Download Arachis Oil / Peanut Allergy Safety Alert

Medication Safety Group
Date:
Early Alert Number 2
26/01/05
Peanut allergy
A hospital pharmacy in Yorkshire recently had a near miss with an outpatient.
The prescription did not have the allergy box completed. Colpermin capsules were prescribed and
dispensed. The patient returned the next day to the pharmacy and explained that she had an allergy to
peanuts. She had read the patient information leaflet which clearly states not to be taken if allergic to
peanuts as contains extracts of arachis oil.
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Allergy boxes should be included on outpatient prescriptions.
Allergy boxes must be completed
Care needed with both oral and topical preparations
See enclosed list “Products that contain Arachis Oil” which has been produced by a different hospital
pharmacy.
Products that contain Arachis Oil
(List obtained from BNF.org January 2005)
Central Nervous System
 Paraldehyde – Status epilepticus
Ear & Nose
 Cerumol ear drops – Removal of ear wax
 Naseptin cream – Nasal preparation for infection
Endocrine system
 Deca-Durabolin – Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
 SustanonPreparations
Gastro-Intestinal System
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Arachis Oil – Faecal softener laxative
Arachis Oil enema – Faecal softener laxative
Fletcher’s Arachis Oil Retention Enema – Faecal softener laxative
Colpermin – Antispasmodic
Gynaecology
 Ortho-Gynest Intravaginal Cream – Topical HRT
 Sultrin Cream – Preparation for vaginal infection
Nutrition
 Abidec multivitamin drops
 Alfacalcidol – Vitamin D deficiency
 Analog (XLeu Analog)
 AT 10 – Vitamin D deficiency
 Calogen – Disease related malnutrition and malabsorption states
 Vivioptal – supplement to synthetic diet
Skin
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Calamine oily lotion BP – Topical antipruritic
Dermovate-NN cream – Topical corticosteroid
Hewletts Cream – Emollient
Polytar liquid – Scalp disorders
Polytar AF shampoo – Scaly scalp disorders
Polytar Emollient Bath additive – Topical preparation for psoriasis
Polytar Plus liquid – Scalp disorders
Siopel cream – Barrier preparation
Zinc cream BP – Barrier preparation
Zinc and Castor oil ointment BP – Barrier preparation
Treatment of Poisoning
 Dimercaprol – Heavy metal poisoning antidote