10th September 2024

Drug Monitoring Checker

This update contains 1 new monograph, and 6 new parameter profiles.

New monographs: Ergocalciferol.

New parameter profiles: basophil count; eosinophil count; lymphocyte count; monocyte count; neutrophil count; white blood cell count.

10th September 2024

BNF for Children

This update contains 5 significant changes, 4 dose changes, 1 new preparation, 1 deleted monograph and 2 deleted preparations.

Significant Changes:

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol® 100 mg/5 mL Liquid): temporary stock-out and update to posology (reduction of maximum daily dose) [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Drugs that cause sedation and drugs with CNS depressant effects: pharmacodynamic effects drug groups combined and renamed as drugs with CNS effects; see Interactions.
• Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues: new restrictions on use for puberty suppression (see example in gonadorelin).
• Topiramate (Topamax®): introduction of new safety measures, including a Pregnancy Prevention Programme [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Warfarin sodium: be alert to the risk of drug interactions with tramadol [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

• Calcium gluconate [update to dosing for acute severe hyperkalaemia].
• Ivacaftor with tezacaftor and elexacaftor [update to dosing].
• Lebrikizumab [update to dosing].
• Rosuvastatin [update to dose adjustments due to interactions with belumosudil].

New Preparations: Ivermectin.

Deleted Monographs: Colecalciferol with calcium phosphate.

Deleted Preparations: Creon 40000® [pancreatin]; Pancrease HL® [pancreatin].”

10th September 2024

Palliative Care Formulary

This update contains 2 revised monographs.

The following monograph has been fully revised: Systemic lidocaine (formerly Systemic local anaesthetics).

The following monograph has undergone minor revision: Strong Opioids.

10th September 2024

Psychotropic Drug Directory

This update contains 2 monograph revisions.

Revisions: 1.4 Alcohol dependence and abuse; 1.5 Alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Minor updates: Abbreviations.

10th September 2024

British National Formulary

This update contains 7 significant changes, 2 dose changes, 1 new preparation, 2 deleted monographs and 2 deleted preparations.

Significant Changes:

• Cabergoline: updated important safety information.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol® 100 mg/5 mL Liquid): temporary stock-out and update to posology (reduction of maximum daily dose) [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Drugs that cause sedation and drugs with CNS depressant effects: pharmacodynamic effects drug groups combined and renamed as drugs with CNS effects; see Interactions.
• Hyperkalaemia: updated guidance on management.
• Salbutamol: new indication and dose for moderate to severe hyperkalaemia.
• Topiramate (Topamax®): introduction of new safety measures, including a Pregnancy Prevention Programme [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Warfarin: be alert to the risk of drug interactions with tramadol [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in warfarin sodium and acenocoumarol; see example in warfarin sodium).

Dose Changes:

• Lebrikizumab [update to dosing].
• Rosuvastatin [update to dose adjustments due to interactions with belumosudil].

New Preparations: Ivermectin.

Deleted Monographs: Colecalciferol with calcium phosphate; Porfimer sodium.

Deleted Preparations: Creon 40000® [pancreatin]; Pancrease HL® [pancreatin].”

10th September 2024

Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference

This update contains 3 new monographs and 5 existing monographs have been updated. Preparations have also been updated for 4 countries.

New Monographs

• Mosunetuzumab is a bispecific recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds to both CD20 on B-cells and CD3 receptors on T-cells. It is used for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
• Sparsentan is a dual endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist. It is used to reduce proteinuria in primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy.
• Tofersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, is used for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with a superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene mutation.

Selective Updates – some new, re-validated or changed information

Monographs 

• Acetylcysteine
• Cytisinicline (formerly Cytisine)
• Macrogolglycerides (formerly Macrogol/glycerol Esters)
• Methylpyrrolidone (formerly N-Methylpyrrolidone)
• Trichloromonofluoromethane (formerly Trichlorofluoromethane)

Proprietary Preparations and Manufacturers updated for the following countries and regions:

• Australia
• Finland
• UK†
• USA†

† Countries updated on an ongoing basis