice if required.

• Management of GLP-1 RA shortage - primary care flow chart
• GLP-1 shortage update March 2024 - Rybelsus®

ADHD medication shortage advice

The following resources provide guidance for the management of the national shortage of ADHD medication.

• Slide deck summarising all required actions
• Clinical guidance from CAMHS
• NPSA alert
• Patient information leaflet for guanfacine
• Patient information leaflet for lisdexamfetamine
• Patient information leaflet for methylphenidate

Other shortages

• lidocaine 1% (or 2%) with adrenaline 1200 000

The Yellow Card Scheme is used for the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (side effects) to any medicines and medical devices. It also includes any suspected defective or counterfeit medicines and medical devices.

Yellow Card | Making medicines and medical devices safer (mhra.gov.uk)