2021 Drug Safety Communications

• FDA warns that getting alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the eyes can cause serious injury
• FDA requires warnings about increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death for JAK inhibitors that treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions 9/01/21
• FDA requests removal of strongest warning against using cholesterol-lowering statins during pregnancy; still advises most pregnant patients should stop taking statins 7/20/2021
• FDA warns that vapors from alcohol-based hand sanitizers can have side effects 6/16/2021
• Due to risk of serious liver injury, FDA restricts use of Ocaliva (obeticholic acid) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients with advanced cirrhosis 5/26/2021
• Studies show increased risk of heart rhythm problems with seizure and mental health medicine lamotrigine (Lamictal) in patients with heart disease 3/31/2021
• FDA warns that abuse and misuse of the nasal decongestant propylhexedrine causes serious harm 3/25/2021
• Initial safety trial results find increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer with arthritis and ulcerative colitis medicine Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib) 2/4/2021