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 Formulary Chapter 4: Central nervous system - Full Chapter
Notes:

PALLIATIVE CARE PHYSICIANS - Guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control

 

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04.01  Expand sub section  Hypnotics and anxiolytics
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Hypnotics
Melatonin MR (Circadin ®)
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Formulary

Amber SC  Sandwell & West Birmingham CCG for patients seen by the Black Country ADHD Services.  

Amber SC REM sleep behaviour disorder and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder in adults in line with ESCA

 Red  For all other indications

 
 
Melatonin 3mg tablets
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Formulary

Amber SC REM sleep behaviour disorder and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder in adults in line with ESCA

 Red  For all other indications

 
 
Melatonin
(Capsules)
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Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
Specialist only
 
 
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Benzodiazepines
Controlled Drug Temazepam
(SF solution)
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Formulary
All settings

From Monday 1st June 2015, prescriptions for temazepam will be required to meet full prescription requirements for Schedule 3 controlled drugs (CDs)

Legislative changes to prescription writing requirements for temazepam

 
 
Controlled Drug Temazepam
(Tablets)
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Formulary
All settings

£££££

From Monday 1st June 2015, prescriptions for temazepam will be required to meet full prescription requirements for Schedule 3 controlled drugs (CDs)

Legislative changes to prescription writing requirements for temazepam

 
 
Diazepam liquid
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Formulary
Specialist only

Inpatient use and prison settings only

 
 
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Zaleplon, Zolpidem and Zopiclone
Controlled Drug Zopiclone
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First Choice
All settings

Licensed for short-term use only (4 weeks).

 
Controlled Drug Zolpidem
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Formulary
All settings
 
Link  NICE TA77: Zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the management of insomnia
 
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Chloral and derivatives to top
Chloral Hydrate 500mg in 5mL
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Formulary
Specialist only
For hospital use only.
Unlicensed special.
 
 
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Antihistamines
Promethazine Hydrochloride
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
04.01.01  Expand sub section  Pitolisant
04.01.02  Expand sub section  Anxiolytics
04.01.02  Expand sub section  Benzodiazepines
Diazepam
(Liquid)
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Formulary
Specialist only

Inpatient use and prison settings only

 
 
Diazepam
(tablets)
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Oxazepam
(Tablets)
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Chlordiazepoxide
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Formulary
All settings

Adjunct in acute alcohol withdrawal

 
 
Lorazepam
(tablets)
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Diazepam
(Injection)
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Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Lorazepam
(Injection)
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Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
04.01.02  Expand sub section  Buspirone to top
Buspirone Hydrochloride
(Tablets)
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Formulary
All settings

£££££

Second line

 
 
04.01.03  Expand sub section  Barbiturates
 ....
 Non Formulary Items
Almotriptan  (Almogran®)

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Non Formulary
Alprazolam

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Non Formulary
Alprazolam  (Xanax®)

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Non Formulary
Controlled Drug  Amobarbital (amylobarbitone) and secobarbital (quinalbarbitone)  (Tuinal®)

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Non Formulary
Controlled Drug  Amobarbital (amylobrbitone)  (Sodium Amytal®)

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Non Formulary
Aspirin and metoclopramide  (MigraMax®)

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Non Formulary
Buspirone Hydrochloride  (Buspar®)

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Non Formulary
Controlled Drug  Butobarbital (butobarbitone)  (Soneryl®)

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Non Formulary
Chloral Hydrate 300mg in 5mL

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Non Formulary
Clomethiazole  (Heminevrin®)

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Non Formulary
Cloral Betaine

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Non Formulary
Eletriptan  (Relpax®)

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Non Formulary
Ergotamine Tartrate  (Cafergot®, Migril®)

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Non Formulary
Flurazepam  (Dalmane®)

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Non Formulary
Frovatriptan

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Non Formulary
Loprazolam

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Non Formulary
Meprobamate

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Non Formulary
Naratriptan

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe

Removed from formulary May 2017 following 6-fold price increase. More cost-effective options available on formulary.

