Pharmaco-vigilance of oral MethylErgometrine prescriptions for delayed and secondary postpartum haemorrhage
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Abdul Rouf Pallivalapila
, Mariam Al-Baloushi
Abstract
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to quantify the prescription of oral methergin tablets in a busy Women’s Hospital, assess the stated indications for such prescription and highlight the issues and safety profile of Methergin use especially in the postpartum patient.
Methods
Review of prescription data for oral Methergin and the corresponding annual figures on primary and secondary postpartum hemorrhage.
Results
Over a period of 5 years, oral Methergin prescriptions for delayed and secondary postpartum hemorrhage constituted less than 1% of the overall prescription in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which ranged between 1214 and 2085 per year. The numbers were too few to ascertain any relationship with both types of postpartum hemorrhage. Although stated on the relevant Patient Information leaflet, no local or regional guideline on its use exist.
Conclusions
Specific and random trend monitoring of medications for continuing safety profile, risk benefit issues, or unapproved indication, may help in identifying, preventing and mitigating any medication safety matters. Clinical pharmacists in collaboration with physicians are well placed in conducting such pharmacovigilance activities to improve medication safety.
Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- What is known and what remains unresolved regarding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
- Corner of Academy
- Stillbirth and subsequent pregnancy outcome – a cohort from a large tertiary referral hospital
- Postmortem examination protocol and systematic re-evaluation reduce the proportion of unexplained stillbirths
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- The first-trimester serum decorin levels as a potential predictor of preeclampsia
- Increased of the carotid intima media thickness in preeclampsia
- Maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with myasthenia gravis
- The effect of an oxytocin washout period on blood loss at cesarean delivery
- Clinical analysis of the preoperative condition and operative prognosis of post-cesarean section scar diverticulum: a case series
- Prolonged interpregnancy interval: how does it impact the length of second stage of labor?
- Furcate insertion of the umbilical cord: pathological and clinical characteristics in 132 cases
- Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and placental abnormalities
- Pregnancy, oral health and dental education: an overview on the northeast of Italy
- Impact of an on-site perinatal mood disorders clinic in the diagnosis and management of perinatal mood disorders
- Original Articles – Newborn
- C-reactive protein as a predictor of meningitis in early onset neonatal sepsis: a single unit experience
- Short Communication
- Pharmaco-vigilance of oral MethylErgometrine prescriptions for delayed and secondary postpartum haemorrhage