Description

Prescribing depot antipsychotic medication.

Updated guidance on the use of prostaglandin analogues in the treatment of chronic open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Rapid Review: Oxycodone/Naloxone prolonged release tablets (Targinact).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Oxycodone prolonged release tablets (Longtec).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Colecalciferol 20,000IU capsules (Bio-Vitamin D3).

Summary Algorithm: Diagnosis and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency in Primary Care.

Rapid Drug Assessment: Linagliptin 2.5mg/ metformin 850mg/1g tablets (Jentadueto).

New Indication Assessment: Rifaximin tablets 200mg (Xifaxanta).

NICE Technology Appraisal 236: Ticagrelor for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (October 2011).

New Trial Assessment: Ivabradine and heart failure.

Review of NICE Technology Appraisal 182: Prasugrel for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes with percutaneous coronary intervention (October 2009).

Withdrawal of mesalazine modified release 400mg tablets (Mesren MR).

Description

Guidance on the prescribing of phenytoin sodium capsules.

Innovation, Health and Wealth: Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS (December 2011): Implications for Joint Formulary development in Lincolnshire.

NICE Technology Appraisal 251: Dasatinib, Nilotinib and standard-dose Imatinib for the first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (April 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 252: Telaprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (April 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 255: Cabazitaxel for hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen (May 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 253: Boceprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (April 2012).

Description

Guidance on the prescribing of generic pioglitazone.

Rapid Drug Assessment: Alfentanil sublingual spray 5mg in 5ml (140 micrograms per spray.

Rapid Drug Assessment: Adrenaline tartrate auto-injector device (Jext).

Updated New Drug Assessment: Ulipristal 30mg tablet (Ellaone).

New Low Cost Generics: Drug Tariff (October 2012).

MHRA Drug Safety Update (August 2012): Calcitonin (Miacalcic): increased risk of cancer with long-term use; Ondansetron (Zofran): risk of QTc prolongation; Doripenem (Doribax): current dosing regimen is insufficient in some patients.

Description

Simvastatin: Updated advice on drug interactions and contraindications.

Description

Guidance on the prescribing of warfarin, dabigatran or rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in atrial fibrillation.

Description

Risk to patients of inappropriate use of zuclopenthixol acetate injection (Clopixol Acuphase) where zuclopenthixol decanoate injection (Clopixol) was intended.

Generic atorvastatin price reductions.

New Indication Assessment: Ivabradine (Procoralan) for the treatment of chronic heart failure.

New Indication Assessment: Exenatide (Byetta) injection in combination with insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Commission on Human Medicines: Oral tacrolimus products should be prescribed and dispensed by brand name to avoid the risk of medication errors (May 2012).

MHRA Drug Safety Update (May 2012): Fingolimod and the risk of cardiovascular adverse reactions; Domperidone –small risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death; Strontium ranelate - risk of venous thromboembolism.

Description

New Trials in Brief: Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation (Omacor) in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease; Antipsychotics in dementia; Aspirin and cancer prevention.

Rapid Drug Assessment: Varicella zoster virus vaccine (Zostavax).

NICE Technology Appraisal 250: Eribulin for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (April 2012).

NICE Clinical Guideline 137: The epilepsies: the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care (January 2012).

National Patient Safety Agency: Prevention of harm with buccal midazolam (February 2012).

MHRA Drug Safety Update (April 2012): Proton pump inhibitors in long-term use – hypomagnesaemia and increased risk of bone fracture.

Description

Atorvastatin patent expiry and the future role of rosuvastatin.

Supply problems with orlistat (Xenical).

New Drug Assessment: Actikerall (5-fluorouracil 0.5% and salicylic acid 10%) cutaneous solution for hyperkeratotic actinic keratoses.

New Drug Assessment: Asenapine sublingual tablets 5mg and 10mg (Sycrest).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Optive eye drops for dry eye syndrome.

New Drug Assessment: Tolvaptan 15mg and 30mg tablets (Samsca).

New Device Assessment: RESPeRATE.

New Device Assessment: InsuJet needle free insulin delivery system.

NICE Technology Appraisal 246: Pharmalgen for the treatment of bee and wasp venom allergy (February 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 247: Tocilizumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (February 2012).