Nitrazepam  (Tablets, Suspension)

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Paracetamol and metoclopramide  (Paramax®)

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Non Formulary
Controlled Drug  Secobarbital (quinalbarbitone)  (Seconal Sodium®)

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Non Formulary
Sodium Oxybate  (Xyrem®)

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Non Formulary
Sumatriptan  (Imigran® Radis)

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Non Formulary
Tolfenamic Acid  (Clotam®)

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Non Formulary
Triclofos Sodium  (Triclofos® oral solution BP)
(Triclofos Elixir)

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Zaleplon  (Sonata®)

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
  
Key
Restricted Drug Restricted Drug
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to adult BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to children's BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to SPCs
Cytotoxic Drug
Cytotoxic Drug
CD
Controlled Drug
High Cost Medicine
High Cost Medicine
Cancer Drugs Fund
Cancer Drugs Fund
NHSE
NHS England
Homecare
Homecare
ICB
ICB
Green Low Carbon

Low carbon footprint

Amber Medium Carbon

Medium carbon footprint

Red High carbon footprint

High carbon footprint

Status Description

All settings

All Settings
Suitable for initiation, ongoing prescribing, and discontinuation in both primary and secondary care settings. They are generally familiar, frequently used therapies that can be started within their licensed indications without specialist oversight.  

Specialist only

Specialist only
Designated for initiation, ongoing prescribing, monitoring, exclusively by a specialists either in a hospital or as part of a specialist service (to note this could be in a non-hospital setting). Primary care should neither start nor continue these treatments except as part of a specialist service. A specialist could be either a medical or non-medical prescriber.  

Specialist advice

Specialist advice
Prescribers in primary care should seek advice and a recommendation from a specialists prior to initiating a medicine. Once agreed with a specialist, medicines can be initiated, prescribed and monitored in primary care without a formal shared-care agreement.   

Specialist initiation

Specialist initiation
Medicines in this category require a specialist to start therapy, titrate dosage, and assess initial efficacy or tolerability. Once stabilised, prescribing responsibility may transfer to primary care without the need for a formal shared-care agreement.  

Shared care agreement

Shared care agreement
Prescribing responsibility can be shared across health settings and between specialists and GPs only when formal shared care arrangement has been made. For example, there may be extensive and complex monitoring requirements or significant safety concerns (note would need a national policy on this to define the criteria for requiring a formal SCA), this will be produced once nationally.  

Do not prescribe

Do not prescribe
Not approved for routine prescribing in primary or secondary care. For example, because they are agents classified in the BNF as “not NHS” or “Drugs of Low Clinical Value”, or they are products on NICE’s “do not do” list or NHS England’s “should not routinely prescribe” list.  

Self Care

Self Care
Not for routine prescribed in primary or secondary care unless as part of care for a long term condition. Instead, patients should be encouraged to self care with support from community pharmacy.   

Green

Medicines which are suitable for initiation and maintenance prescribing by primary and secondary care clinicians. These medicines should be initiated and prescribed within their licensed indications  

Amber Initiation

Amber Specialist Initiation: Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by Specialists and transfer to Primary Care prescribing when appropriate. This may be supported by a RICaD, annotated within the formulary entry.  

Amber SC

Amber Shared Care: Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by Specialists and transfer to Primary Care prescribing, in accordance with an ESCA, annotated within the formulary entry.  

Amber Recommended

Amber Specialist Recommendation: Initiation and maintenance of prescribing in Primary Care following recommendation from a specialist.  

Red

Medicines for initiation and maintenance prescribing by Specialists (hospital or GPs with Special Interest) only  

Grey

Positive NICE TA and /or awaiting local clarification on place in therapy; Please contact your Medicines Optimisation team for more information.  

Black

Non-formulary Medicines which APC/Trust DTC has actively reviewed and do not recommend for use.  

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