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


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


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