Information for healthcare professionals from market surveillance of medicinal products

Pharmacovigilance in the spotlight

Learning from adverse reaction reports – cases from pharmacovigilance
The purpose of this new section is to use real-life case reports from Switzerland as a reminder of possible side effects that professionals should be aware of in day-to-day clinical practice. The only way to protect patients against undesirable effects is to take account of and report medicinal product risks.

Latest contributions


24.10.2025

Risk of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome in patients treated with tamsulosin

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome | tamsulosin | alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist | IFIS | flaccid iris | iris prolapse | lens loss | detached retina | endophthalmitis

12.09.2025

Drug-induced aseptic meningitis

aseptic Meningitis | non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) | ibuprofen | mefenamic Acid | Ponstan® | antibiotics (sulfonamides, penicillins) | sulfamethoxazole | trimethoprim | co-trimoxazole | Bactrim® forte | intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) | human immunoglobulin | Intratect® 10% | monoclonal antibodies

07.08.2025

Drug-induced taste disorders

Taste disorder | dysgeusia | ageusia | anosmia | sense of taste | gefapixant | celecoxib

27.06.2025

Spironolactone and persistent hoarseness – a hormonally induced side effect

alterazioni della voce | raucedine | effetto collaterale ormonale | antagonista del recettore dei mineralcorticoidi | antagonista del recettore dell’aldosterone | recettore degli steroidi | recettore degli androgeni| recet-tore del progesterone | diuretico risparmiatore di potassio | antiandrogeno | spironolattone | aldactone | uso off-label | alopecia androgenetica | alopecia | ginecomastia | mastodinia | alterazioni della libido |disturbi mestruali | alte-razioni della potenza erettile

02.05.2025

Finasteride and persistent side effects

Finasteride | erectile dysfunction | impaired concentration | loss of drive | persistent disorders | alopecia | androgenetic alopecia

07.04.2025

Eosinophilic oesophagitis during oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy

Palforzia | eosinophilic oesophagitis | eoe | eosinophilic granulocytes | difficulty swallowing | peanut allergy | allergy

24.03.2025

Hyperkalaemia during treatment with a sartan and an NSAID

sartans | valsartan | NSAIDs | hyperkalaemia | electrolyte disorders

10.01.2025

Octenisept® and incorrect use to irrigate deep wounds

Octenisept | wound disinfection | wound irrigation | tissue necrosis | octenidine | phenoxyethanol | myositis | fasciitis | medication error | tissue damage

Previous contributions


Swissmedic Vigilance-News

Topical aspects of medicinal product risk assessment
Twice a year, the Safety of Medicines Division reports on current topics relating to adverse reaction surveillance and the evaluation of safety signals. Swissmedic's "Vigilance News" appears twice a year as an online resource.

Current Editions


18.11.2025

Swissmedic Vigilance-News-Edition 35

 In this edition, among others:

  • Fluoroquinolone-associated disability
  • Semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight management – updates on efficacy and harms 
  • Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in a patient treated with semaglutide 
  • Enhancing drug safety: the role of pharmacovigilance in paediatrics 
  • Summary of adverse events following immunization reported in Switzerland during 2024

Previous issues


15.05.2025

Swissmedic Vigilance News Edition 34

 In this edition, among others:

  • Late-onset immune-related AEs with immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Interstitial lung disease associated with abemaciclib
  • PML, IRIS and S1PRM: Product Information update
  • Valproate: Swiss individual case reports of CM and NDD
  • Statistical review of the activities of the division Safety of Medicines 2024

25.11.2024

Swissmedic Vigilance News Edition 33

In this edition:

  • Impact of sex on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
  • Exposure to lithium during pregnancy
  • Brugada syndrome and bupropion
  • Stronger warnings about the risks associated with overuse of SABAs
  • Statistical review 2023

28.05.2024

Swissmedic Vigilance News Edition 32

In this edition:

  • Paclitaxel-induced cystoid macular oedema
  • Chemotherapy-associated severe hypertriglyceridaemia
  • Spider-like skin reactions following bortezomib (Velcade®)
  • Potential increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in children whose fathers were treated with valproate

28.05.2024

Swissmedic Vigilance News Edition 32

In this edition:

  • Paclitaxel-induced cystoid macular oedema
  • Chemotherapy-associated severe hypertriglyceridaemia
  • Spider-like skin reactions following bortezomib (Velcade®)
  • Potential increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in children whose fathers were treated with valproate

All issues