LMSG Newsletter February 2015

Leicestershire Medicines Strategy Group
LMSG
Working on behalf of Leicester, Leicestershire and
Rutland Health Community
FE B RU A R Y 20 1 5
www.lmsg.nhs.uk
Tra f f i c Li ght s
Shared Care
Please see www.lmsg.nhs.uk
UPDATED Agomelatine for depression
for further details
RED – Secondary care only
AMBER – Secondary care initiation, then
primary care with shared care agreement
GREEN – Primary or secondary care
BLACK – Not recommended for prescribing in primary or
secondary care (including new drugs that have not been
through the approval process).
RED
NEW Simeprevir - Hepatitis C
Dolutegravir - HIV (previously black)
Additional requirement for specialist to monitor LFTs
3 and 6 weeks after initiation. Agomelatine should
not be prescribed for those over 75 years as trial
data shows it is ineffective in this patient group.
UPDATED Methylphenidate for ADHD
In the case of methylphenidate modified release
specify the brand that is prescribed to enable the GP
to continue prescribing the same brand. Methylphenidate immediate release preparations are
interchangeable and can be prescribed generically.
QIPP detail aid
Prednisolone - Use Plain Not Soluble Tablets
Plain prednisolone tablets are significantly cheaper
than soluble ones and should be preferred in the
majority of patients.
AMBER
None this month
Guidelines
NEW Hypnotic Prescribing
NEW Sleep Hygiene patient leaflet
UPDATED Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults
GREEN
None this month
Licensed colecalciferol 20,000 unit capsules are
now available, Fultium D3® is no longer
contra-indicated in patients with peanut allergy.
MHRA drug safety updates
Medicines related to valproate: risk of
abnormal pregnancy outcomes
BLACK
NEW Nintedanib (Vargatef) - Lung cancer
NEW Apremilast (Otezla) - Psoriatic arthritis
Yellow Card extended to include devices,
counterfeits and defective medicines
Interface Pharmacist
Comments & Feedback Contact
Dolly Sud, Acting Interface Pharmacist
E-mail: medicines.info@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Dolly Sud will be the acting interface pharmacist
while Helen Hardman is on maternity leave from
March 2015.
FOR NHS USE ONLY—NOT TO BE USED OR REPRODUCED FOR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.