Zyrtec-D - Risks of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome associated with the use of pseudoephedrine

A Dear Healthcare Professional Letter has been issued by GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd to inform healthcare professionals of the risks of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) associated with the use of pseudoephedrine-containing medicines. There have been a few overseas cases of PRES and RCVS that have been reported in patients taking pseudoephedrine-containing medicines. Most cases resolved following discontinuation and appropriate treatment. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to exercise careful discretion when prescribing or dispensing pseudoephedrine-containing medicines, and adhere to the labelled contraindications, warnings and precautions in order to mitigate the risk of occurrence of PRES or RCVS. Patients should be advised to immediately stop using pseudoephedrine-containing medicines and seek medical assistance if signs or symptoms of PRES or RCVS develop. The local package insert of Zyrtec-D will be updated to include further information on these adverse events and measures to reduce the risks. Please refer to the letter for details.
Healthcare professional, Industry member, Therapeutic Products
Published:

Dear Healthcare Professional Letters

18 Mar 2024

Only abstracts of the Dear Healthcare Professional Letters (DHCPL) are provided on this website. Details of the letters can be found on the MOH Alert System, which is accessible via the Health Professionals Portal (HPP). HPP is a one-stop portal for all healthcare professionals in Singapore. Dentists, medical doctors and pharmacists may access HPP at https://www.moh.gov.sg/hpp/, and follow the procedures below to access the MOH Alert system.

Step 1: On the top navigation ribbon of webpage, select 'For Healthcare Professionals' followed by 'Health Professionals Portal' and click on the choice of profession. User will be redirected to the specific HPP webpage for the selected profession.

Step 2: Click on the Restricted Content icon on the left panel of webpage and login via SingPass.

Step 3: Click on the MOH Alert icon under ‘Applications’ section

Step 4: Click on the Drug Alert tab to view the DHCPLs.