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 Formulary Chapter 1: Gastro-intestinal system - Full Chapter
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01.06  Expand sub section  Laxatives
 note 

See NICE CKS Constipation in aduls at http://cks.nice.org.uk/constipation.

See NICE CKS Constipation in children at http://cks.nice.org.uk/constipation-in-children 

See NICE CKS Constipation in palliative care at https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/palliative-care-constipation/

Sodium Picosulfate
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist advice
 
 
Arachis Oil
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Lactulose
(Solution)
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Macrogol 3350 with anhydrous sodium sulfate, ascorbic acid, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate and sodium chloride
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Macrogol 3350 with anhydrous sodium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Magnesium citrate with sodium picosulfate
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Phosphates (rectal)
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Sodium acid phosphate with sodium phosphate
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
01.06.01  Expand sub section  Bulk-forming laxatives
Ispaghula Husk
(Granules)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
All settings

Follow Optimise Rx recommendation on which brand to choose

Adequate fluid intake is important to prevent obstruction (6-8 cups per day) and should not be taken immediatley before bed

Unsuitable for frail patients who are likely to drink less than daily required volume of fluid

Fluid thickens on standing so should be taken as soon as possible after mixing

Time to effect is approximately 48-72 hours

 
 
01.06.02  Expand sub section  Stimulant laxatives
Senna
(Tablets, Syrup)
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Formulary
All settings

Tablets 7.5mg, Syrup 7.5mg/5ml

Syrup is currently more cost effective than tablets

Time to effect approximately 8 to 12 hours

 
 
Docusate Sodium
(Capsules, Liquid)
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Formulary
All settings

Capsules 100mg, Liquid 50mg/5ml

Solution is utterly unpalatable- only fit for use down tubes

Probably acts as a softening laxative as well as a stimulant

Time to effect is approximately 24 to 48 hours

 
 
Glycerol (Glycerin) Suppositories
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Formulary
All settings
 
 
Bisacodyl
(Tablets, Suppositories)
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Formulary
All settings

5mg E/C tablets

10mg Suppository

 
 
Co-danthramer
(Capsules)
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Formulary
Specialist advice

Capsules 25/200, 75/1000

Co-danthramer strong preferred as per palliative care formulary guidance

 

 
 
Co-danthrusate
(Capsules)
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Formulary
Specialist advice

Capsules 50/60

 

 
 
Danthron
(Capsules)
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Formulary
Specialist advice
 
 
01.06.02  Expand sub section  Other Stimulant laxatives
01.06.03  Expand sub section  Faecal softeners to top
01.06.04  Expand sub section  Osmotic laxatives
Sodium Citrate
(Rectal enema)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
All settings

Micro-enema

Microlette®, Relaxit® and Micralax®

 
 
Macrogols  (Laxido®)
(Oral powder)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
All settings

Follow Optimise Rx recommendation on the most cost effective brand to prescribe

Prescribe as Laxido

 
 
Phosphate enema
(Rectal enema)
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Formulary
All settings

Fletchers phosphate enema®

Fleet ready to use enema®

 
 
01.06.05  Expand sub section  Bowel cleansing preparations
Fleet Phospho-soda®
(Oral solution)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Restricted Drug Restricted
Specialist only

For use in hospital prior to bowel procedures

 
 
Macrogols (Klean-Prep®)
(Oral powder)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Macrogols (Moviprep®)
(Oral powder sachet)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Picolax®
(Oral powder)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
01.06.06  Expand sub section  Peripheral opiod-receptor antagonist
Naldemedine (Rizmoic®)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist advice
ICB

For treating opioid-induced constipation in line with NICE

 
Link  NICE TA6451: Naldemedine for treating opioid-induced constipation
 
Naloxegol (Moventig®)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist advice

£££££

For treating opioid-induced constipation in line with NICE

 
Link  NICE TA345: Naloxegol for treating opioid‑induced constipation
 
01.06.07  Expand sub section  Other drugs used in constipation
LinaclotideBlack Triangle (Constella®)
(Capsule)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist advice

For moderate to severe IBS-Constipation

For patients who have not responded adequately to or cannot tolerate all other suitable treatment options BUT BEFORE other agents with higher costs

Supported by a RICaD (in development)

 
 
Prucalopride (Resolor ®)
(Tablets)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist initiation

 For use in men and women for chronic constipation

 Supported by a RICaD (in development)

 
Link  NICE TA211: Prucalopride for the treatment of chronic constipation in women
 
01.06.08  Expand sub section  Other preparations for bowel obstruction to top
 ....
 Non Formulary Items
Bowel Cleansing Solutions  (Citramag®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Citrafleet®

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Non Formulary
Citric acid with magnesium carbonate

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Docusate Sodium  (Norgalax® Micro-enema)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Liquid Paraffin

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Lubiprostone Black Triangle  (Amitiza®)
(Capsules)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe

Manufacturer has now discontinued the product

Macrogol  (Movicol®)
(Liquid)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Macrogol 3350

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Magnesium Hydroxide Mixture BP

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Magnesium sulfate

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe

Treatment of Hypomagnesemia only

 

Methycellulose

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Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Methylnaltrexone  (Relistor®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Phosphates (Oral)  (Diafalk®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Phosphates (Oral)  (OsmoPrep®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Senna  (Manevac®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Senna  (Senokot®) (Granules)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Senna with ispaghula husk

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Sodium acid phosphate with sodium bicarbonate

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Sodium hydrogen carbonate / sodium dihydrogen phosphate  (Lecicarbon A®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Sodium Picosulfate  (Dulco-lax®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Sterculia  (Normacol®, Normacol Plus®)

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Do not prescribe
Sterculia with frangula

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
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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