Prescriberfile

Prescriberfile is published by the Prescribing Support team every 2-3 months to keep primary care clinicians informed of local prescribing information.

2024

Issue 7 – November 24

• MHRA Drug Safety Update
  • Valproate use in men
  • Reminder on the use of Pregabalin in Pregnancy
• Forth Valley Prescribing Advice
  • Tena and Robinson Procedure Pads
  • Five day Antibiotic Course Lengths
  • Maternity/Obstetrics – Prescribing based on Microbiology Results – Change in Process
• Access to Medicines
  • Peer Approved Clinical System (PACS) Tier 2 and Individual Patient Treatment Requests (IPTR) -What’s the difference?
• Prescribing Improvement Initiative (PII) Update
• Forth Valley Formulary Updates
• Forth Valley Guideline Updates

Issue 6 – August 24

• Prescribing of Melatonin Oral Solution in Children Under 6 years old (Off-Label)
• Prescribing of NSAIDs in Cirrhosis
• Topical Corticosteroids – Use in Pregnancy
• Fluconazole – Use in Women of Childbearing potential & Pregnancy
• Formulary Updates
  • Addition – Tavneos® (Avacopan) Capsules (Secondary Care Only)
  • Ovestin® branded vaginal cream has been discontinued
  • Removal of Dovobet® branded gel and ointments – generic options now preferred
  • Preferred brand of acetylcysteine effervescent tablet has change from NACSYS® to Acepiro®
• 2023/24 Respiratory PII – Outcomes
• Useful Resources
  • Sleepio (digital CBT for insomnia)
  • Daylight (digital CBT for generalised anxiety)
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
  • Finasteride – risk of psychiatric and sexual side effects
  • Montelukast – risk of neuropsychiatric reactions

Issue 5 – April 24

• Safety advice on the prescribing of Epimax® emollient products near the eyes
• Mycophenolate Prescribing – Generic Prescribing
• A reminder about the FV stance on VSL#3 and Vivomixx Probiotics
• Formulary Updates
  • Rybelsus® (Semaglutide)
  • Vydura® (Rimegepant)
  • Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) Formulary
• Guideline Updates
  • The new Antimicrobial Guidelines App
  • Updated Unlicensed Medicines Policy
  • New Prescription Form Guidance
• Supply Information
  • Update on Capsaicin Cream
  • Discontinuation of Supply Bulletin and use of SPS Supply Tool
• MHRA Drug Safety Updates
  • Omacor/Teromeg 1000mg capsules – dose dependent increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with established cardiovascular (CV) diseases or CV risk factors
  • Codeine Linctus (codeine oral solutions) – reclassification to prescription-only medicine (POM)
  • Updated advice on Fluoroquinolone antibiotics

Issue 4 – January 24

• Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – Sick Day Rules & Triple Whammy
• Availability of Weight Loss Medications – Semaglutide (Wegovy®) and Liraglutide (Saxenda®)
• Facilitating Anticipatory Symptom Control for Adults at the End of Life – Guideline for the use of Just in Case Boxes in Community
• New NHS Forth Valley Osteoporosis Guideline
• New guideline – Contraception for pregnancy prevention during treatment with medicines of teratogenic potential
• Formulary – Dienogest Tablets
• Respiratory Prescribing Improvement Initiative (PII) Update
• MHRA Drug Safety Update
  • Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: suicidal thoughts and behaviour
  • Valproate: Full-pack dispensing of valproate-containing medicines to both male and female
    patients

2023

Issue 3 – October 23

• Prescribing quantities for patients travelling abroad
• Reminder about Prescribing Responsibilities
• Supply Information Update: Flexicare Leg and Night Bags
• Prescribing of Topiramate for migraine in patients of child bearing potential – Safety Reminder
• Guideline for Headache Management in Adults
• Addition of Adcal-D3® Dissolve 1500mg/400unit effervescent tablets
• Stance on Bijuve® 1mg/100mg Capsules (1mg estradiol and 100mg progesterone) (Non formulary)
• MHRA Update regarding hyoscine hydrobromide patches, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, methotrexate photosensitivity
• Changes to the Stoma Drug Tariff

Issue 2 – July 23

• MHRA Update regarding isotretinoin, JAK inhibitors, Nitrofurantoin, and Febuxostat
• Clopidogrel with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
• Amendment to Leg and Night Bag formulary
• Sunscreen Preparations
• Amendment from Sandocal to Calvive
• Addition of Roxadustat (Evrenzo)
• Addition of Bempedoic acid (Nilemdo and Nustendi)
• Additions to the Scottish Drug Tariff
• Medicines Information Service

