Health Authority issues medicine warning

HAAD warns of dangerous side effects with the drugs Desmopressin and Moxifloxacin.

ABU DHABI // The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has issued warnings over the drugs Desmopressin and Moxifloxacin after they were found to have dangerous side effects. Desmopressin nasal spray, also called Minirin, is used to treat chronic bed-wetting in children, but the US Food and Drug Administration has reported that its high sodium levels could cause seizures. "Bed-wetting is common among boys," said Dr Nicole Gebran, a senior pharmacist at Tawam Hospital. "Most of the time if a patient does not respond with regular measure, they will require treatment.
"Generally, these drugs are safe, but sometimes there are serious reactions reported for some of them. The most serious side effect with the nasal spray is seizures." If parents were worried their children had been prescribed the spray, she added, they should not stop treatment but immediately contact their doctor. "If they have been prescribed the spray, they should notify the doctor that they have the spray and they will receive the proper instructions from their doctor," said Dr Gebran. "They should not stop any treatment on their own, they should speak to their doctor first."
Moxifloxacin, also known as Avalox, is an antibiotic. The HAAD said it should be used only when a first course of antibiotics had failed as it could lead to fatal inflammation of the liver. However, patients are advised not to stop treatment if they are taking this medication and to talk to their doctor immediately. "If the physician prescribes it, it means the patient requires it," said Dr Gebran.
"They should abide by the treatment as long as the patient watches for side effects. Whenever they see something abnormal, they should report that to their doctors."
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