Europe – EMA confirms measures to minimise the risk of serious side effects with medicines containing pseudoephedrine

On 25 January 2024, EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) endorsed the measures recommended by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) to minimise the risks of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) for medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

PRES and RCVS are rare conditions that can involve reduced blood supply to the brain, potentially causing serious, life-threatening complications. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, symptoms of PRES and RCVS usually resolve.
CHMP confirmed that medicines containing pseudoephedrine are not to be used in patients with high blood pressure that is severe or uncontrolled (not being treated or resistant to treatment) or in patients with severe acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) kidney disease or failure. 

In addition, healthcare professionals should advise patients to stop using these medicines immediately and seek treatment if they develop symptoms of PRES or RCVS, such as severe headache with a sudden onset, feeling sick, vomiting, confusion, seizures and visual disturbances…