MHRA Drug Safety Update (March 2012): Aliskiren (Rasilez) risk of cardiovascular and renal adverse reactions; Teva levothyroxine 100 microgram tablets – suspension of marketing authorisation; Unlicensed imported vitamin D (colecalciferol) capsules - potential peanut oil and soya oil allergens.

NICE Technology Appraisal 248: Exenatide prolonged release suspension for injection in combination with oral antidiabetic therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (February 2012).

Description

New Drug Assessment: Rifaximin 200mg tablets (Xifaxanta) for travellers’ diarrhoea.

Rapid Drug Assessment: Tacrolimus ointment 0.03% and 0.1% (Protopic) for maintenance treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

NICE Technology Appraisal 241: Dasatinib, high-dose imatinib and nilotinib for the treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and dasatinib and nilotinib for people with CML for whom treatment with imatinib has failed because of intolerance (January 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 242: Cetuximab, bevacizumab and panitumumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer after first-line chemotherapy (January 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 243: Rituximab for the first-line treatment of stage III-IV follicular lymphoma (January 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 244: Roflumilast for the management of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (January 2012).

NICE Technology Appraisal 245: Apixaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee replacement in adults (January 2012).

Policy and Formulary Update: Wound Management Formulary; Policy Relating to the Prescribing, Supply, Storage and Disposal of Controlled Drugs in Primary Care.

Description

Review: Indapamide 2.5mg tablets vs Indapamide 1.5mg sustained release (Natrilix SR).

Review: Use of hypnotics in Lincolnshire.

New Drug Assessment: Midazolam 5mg in 1ml oromucosal solution (Buccolam).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Olopatadine 0.1% eye drops (Opatanol).

License extension: Sitagliptin tablets (Januvia).

Guidelines for the treatment of commonly occurring infections in Lincolnshire primary care: Winter 2011/12.

Emerging safety concerns around the use of aliskiren (Rasilez).

Description

New Drug Assessment: Tapentadol immediate release tablets (Palexia) and tapentadol prolonged release tablets (Palexia SR).

New Formulation Assessment: Atorvastatin chewable tablets (Lipitor).

Review: Topical Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

NICE Technology Appraisal 237: Ranibizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (November 2011).

NICE Technology Appraisal 240: Panitumumab in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (December 2011).

Key Patent Expiries 2012/13.

Atorvastatin patent expiry and the future role of rosuvastatin.

MHRA: Drug Safety Update (2011): Dabigatran (Pradaxa): risk of serious haemorrhage; Angiotensin II receptor antagonists; evidence does not suggest any link with cancer.

Description

Review: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (or gliptins).

New Drug Assessments: Aprepitant capsules (Emend) and fosaprepitant injection (Ivemend).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Bromfenac eye drops 900microgram/ml (Yellox).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Eflornithine 11.5% cream (Vaniqa).

MHRA: Drug Safety Update (November 2011): Lenalidomide (Revlimid): risk of second primary malignancy; High-dose rosuvastatin and rhabdomyolysis; Paracetamol - reminder of updated dosing recommendations for children Domperidone and possible increased cardiac risk.

Supply Update: Trifluoperazine tablets (Stelazine).

Description

Rapid Drug Assessment: Fentanyl patches (Fencino).

Rapid Drug Assessment: Azithromycin 15mg/g eye drops (Azyter).

Review: Naproxen/Esomeprazole 500mg/20mg (Vimovo).

New Drug Assessment: Risperidone injection ( Risperdal Consta).

NICE Technology Appraisal 231: Agomelatine for the treatment of major depressive episodes (terminated appraisal) (July 2011).

NICE Technology Appraisal 232: Retigabine for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in epilepsy (July 2011).

NICE Technology Appraisal 235: Mifamurtide for the treatment of osteosarcoma (October 2011).

New Trials in Brief: Tailored letters to patients can help to reduce benzodiazepine use; Topical antibiotics for acute infective conjunctivitis.

Shared Care Guidelines: Dronedarone for the treatment of patients with non-permanent atrial fibrillation after other anti-arrhythmic medicines have been considered (November 2011).

MHRA Drug Safety Update (December 2011): Citalopram and escitalopram associated with dose-dependent QT interval prolongation.

MHRA Drug Safety Update (October 2011): Buccal midazolam (Buccolam); Calcium and vitamin D - studies of cardiovascular risk.