Issue 1 – May 23

• Topical testosterone risk of harm
• Prescription instalment instructions
• Accessing advice on supply issues
• New guidance – Switching patients from warfarin to a DOAC
• Controlled drug policy
• Formulary updates (micronised progesterone/Utrogestan; budesonide oro-dispersible tablets/Jorveza;Empalgliflozin/Jardiance)
• Scriptswitch – missed savings, how are we performing, request for feedback

2022

Volume 31, No 4 – October 2022

• Topiramate—new safety review
• Freestyle Libre 1 Discontinuation
• Review Pay and Report Items
• Nurse Prescriber EMIS Setup
• CMO Endorsement of SIGN Guidance
• FV Formulary Updates (Liraglutide/Saxenda; Testosterone; C Diff update; Febuxostat)
• Steroid Emergency Card Update
• Drug Safety Updates (Metformin and B12; Home Nebulisers)

Volume 31, No 3 – June 2022

• Pregabalin safety update and contraception requirements for teratogens
• New Guideline—Treatment of Iron Deficiency in Adults
• Updates to the NHS Forth Valley Formulary
• Fear of Flying—Considerations

Volume 31, No 2 – April 2022

• Prescribing Improvement Initiative Outcomes
• EMIS Drug Safety Checks
• Updates to the NHS Forth Valley Formulary—Epidyolex®
• Useful Resources for Patients and Healthcare Professionals – Diabetes and Mental Health

Volume 31, No 1 – January 2022

• Safe prescribing of alfenatanil
• New pre-hospitalisation COVID-19 treatments
• Greener inhaler prescribing
• Amiloride – limited clinical effectiveness and high cost
• Duloxetine: appropriate strength choice
• Alternatives to discontinued methylcellulose (Celevac®)

2021

Volume 30, No 4 – October/November 2021

• Topiramate in patients of childbearing potential
• Soya and nut allergy cross-sensitivity
• Modafinil – review off-label use
• Quinine salts for leg cramps
• Betahistine – Ménière’s Only
• Formulary updates (Analgesia, Mental Health)
• Drug Safety Updates (Topical corticosteroids)
• Desogestrel OTC
• Competency Framework for Prescribers updated
• Additional Steroid Emergency Card

Volume 30, No 3 – June 2021

• Appropriate prescribing of sunscreen products
• Freestyle Libre 2
• Formulary updates (Nausea and Labyrinth Disorders, Mental Health, valproate restrictions, SLGT2 inhibitors [gliflozins])
• Near Patient Testing (NPT) guidance review
• Polypharmacy and DOAC EMIS templates
• Drug Safety Updates (gabapentinoid prescribing, levothyrxoine, polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxatives and starch-based thickeners)

Volume 30, No 2 – April 2021

• Prescribing Improvement Initiative Update
• Prescribing of mycophenolate mofetil
• Reduce waste, harm and unwarranted variation
• Formulary updates
• Guideline news
• MHRA Drug Safety Updates relevant to Primary Care

Volume 30, No 1 – January 2021

• Patient Safety—Ensure Correct Addiction of Hospital/ Outside Drugs to EMIS
• Opioids – risk of dependence and addiction
• Fentanyl patches – not in opioid-naive patients
• Warfarin/other anticoagulants: monitoring during COVID-19 pandemic

2019

Volume 27, No 2 – November 2019

• Treating Nausea & Vomiting During Pregnancy
• MHRA Drug Safety Updates
• Further Update for Patients using Freestyle Libre®
• Sodium Aurothiomalate (‘GOLD injection’) (Myocrisin®) – Discontinued

Volume 27, No 1 – June 2019

• New Restrictions – Fluoroquinolones
• Carbomazole – New Safety Concerns
• Medicines of Teratogenic Potential
• FV Formulary Changes
• Freestyle Libre® – Updated Advice
• EMIS Formulary/Scriptswitch Amendment Requests
• Valproate – Updated risk acknowledgement form

2018

Volume 26, No 3 – December 2018

• Prescribing of Tacrolimus products
• Always Prescribe Insulin by Brand Name
• Updated Ulipristal (Esmya®)  Prescribing Advice
• Stop Smoking Options
• Updated Vitamin D Guidance
• Lothian Shared Care Agreements for Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Volume 26, No 2 – August/September 2018

• Valproate medicines: Pregnancy Prevention Programme Materials and Local Update
• Supply Issue Intranet Page
• Emerade® – Adrenaline Auto-Injector of Choice
• The Prescribing Support Team has moved…
• Ensure Appropriate Prescribing of Sunscreen Products

