³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The firstRisperdal preparations (Risperdal 1, 2, 3 and 4mg tablets) were authorised in the UK on 8 December 1992.

Efexor and Efexor XL are brand names of the drug substance venlafaxine hydrochloride.Venlafaxine has been licensedin the UK since November 1994 and Efexor XL, the modified release form of the drug,was first authorised in August 1997.

The safety ofmedicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcareproducts Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by theMHRA and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reportingscheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. The safety of all marketed drugs is continuallymonitored by the MHRA and CHM. The MHRA has provided the following information:

The number ofsuspected ADR reports received by the MHRA for children aged 0-17 years from 1 July 1963 (when the Yellow Card Scheme was introduced) to 15 June 2007 inclusive for Risperdal (risperidone) is 190. Thisfigure includes reports received from the whole of the UK.

It is importantto note that the submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily meanthat it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account inassessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possiblecontribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease. Additionally,the use of medicines may vary between different age groups.

Information collatedcentrally by NHS National Services Scotland on prescribed doses of drugs is measuredusing the average maintenance dose of a drug as used in adults. This unit of measurementis based on advice from the World Health Organization. It is not possible to extractfrom that data the number of doses of Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) prescribedexclusively for children.NHS National Services Scotland website carries generalinformation about drugs used in the treatment of Attention Deficit HyperactivityDisorder (ADHD). This information can be found at www.isdscotland.org.

More generally, inrelation to the management of ADHD, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is currentlyundertaking a national audit of the care and treatment provided throughout Scotland for children with ADHD, including the use of drug therapy.The report of this exercise is due to be published in March 2008.

The safety of medicinesis reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products RegulatoryAgency (MHRA). Reports of suspectedadverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the MHRA and Commission for HumanMedicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme.The safety of all marketed drugs is continually monitored by the MHRA and CHM. TheMHRA has provided the following information:

The number of suspectedADR reports received by the MHRA for children aged 0-17 years from 1 July 1963 (when the Yellow Card Scheme was introduced) to 15 June 2007 inclusive for methyphendidate is 588. This figure includesreports received from the whole of the UK.

It is important tonote that the submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily mean thatit was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessingcausal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution ofconcomitant medication and the underlying disease. Additionally, the use of medicinesmay vary between different age groups.

It is not possibleto extract from prescription data collated centrally by NHS National Services Scotlandthe number of doses of Risperdal (risperidone) prescribed exclusively for children.

Methylphenidate hydrochloridehas been licensed in the UK as part of a comprehensive treatment programmefor attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in children aged six yearsand older since 1988. Ritalin, a brand nameof the drug substance methylphenidate hydrochloride, was first authorised in the UK on 31 October 1997.

Risperdal is not licensedfor use in children. However, clinicians can use drugs off-license i.e. outsidetheir licensed indications, if they consider that treatment to be the most appropriatefor an individual patient. In these circumstances the clinician takes personal responsibilityfor the use of the drug.

There is a legal obligationfor students who became liable for the Graduate Endowment on or before 1 April 2007 to pay it and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland will continue to pursue those who have not paid.

Forestry CommissionScotland (and its agency Forest Enterprise Scotland) is followingan approach which was recommended in the Scottish Red Squirrel Action Plan2006-11.

The plan recommendedthat targeted control of grey squirrels to contain the spread of the squirrelpoxvirus should be carried out by Grey Squirrel Control Officers, undertaking controlon both the national forest estate and private woods. Two such officers are alreadyin place in the area affected by squirrelpox.