Please see below for important information about some medications.
This page does not attempt to be extensive, but will feature some of the more important notifications.
A medicines A-Z can be found here on The NHS website
Sodium Valproate/Epilim/Valproic acid & Topirimate:
Important information you should know: If you take valproate when you are pregnant, it can harm your baby in two ways:
- Birth defects when the baby is born.
- Problems with development and learning, including being late in learning to walk and talk, lower intelligence than other children of the same age, and memory problems as the child grows up.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while you are taking valproate. If you are between 12 and 55 years old, you must use contraception. You must use it even if you are not having sex unless your doctor agrees you do not need to.
Do not stop taking your valproate unless you have spoken to your doctor or nurse. If you stop taking it, your condition might get worse.
In 2021 NHS England sent a letter sent to women and girls aged 12-55 who are currently prescribed sodium valproate. A copy of this can be found here (in several languages).
There is also important information that males should be aware of in this leaflet.
Patient Guides
Valproate guide for Female patients
Valproate Guide for male patients
Sodium Valporate
Topirimate
Empagliflozin/Canagliflozin/Dapagliflozin/Ertugliflozin (SGLT-2 inhibitors):
Research has found that there are some very rare but important side effects associated with diabetes which appear to be more common in patients taking these drugs. You should be aware of these potential side effects as if they are not identified early, they can be extremely dangerous.
The first is called diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition in which there is too much acid in the blood. This can very rarely happen in some people with type 2 diabetes and these drugs can increase this risk even when the blood glucose concentration is normal. The following symptoms might indicate diabetic ketoacidosis: nausea, vomiting, fast breathing, abdominal pains, unusual drowsiness, or fever.
The second is called Fournier’s gangrene. This is a very rare and severe spreading skin infection in the genital or groin area which leads to abscesses and skin destruction. If treatment is delayed it can be fatal. Most cases of Fournier’s gangrene occur in men, but in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors it can also occur in women. The following symptoms might indicate Fournier’s gangrene: severe pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the genital or groin area accompanied by fever or malaise.
If you have any of these symptoms, please contact a medical professional, such as a doctor or nurse immediately, even if your blood sugars are near normal. If your GP practice is closed, please call the NHS 111 service, by dialling 111, for more advice. Tell them that you are worried about one of the conditions above.
Ropinirole/Cabergoline/Levodopa/Quinagolide/Ropinarole (Dopamine agonists):
It's possible to have serious side effects with ropinirole. Some are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people, but others can be more common.
Speak to your surgery if your legs, feet or hands become swollen or your restless legs syndrome gets worse
Call a doctor or call 111 if:
- you start binge eating, gambling or shopping uncontrollably or have an unusually high sex drive – these are signs of impulse control disorder
- you see, feel or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)or feel confused – this is more likely to happen in older people
- you think things that are not true (delusions)
- you feel paranoid
- you feel unusually sleepy or suddenly fall asleep during the day
In rare cases it is possible to have an anaphylaxis reaction to ropinirole. Please seek emergency assistance if you feel this is the case.