Volume 26, No 1 – June 2018

• Methotrexate – Ensure Folic Acid is Co-prescribed
• Accurate EMIS Records for Safer Hospital Admissions
• Prednisolone Products in Patients Unable to Swallow Tablets
• Esmya (ulipristal) Safety Update
• Rapilose® OGTT
• Drug Safety Updates

2017

Volume 25, No 4 – July/August 2017

• Guidance regarding Anti-resorptive or Anti-angiogenic Drugs
• Butec®  – Burenorphine transdermal patch of first choice for new patients over 65 years of age 
• Treatment of fever in the under 5s and Prophylactic Paracetamol for Infants receiving Men B Vaccination
• Prescribing of Flat Bed Pads
• Stoma Supplies
• Drug Safety Updates

Volume 25, No3 – June 2017

• Antibiotic Update
• Launch of Updated Forth Valley Antimicrobial Guidelines
• Focus on co-amoxiclav
• Hierarchy of 4 “C” Antibiotics
• Focus on Urinary Tract Infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae

Volume 25, No2 – April/May 2017

• Minimising the Risks of Medication Errors with Buprenorphine Patches
• Desogestrel and Soya Bean Oil
• Inhaler Devices
• Urethral Balloon Catheters
• Levonorgestrel PGD for GP Practices Withdrawn
• GP Prescribing Initiatives
• Drug Safety Updates

Volume 25, No1 – February/March 2017

• Alopgliptin in adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes
• Restriction on the Use of Orlistat (Xenical® )
• Changes to Stoma Preparations
• Prostap DCS® First line LHRH agonist in prostate cancer for new patients
• Prescribing of Apremilast for severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults
• EMIS – enhancements to Private and Outside Prescriptions
• Drug Safety Updates
• Posaconazole (Noxafil®) tablets and suspension are not inter-changeable
• Etoricoxib (Arcoxia): revised dose recommendation for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

2016

Volume 24, No2 – November 2016

• Avoid NSAIDS in Children with Chickenpox
• Systemic Anti-Cancer Agents (SACT)
• Forth Valley Polypharmacy Review Guidance
• Clarithromycin Dosages in Children
• Unlicensed Omeprazole Suspensions
• Interaction between Rizatriptan and Propranolol
• COPD Record Cards
• Just in Case Boxes
• Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
• Gluten Free Formulary Change
• Prophylactic Paracetamol Suspension
• Forth Valley Polypharmacy
• Review Guidance
• Drug Safety Updates you may have missed

Volume 24, No1 – June 2016

• Forth Valley Formulary
• Primary Care Respiratory Support Nurse
• GP Prescribing of GF Foods
• Dipipanone and Cyclizine
• Live attenuated vaccines and Immunosuppression
• CD Requisition Forms
• Home Office Approved Wording for Instalment Prescribing
• Ellipta® Devices
• Drug Safety Updates

2015

Volume 23, No2 – May/June 2015

• Temazepam – CD Legislation Changes
• Lithium Prescribing
• Drug Safety Updates
• Updated Formulary Emollient Choices
• Dexamethasone Inj – Palliative Care Recommendations
• Pneumovax II® Name Change
• Gabapentin and Pregabalin – Risk of Misuse
• CD Adverse Events Report 2013 – 2014
• PRISMS User Access System

Volume 23, No1 – January 2015

• Amoxicillin and Ampicillin dose changes for children
• Zuclopenthixol Injection – Care with Preparation Choice
• Removal of Omacor® from Formulary
• Reclassification of Sodium Oxybate
• Trial of Topical Agents for Localised Neuropathic Pain
• Cilest – limited shelf-life
• Metoject® – pre-filled syringe replaced by a PEN device
• Fosfomycin in UTI – Reminder of Supply Routes
• Substance Misuse Training Opportunities
• Generic Salmeterol in patients with Peanut Allergy

2014

Volume 22, No3 – July 2014

• Updated Community Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Service
• Nitrofurantoin in renal impairment
• Generic Desogestrel
• Nitrofurantoin – price increase
• Domperidone – New Dosage and Contraindications
• Development of EMIS Disease-based formulary
• Commonwealth Games Visitors – the Games Family

Volume 22, No2 – June 2014

• Controlled Drug Changes
• Palliative Care ‘Just in Case’ Boxes
• Windows 7 Migration – Re- install EMIS Formulary and Local Advice Files
• Community Optometrists – first port of call for eye problems
• Vol 24, No1 Tramadol – FAQs

Volume 22, No1 – March 2014

• Community Pharmacy Gluten Free Food Service
• Dapaglifozin Initiation
• Medicines Information Service
• Instalment Prescribing of CDs
• Drug Safety Updates
• Metoclopramide – Short-term Use