TY - JOUR T1 - News and updates from <a href="http://palliativedrugs.com">palliativedrugs.com</a> JF - BMJ Supportive &amp; Palliative Care JO - BMJ Support Palliat Care SP - 98 LP - 100 DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000245 VL - 2 IS - 2 AU - Andrew Wilcock AU - Sarah Charlesworth Y1 - 2012/06/01 UR - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/2/2/98.abstract N2 - www.palliativedrugs.com Has provided essential independent information about drugs used in palliative and hospice care for over a decade. It contains the online Palliative Care Formulary, and provides free access to a Bulletin Board to stimulate questions and share experiences, a Document Library containing 450 items of useful information and a Syringe Driver Survey Database containing details of over 2000 different drug combinations. Territory-specific book versions (the UK Palliative Care Formulary 4th edition, Hospice and Palliative Care Formulary USA 2nd edition and Palliative Care Formulary Canadian edition) can also be purchased via the website. This feature provides a selection of items which have featured in the News and Latest Additions sections in recent months; for additional information please register for free on the website. Positive benefit–risk balance of pholcodeine-containing cough medicines The European Medicines Agency has confirmed that the benefits of pholcodine-containing cough medicines outweigh their risks and that these medicines should remain available for the treatment of non-productive (dry) cough in children and adults. A review was initiated because of concerns that there could be cross-sensitisation between pholcodine and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), which in turn could lead to anaphylactic reactions in some patients receiving NMBAs during emergency surgery who had previously taken pholcodine. However, no firm evidence was found to substantiate these concerns. Citalopram and escitalopram maximum daily doses restricted Restrictions on the maximum daily doses of citalopram and escitalopram have been made following the evaluation of a QT study by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The study showed dose-dependent QT interval prolongation with citalopram and escitalopram, and postmarketing reports of prolonged QT interval have also been received. A similar decision was taken by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year. Citalopram: the maximum daily dose of citalopram is restricted to 40 mg and to 20 mg in the elderly or those with hepatic … ER -