Memos and Alerts
What is the most appropriate antidepressant to use in patients with epilepsy?
This updated Medicines Q&A from the Specialist Pharmacy Service evaluates the published information available on the most appropriate choice of […]
Resources to support answering medicines-related questions in primary care
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service has published a guide suggesting resources for use in primary care to answer questions about medicines. Most of the resources are freely available online.
The document includes sections on general resources and guidelines, administration of medicines, adverse drug reactions, breast feeding, children, complementary medicines, contraception and family planning, diagnostic tests, drug interactions, drug misuse, drug stability/ pharmaceutical issues, identification of medicines, immunisation and vaccines, mental health, new medicines and horizon scanning, palliative care, patent expiry, poisoning and toxicity, pregnancy, and travel medicine.
Managing the Christmas prescription workload with eRD
The Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) function within the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) allows prescribers to authorise and issue a batch of repeatable prescriptions for up to 12 months with just one digital signature. GP practices using EPS are on average sending over half of their prescriptions electronically, but eRD makes up less than 12% of these.
NICE NG 56 Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management
A new briefing guide has been added to the NECS MO website – NICE NG 56 Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and […]
What is a suitable combined oral contraceptive pill in a patient who is taking hepatic enzyme-inducing drugs, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin or rifabutin?
This updated Medicines Q&A provides advice on a suitable oral contraceptive that can be used in a woman using an […]
Antibiotic quality premium monitoring dashboard – September 2016
The NHS England Antibiotic Quality Premium Monitoring Dashboard is produced by the NHS Business Services Authority to support NHS England […]
Summary of MHRA drug safety advice: September to November 2016
The MHRA has provided the following synopsis of key drug safety issues from the September to November 2016 issues of Drug Safety Update.
– Levonorgestrel-containing emergency hormonal contraception: advice on interactions with hepatic enzyme inducers and contraceptive efficacy
– Posaconazole (Noxafil): tablets and oral suspension are not directly interchangeable
– Idelalisib (Zydeligâ–¼): updated indications and advice on minimising the risk of infection
– Etoricoxib (Arcoxia): revised dose recommendation for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
– Brimonidine gel (Mirvaso): risk of exacerbation of rosacea symptoms
National Medicines Optimisation Dashboard
In 2014 NHS England launched its Medicines Optimisation Dashboard to help inform local discussions about how to improve patient outcomes and get better value from our medicines spend. Since then it has been evaluated and modified based on what commissioners, prescribers and other healthcare providers want to see. This dashboard has now been revised .
NOACs contraindicated in patients with mechanical heart valves
Prescribers are reminded NOT to substitute newer oral anti-coagulant drugs (NOACs) for warfarin in patients with mechanical heart valves under any circumstance because of the risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events, regardless of the length of time since the replacement.