Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Heart drug Multaq to be monitored in Canada

From CBC News:
The heart drug Multaq continues to be approved for use in Canada, but Health Canada says reports of its connection to liver damage will be reviewed.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added new warnings to the label of the Sanofi-Aventis drug after several reports that patients suffered liver damage.

Multaq was approved in July 2009 to treat atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation — irregular heart rhythms that can reduce blood flow and lead to stroke.

Liver toxicity is among the most common drug-related side-effects in a number of medication classes.

Health Canada says that in Canada the drug is not to be used by patients with severe liver problems. It says that should new safety information be identified, it will take appropriate action — including keeping health-care professionals and other Canadians informed.

Up to Oct. 31, Health Canada received 40 adverse reaction reports representing 37 cases (three of the reports were duplicates) with the suspect product being Multaq. It says none of these reports were related to liver damage. ...more

No comments: