Medsafe Safety Communications: NZ Medicine Monitoring and Alerts

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  • #MedSafetyWeek Home ► Safety ► Safety Communications ► Medsafe Safety Communications

Revised: 24 April 2026

Safety Information

Medsafe Safety Communications

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Recent safety communications

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (dulaglutide,
liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide) and acute persistent
visual loss |
| 15 December 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine |
Atomoxetine and the possible risk of gynaecomastia |
| 15 December 2025 | Alert | Medicine | Amended legislation about medicines that can impair driving |
| 11 November 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine | Further Update - Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches: reports of
quality and efficacy |
| 4 November 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine | Update
- Estradot (estradiol) transdermal patches: reports of quality and
efficacy |
| 22 October 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine | Estradot
(estradiol) transdermal patches: reports of quality and efficacy |
| 23 September 2025 | Alert | Medicine | Topiramate: New
measures and advice to prevent exposure during pregnancy |
| 31 July 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine |
Update - Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, ocrelizumab, obinutuzumab,
ofatumumab) and the possible risk of pyoderma gangrenosum |
| 22 July 2025 | Alert | Medicine | Warning:
advertisements claiming Medsafe approval or bearing the Medsafe
logo are scams |
| 30 May 2025 | Alert | Device | Stop using Euky Bear
Warm Steam Vaporiser – model number EBSV2013 |
| 14 April 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine |
Update -
Direct acting oral anticoagulants and potential for patients to
experience mood changes (monitoring closed February 2025) |
| 9 April 2025 | Alert | Medicine | Use of carbamazepine during pregnancy: Growth risks for babies |
| 1 April 2025 | Alert | Medicine | Ayurvedic medicines update |
| 27 February 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine | Update - Reports of pericarditis following
mpox vaccination |
| 16 January 2025 | Monitoring | Medicine |
Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, ocrelizumab, obinutuzumab, ofatumumab)
and the possible risk of pyoderma gangrenosum |

Archive of safety communications

What are Medsafe safety communications?

These communications are intended to help consumers and healthcare professionals
make informed decisions about their use of medicines and medical devices.

Medicines and medical devices provide important benefits for consumers
but no product is completely safe. Whilst many risks are identified before
the product is used in New Zealand some are identified later.

The known risks associated with medicines in New Zealand are outlined
in the consumer medicine information (CMI) and the data sheet. The known
risks for medical devices are generally outlined in the product information/user
manual. Your healthcare professional can also provide help and assistance
on how to use medicines or medical devices. Further information may be found
on the product packaging or the company supplying the medicine or medical
device may operate a helpline.

There are two types of Medsafe safety communications.

1. Monitoring communications
2. Alert communications Anyone can subscribe to receive Medsafe safety communications.

How do I subscribe to receive Medsafe
safety communications?

Monitoring Communications

These communications are intended to provide information to consumers
and healthcare professionals about newly identified potential safety concerns.

In some cases, these communications are issued to request further information
from users. Safety concerns for medicines for which Medsafe is actively
seeking further reports display this symbol:

No actions are generally advised, other than to follow the instructions
provided with the medicine or medical device. Consumers should NOT stop using a medicine or medical device following a monitoring
communication. Healthcare professionals should not change a patient's treatment
because of a monitoring communication.

Not all of these concerns will result in an action. This is because after
an investigation, Medsafe may not consider that there is a link between
the events and the medicine or medical device. Medsafe may reinvestigate
the concern if more information is identified at a later date.

Alert Communications

Alert communications are issued once a review of the safety concern is
complete. Alerts contain more information on the safety concern and provide
specific advice on actions that may need to be taken by healthcare professionals
and consumers.

Even though an alert has been issued it does not necessarily mean that
a medicine or medical device is considered to be unsafe.

Safety concerns which identify defective medicines or medical devices
supplied in the market may result in a recall action. This can include removal
of the product from supply or undertaking corrective action. Recent recall
actions initiated in New Zealand are published in the Medsafe Online Recalls
Database (MORD).

Search the Medsafe Online Recall
Database (MORD)

Further Information

Further information on the development of the Medicines Monitoring scheme

and Medsafe's safety monitoring processes can be found in the following
links.

What is the Medicines Monitoring
scheme

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How does Medsafe monitor medicine safety?

How does Medsafe monitor
the safety and quality of medical devices?

Related Information

• Data Sheets
• Consumer Medicine Information
• Consumer Information Leaflets
• Product/Application Search
• Suspected Medicine Adverse Reaction Search
• Safety Communications
• Medsafe Online Recalls Database
• Prescriber Update
• Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee