The pharmacy briefing

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Canadian pharmacy and therapeutics news: recalls, shortages, guideline updates and developments in practice.

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7 results

Health Canada Posts Two August Recalls of Dr. Reddy’s Semaglutide Injection: a Mislabelled Pen, Then an Impurity Across All Lots

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Canada recalled its Semaglutide Injection 1.34 mg/mL twice in August 2026: one lot containing a 4 mg pen labelled as 2 mg (August 12), then every lot of both DINs for an out-of-specification impurity (August 27). Community pharmacies holding the product should quarantine stock and contact patients dispensed the affected lots.

Sep 10, 2026 · 2 min read Read briefing

Illustrative injection pen; not the recalled product. Mr Hyde / Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Image source

Medication Safety

UBC Review Highlights Medicines as an Overlooked Cause of Ankle Swelling

A Therapeutics Initiative review highlights drug-related swelling and prescribing cascades. Medication histories can help pharmacists identify a possible cause.

Sep 9, 2026 · 1 min read Read briefing

AI-generated editorial illustration for Pharmasist.ca. Illustrative medication review; not a real patient or diagnostic photograph.

Medication Safety

OCP Explains AIMS Reporting and the January 2027 Platform Transition

OCP has clarified how incident reports support shared learning and who can access them. Ontario pharmacies should prepare for the January 1, 2027 platform requirements.

Sep 8, 2026 · 1 min read Read briefing

AI-generated editorial illustration created for Pharmasist.ca. Illustrative medication-safety review; not an AIMS platform screenshot.

Medication Safety

ISMP Canada Highlights Medication Safety Gaps After Hospital Discharge

ISMP Canada’s July bulletin examines medication incidents linked to a return to hospital. It identifies practical safeguards for hospital and community pharmacy teams.

Sep 8, 2026 · 1 min read Read briefing

AI-generated editorial illustration created for Pharmasist.ca. Illustrative hospital-discharge medication review; not a patient or incident described in the bulletin.

Medication Safety

Health Canada Adds Pulmonary Aspiration Warning to All GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Product Monographs

Health Canada has completed a safety review linking GLP-1 receptor agonists — including semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide — to an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation, and has updated the Canadian product monographs for the entire drug class. Community and hospital pharmacists are often the last clinician to see both the medication history and the upcoming procedure.

Apr 30, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing

Illustrative perioperative care photo. National Cancer Institute / Unsplash. Image source

Medication Safety

ISMP Canada Bulletin: Near-Miss Oral Ingestion of a Boric Acid Vaginal Suppository Prompts Packaging Changes

A consumer nearly swallowed a boric acid vaginal suppository after mistaking the oral-look capsule for a vitamin, prompting ISMP Canada and manufacturer Szio+ Inc. to add explicit vaginal-use warnings to the Utiva Yeast Control packaging. Pharmacists selling this and similar non-prescription boric acid products need to counsel proactively, since these are self-selected products often sold without a pharmacist consult.

Feb 26, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing

Illustrative medication packaging; not the product discussed. Brett Jordan / Unsplash. Image source

Medication Safety

Health Canada Recalls Two Lots of MAR-Amlodipine After Bottles Found to Contain Midodrine Tablets

Health Canada and Marcan Pharmaceuticals recalled two lots of MAR-Amlodipine 5 mg after some bottles were found to contain midodrine 2.5 mg tablets instead, a mix-up that could send a hypertensive patient's blood pressure dangerously higher or a hypotensive patient's dangerously lower. Community pharmacists need the exact lot numbers and tablet-appearance cues to check remaining stock and dispensed bottles.

Feb 7, 2026 · 2 min read Read briefing

Illustrative medications; not the recalled products. National Cancer Institute / Unsplash. Image source