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


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


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

Previous issues


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

28.11.2023

Swissmedic Vigilance-News Edition 31

In this edition:

  • Pregnancy outcomes after GLP-1 agonist exposure in early pregnancy
  • Drug-induced pancreatitis
  • Febuxostat and azathioprine: a rare interaction
  • Kounis syndrome: a less familiar ADR
  • Statistical Review 2022

30.05.2023

Swissmedic Vigilance-News Edition 30

In this edition:

  • Checkpoint inhibitors: pregnancy-related outcomes
  • JAK inhibitors: risk minimisation / dosage individualisation
  • COVID-19 vaccines: myocarditis in elderly patients / adverse reactions after vaccination with bivalent vaccines
  • Haemovigilance: incorrect blood component transfused and near misses

22.11.2022

Vigilance-News Edition 29

In this edition:

  • Reports of urticaria after booster vaccination with Spikevax
  • Contrast-induced neurotoxicity
  • Swiss Haemovigilance System: Regulatory aspects and transfusion reactions
  • Statistical Review 2021: Pharmacovigilance for human medicinal products, vaccinovigilance, vigilance for veterinary medicinal products

23.05.2022

Vigilance-News Edition 28

In this edition:

COVID-19 immunisation:

  • Modification of the Information for healthcare professionals since authorisation
  • Myocarditis, thromboembolic events, multiple sclerosis
  • Persistent headache
  • Methods of signal detection / ”Observed versus expected” analyses

29.11.2021

Vigilance-News Edition 27

In this edition:

COVID-19 immunisation:

  • Myocarditis/pericarditis: Case reports received by Swissmedic
  • Menstrual disorders – facts, possible causes, unanswered questions
  • Recent study findings and recommendations
    for vaccination of pregnant women
  • International cooperation
    in the area of pharmacovigilance

29.06.2021

Vigilance-News Edition 26

In this edition:

  • COVID-19 vaccines: reporting suspected side effects correctly
  • Case report “COVID arm”
  • AEFI after immunisation with COVID-19 vaccines: Herpes zoster, neuralgic amyotrophy, immune thrombocytopenia

All issues