Therapeutics

Therapeutics is an increasingly complex area for GPs to manage safely, including the need to reduce unnecessary medication burden, adverse drug reactions and interactions leading to positive outcomes for patients.

Trimethoprim is contraindicated during the first trimester of pregnancy 

• Studies that have shown an increased risk of spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations (in particular neural tube defects, oral clefts and cardiovascular defects) in children of mothers treated with trimethoprim during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• In Ireland (and many other countries), the product information for trimethoprim already includes a contraindication for use throughout pregnancy, while products in other jurisdictions do not include a similar contraindication.
• The pharmacovigilance risk assessment committee of the European Medicines Agency has recommended updates to section 4.6 of the SmPC and package leaflet regarding the risks of spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations.

Patient resources are now available from the HSE to help people keep a list of their medicines and use it to aid communication with healthcare professionals.

These include:

• Medicines lists available to download in 52 languages from the resources section on the Safermeds webpage
• Hard copies of the ‘My Medicines List’ in English can be requested via the Health Promotion website
• A video describing why and how to use a medicines list is also available, accessible on the Safermeds resources section or on YouTube (this can be displayed in waiting rooms)