Drug Advisories

CMAJ is committed to publishing advisories and warnings of serious adverse drug reactions from Health Canada (HC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as soon as they are available. In addition, we regularly create practical, readable summaries of the important information contained in some advisory and warning letters. For more information about drug reactions reported in Canada, see the Health Canada Web site.

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

 Advisory From Date posted
Children's and Infants' Tylenol Oral Suspension Products - U.S. Recall FDA September 29, 2009
Ongoing safety review of deferasirox FDA September 29, 2009
Potential dosing errors with liquid Tamiflu HC September 29, 2009
Voluntary recall of three Apotex products (Apo-Amilzide, Apo-Meloxicam and Apo-Rantitidine) HC September 23, 2009
Natalizumab and progessive multifocal leukoencephalopathy FDA September 23, 2009
Recall of PediCap Pediatric End-Tidal CO2 Detectors HC September 23, 2009
Recall of some LIFEPAK CR Plus Automated External Defibrillators FDA September 16, 2009
Risk of severe tissue injury after IV use of promethazine hydrochloride FDA September 16, 2009
Cardiac Risks Associated with Cesium Chloride HC September 11, 2009
Orlistat and serious liver injury FDA September 8, 2009
Unapproved ibuprofen topical drug products FDA September 8, 2009
Etravirine and severe skin/hypersensitivity reactions FDA September 8, 2009
Tumour necrosis factor blockers and Increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers in children and adolescents FDA September 8, 2009
Pure red cell aplasia and mycophenolic acid FDA September 8, 2009
Orlistat and serious liver injury FDA September 8, 2009
Safety Update on TNF blockers and risk of cancer in children and young adults HC August 20, 2009
Potential interaction of proton pump inhibitors with clopidogrel HC August 20, 2009
Four foreign product alerts HC August 20, 2009
GDH-PQQ Glucose Monitoring: possible falsely elevated blood glucose results FDA August 14, 2009
Association of fosamprenavir with a potential increased risk of myocardial infarction HC August 13, 2009
Milk Allergy Risk for Dophilus Chewable Tablets HC August 13, 2009
Recall of specific Medtronic Paradigm Quick-set Infusion Sets HC August 13, 2009
Risks of buying drugs online HC August 13, 2009
Health Canada reviewing possible association of omalizumab with cardiovascular problems HC August 13, 2009
Oral sodium phosphate products no longer authorized for purgative use HC August 6, 2009
Market withdrawal of efalizumab (Raptiva) in Canada HC June 17, 2009
Association of mycophenolate mofetil with a potential risk of pure red cell aplasia HC June 4, 2009
Six foreign product alerts HC June 4, 2009
Some Bottles of Rofact (Rifampin) May Contain Clonazepam HC June 4, 2009
Slim Magic Herbal Weight Loss Products Warning HC June 4, 2009
Association of erlotinib (Tarceva) with gastrointestinal perforation, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and corneal perforation HC May 12, 2009
MedXL pre-filled saline and heparin syringes HC May 6, 2009
Counterfeit and unapproved products for H1N1 influenza virus HC May 5, 2009
Hydroxycut products in Canada HC May 5, 2009
Silver Care toothbrushes and refills HC April 29, 2009
Association of trastuzumab with oligohydramnios in pregnancy HC April 28, 2009
Association of etanercept with histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections HC April 23, 2009
Misuse of blood lancing devices (notice to hospitals) HC April 2, 2009
ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillator May Not Deliver Therapy HC April 2, 2009
Recall of Propafenone HCL 225 mg tablets FDA April 2, 2009
Recall of Medtronic Innervision Snap Shunt Ventricular Catheter, BioGlide and Snap Shunt Ventricular Catheter, BioGlide FDA April 2, 2009
Use of electronic cigarettes HC March 31, 2009
Undeclared drugs and chemicals in weight loss products FDA March 23, 2009
Recall of Zencore Plus (contains undeclared PDE5 inhibitor) FDA March 20, 2009
Insulin Pens: Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use FDA March 19, 2009
Recall of Welch Allyn AED 10 and and MRL JumpStart Defibrillators FDA March 17, 2009
Recall of Shiley 3.0PED Cuffless Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube from Covidien FDA March 10, 2009
Oral Sodium Phosphate Products For Bowel Cleansing and Kidney Injury HC March 6, 2009
Transdermal patches and MRI scans FDA March 6, 2009
Topical anesthetics and serious adverse events HC March 6, 2009
Metoclopramide-containing drugs: chronic use linked to tardive dyskinesia FDA February 27, 2009
Foreign Product Alerts HC February 26, 2009
Packaging concerns with PregVit Folic 5 and PregVit HC February 23, 2009
Efalizumab (Raptiva) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) FDA February 19, 2009
Ongoing safety review of Drotrecogin alfa FDA February 19, 2009
Clopidogrel (Plavix): Possible Altered effectiveness with genetic factors, and proton pump inhibitors FDA January 28, 2009
Topical Anesthetics: serious hazards of using skin numbing products FDA January 21, 2009
Injectable Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection recall: dosing error HC January 14, 2009
Distal Botox effects HC January 14, 2009
Asthma drug montelukast (Singulair): Neuropsychiatric adverse events FDA January 14, 2009
tinzaparin sodium injection (Innohep): increase risk of death in elderly patients with renal failure FDA January 9, 2009
Psoriasis treatment efalizumab (Raptiva): serious infections HC January 9, 2009