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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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 Details...
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Control of epilepsy
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Generalised seizures
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Ethosuximide to top
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Gabapentin and pregabalin
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Lacosamide
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Lamotrigine
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Levetiracetam
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Perampanel to top
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Phenobarbital and other barbiturates
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Phenytoin
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Retigaine
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Rufinamide
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Tiagabine to top
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Topiramate
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Valproate
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Vigabatrin
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Zonisamide
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Benzodiazepines to top
04.08.01  Expand sub section  Other Drugs
Brivaracetam (Briviact®)
(oral formulations)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Shared care agreement

•Initiation by Tertiary Epilepsy Specialist only.
•For adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adult and adolescent patients from 16 years of age with severe refractory epilepsy warranting tertiary specialist input for patients who have tried three or more AEDs. The patient has used levetiracetam and has documentation of intolerance and patient is using a third line agent (perampanel, zonisamide, lacosamide, eslicarbazepine) which would be replaced by brivaracetam

Supported by an ESCA

 
 
Brivaracetam (Briviact ®)
(injection)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
 
 
Cannabidiol  (Epidyolex®)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only
NHS England

In line with NICE

 
Link  NICE TA614: Cannabidiol with clobazam for treating seizures associated with Dravet syndrome
Link  NICE TA615: Cannabidiol with clobazam for treating seizures associated with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome
 
Cenobamate (Ontozry®)
View adult BNF View SPC online View SMC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist initiation

In line with NICE

 
Link  NICE TA753: Cenobamate for treating focal onset seizures in epilepsy
 
Stiripentol (Diacomit®)
(250mg capsules, sachets. 500mg capsules)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Specialist only

Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (Dravet syndrome)
APC supports use in Adults: for continuation of therapy started in childhood. (Note Off Label use in adults)

 
 
 ....
 Non Formulary Items
Acetazolamide

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Retigabine
(Tablets)

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

MHRA Advice
Care should be taken when switching between oral formulations. The need for continued supply of a particular manufacturer’s product should be based on clinical judgement and consultation with patient and/or carer, taking into account factors such as seizure frequency and treatment history

Prescribe in accordance with NICE TA232
Prescribing restrictions imposed by the MHRA July 2013. Monitor for ocular side effects and complete yellow cards as appropriate.
To be discontinued from June 2017 (see link below)

Link  GlaxoSmithKline: Advance notification of Retigabine (Trobalt) discontinuation
Link  MHRA safety update on pigmentation July 2013
Link  MHRA: Letters sent to healthcare professionals in September 2016, including retigabine withdrawal
Link  NICE TA232: Retigabine for the adjunctive treatment of adults with partial onset seizures in epilepsy with and without secondary generalisation
  
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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