The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published Drug Safety Update Issue 9 (PDF).

This issue includes the following drug safety advice articles:

Hormonal contraceptives: cervical cancer - latest

Combined hormonal contraceptives: venous thromboembolism - update

Cyproterone acetate with ethinylestradiol (co-cyprindiol): recommended duration of use

Carbamazepine: genetic testing in some Asian populations

In addition, this issue contains a hot topic containing information about the newly introduced Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme. This scheme provides certain herbal medicines with a registration number that demonstrates the product has been assessed and met meet systematic standards of safety, quality, and patient information.

Recommended indications are based on traditional usage rather than proven efficacy.

A list of registered products is available on the MHRA website.

Hat tip: http://www.prescriber.org.uk/