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• Media Releases
• Alerts/Letters
• Recall Action Notices
• Consultation
• Papers/Reports
• MeNZB
• Eltroxin
• New Amendments to the Medicines Regulations 1984

Alerts/Letters

Recalls Notices are located on a different page - click here to view.

Update to Therapeutic Product Database Reports

• Notice to Industry

Consumers advised to stop taking adulterated products for erectile dysfunction

• Media Release
• Photos of adulterated products

Paradex and Capadex (Dextropropoxyphene)

• Letter to Healthcare Professionals - Withdrawal of Dextropropoxyphene-containing medicines

• Media Release - Paradex and Capadex to be withdrawn from New Zealand market

• Questions and answers on the withdrawal of the dextropropoxyphene-containing medicines Capadex and Paradex

• Medsafe risk-benefit review for dextropropoxyphene (Adobe Acrobat PDF file 2.54MB)

Pharmacovigilance activities

• Pharmacovigilance activities for anti viral medicines used to treat influenza during the pandemic – Electronic reporting tool is available

Cough and Cold Medicines

• Use of Cough and Cold Medicines in Children - New advice - October 2009

Medical Device Safety Alert

• Infusion Device Safety Software

Health warning issued under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 - Samoan Pharmacy Products 2009

• Media Release - Health warning issued under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 - Samoan and Tongan medicines
• Photos of unapproved Samoan and Tongan medicines distributed in New Zealand

Cough and Cold Products

• Information regarding use in children under 2 years of age - March 2009

Discontinuation of supply of Graseby MS16A and MS26 syringe drivers

• Medsafe Statement - Graseby MS-Series Syringe Drivers - Extension of Deadline

• Letter sent to Healthcare Professionals - March 2009

• Letter sent to Industry - November 2007

Health warning issued under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 - Samoan Pharmacy 2008

• Media Release - Health warning issued under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 - Samoan Pharmacy Products
• Photos of unapproved Samoan Pharmacy products distributed in New Zealand

Health warning - Unapproved medicines sold from supermarket selling Chinese goods

• Media Release - Health warning - Unapproved medicines sold from supermarket selling Chinese goods
• Photos of unapproved products sold by supermarket selling Chinese goods

Paracetamol Associated with Asthma Symptoms - September 2008

• Letter to Health Care Professionals

Health warning - Erectile dysfunction / sexual enhancement 'herbal' products 2008

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 Of The Medicines Act 1981

Medical Device Safety Alert- Medical Devices Containing Heparin - May-July 2008

Information in this section is intended to assist with assessment and management of the risk associated with the use of medical devices containing heparin contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. The site will be updated as new information becomes available.

• Media Release - Update on New Zealand contaminated Heparin
• Letter to Health Care Professionals - Caution advised in use of medicines and medical devices containing heparin and low molecular weight heparin (736kb this is a pdf document and Acrobat Reader is  required for viewing)
• Letter to Industry concerning supply of heparinised sample containers (68kb this is a pdf document and Acrobat Reader is  required for viewing)
• Medical Device Safety Alert (89kb this is a pdf document and Acrobat Reader is  required for viewing)

Non-Latex Condoms - July 2008

• Letter (35kb this is a pdf document and Acrobat Reader is  required for viewing)

Director-General of Health warning about the personal importation of adulterated and counterfeit prescription medicines - April 2008

• DG Statement

• Photos

Reporting of Incidents involving Active Implantable Devices and their Accessories - March 2008

• Letter sent to Industry

Medsafe advice on aprotinin - Oct 2007

• Increased caution is warranted

Toothpaste test results update - September 2007

• Medsafe receives more toothpaste testing results

Toothpastes found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG) - Test Results - August 2007

• Updated health warning issued under Section 98 of the Medicines Act - Diethylene Glycol in toothpastes
• Photos of Toothpastes found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG)

Prexige (lumiracoxib) and risk of hepatotoxicity - Aug 2007

• Dear Health Professional letter - issued by Novartis 21 Aug 2007
  (Note: This is a 168KB PDF file which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to enable viewing - to download Adobe Acrobat Reader click here) 

Consumer Warning Regarding Chinese-made Toothpastes that may contain Diethylene Glycol - June 2007

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 (Dr Cool Toothpaste)
• Photos of Dr Cool Toothpaste
   
• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981 (Excel Toothpaste)
• Photos of Excel Toothpaste

Herbal products containing undeclared sildenafil and sibutramine - April 2007

• D-G statement

• Photos of products containing sildenafil and sibutramine

Herbal products containing undeclared sildenafil and sibutramine - July 2006

• D-G statement

• Photos of products containing sildenafil

• Photos of products containing sibutramine

Herbal products which contain undeclared prescription medicines - May 2006

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 Of The Medicines Act 1981

• Photos of Herbal products which contain undeclared prescription medicines

Unapproved prescription and pharmacist-only medicines from China - April 2006

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981
• Photos of Unapproved prescription and pharmacist-only medicines from China

Li Da capsules and Nasutra capsules - March 2006

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 of the Medicines Act 1981

• Photos of Li Da capsules and Nasutra capsules

Malfunction of a Cryosurgical Instrument - Dec 2005

• Safety Alert on the Malfunction of a Cryosurgical Instrument

'Super Fat Burning' weight loss product warning - June 2005

• Director-General's Statement Under Section 98 Of The Medicines Act 1981

• Photos of Super Fat Burning Product

'Herbs Health' brand of herbal products warning - March 2005

• Director-General's Privileged Statement Under Section 98 Of The Medicines Act 1981

• Advice to doctors regarding patients who have taken Herbs Health Multistress capsules

• Advice for Consumers Taking 'Herbs Health' Products

• Photos of Joint Plus Capsules

• Photos of S.E.N. Plus Capsules

• Photos of Multistress Capsules

Herbal Remedies - October 2004

• Director-General's Privileged Statement Under Section 98 Of The Medicines Act 1981
• Photos of products containing sildenafil
• Photo of product containing tadalafil

Antidepressants - 2004

• Health Professional letter re. Updated information and advice about the use of antidepressant medicines - 19 October 2004 (Note: This is a 129KB PDF file which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to enable viewing
  - to download Adobe Acrobat Reader click here)

• Ministry of Health media release: New Advice on Prescribing Anti-Depressants

• Health Professional Letter re. Use of SSRI antidepressants in children and adolescents
  (This is a 77KB PDF file which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to enable viewing
  - to download Adobe Acrobat Reader click here)

Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine to become Controlled Drugs - September 2004

• Letter to pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers:
• View as a PDF 141KB (Acrobat Reader required)

Health Canada warning about Hua Fo 'Vigor-Max' tablets - May 2003

• Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Hua Fo VIGOR-MAX tablets, a Chinese herbal product that contains tadalafil (a prescription medicine)

Traditional Chinese Medicines - Jan 2003

• Media Release (including questions and answers)
• Letter sent to doctors
• Photos of aristolochia-containing products
• Photos of sildenafil-containing product
• Photo of arsenic-containing product
• Photos of product containing diclofenac and chlorpheniramine
• Photos of product containing diclofenac, chlorpheniramine and paracetamol

Urgent Safety Alert - Use of Alcohol Based Skin Preparations in Operating Theatres - October 2002

• Letter sent to Hospitals for CEOs, Operating Departments and Surgeons
• Waitemata District Health Board Report
  (This is a 469KB PDF file which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to enable viewing
  - to download Adobe Acrobat Reader click here)

Cheng Kum/Shen Loon - Dec 2001

• Media Release (including background information, questions and answers)
• Photos of Cheng Kum and Shen Loon
• Letter sent to doctors
• Letter sent to known consumers