JointHealth™ express August 16, 2013
Health Canada issues "dear doctor" letter about rituximab
Hoffman-La Roche Limited, the manufacturer of rituximab (Rituxan®), informed Health Canada about the association of the medication with an adverse event.
Health Canada is responsible for ensuring that medications approved for use in Canada are safe and effective for Canadians who need to take them. It is their responsibility to receive reports about medication side effects from the public, medical community, and the manufacturers who make medications. They inform the medical community and the public about side effects through "dear doctor" letters.
Hoffman-La Roche Limited, the manufacturer of rituximab (Rituxan®), informed Health Canada about the association of the medication with an adverse event. On July 29, 2013, the pharmaceutical company, in consultation with Health Canada, issued a "Dear Health Care Professional" letter stating that the use of rituximab has been shown to be associated with recurrence of hepatitis B virus infection in people who show evidence of the virus in a blood test. The letter also outlines updated recommendations for the screening of hepatitis B and management of your condition if you discover or suspect you may have hepatitis B. Rituximab is not to be used in people with active hepatitis B viral disease.
Every medication has risks and benefits. Always consider the risks of undertreated or untreated disease when thinking about making a change to your treatment plan. As with all aspects of your treatment plan, you should speak to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.
To read the full Health Canada advisory for healthcare professionals, please click here.
And to read the advisory for the public, click here.
Health Canada issues "dear doctor" letter about rituximab
Hoffman-La Roche Limited, the manufacturer of rituximab (Rituxan®), informed Health Canada about the association of the medication with an adverse event.
Health Canada is responsible for ensuring that medications approved for use in Canada are safe and effective for Canadians who need to take them. It is their responsibility to receive reports about medication side effects from the public, medical community, and the manufacturers who make medications. They inform the medical community and the public about side effects through "dear doctor" letters.
Hoffman-La Roche Limited, the manufacturer of rituximab (Rituxan®), informed Health Canada about the association of the medication with an adverse event. On July 29, 2013, the pharmaceutical company, in consultation with Health Canada, issued a "Dear Health Care Professional" letter stating that the use of rituximab has been shown to be associated with recurrence of hepatitis B virus infection in people who show evidence of the virus in a blood test. The letter also outlines updated recommendations for the screening of hepatitis B and management of your condition if you discover or suspect you may have hepatitis B. Rituximab is not to be used in people with active hepatitis B viral disease.
Every medication has risks and benefits. Always consider the risks of undertreated or untreated disease when thinking about making a change to your treatment plan. As with all aspects of your treatment plan, you should speak to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.
To read the full Health Canada advisory for healthcare professionals, please click here.
And to read the advisory for the public, click here.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.