Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

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New HEPMA oral antibiotic protocols for non-severe respiratory and urinary tract infections with no previous intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment have been introduced to support prescribing and improve documentation of oral antibiotic stop dates on HEPMA. 

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This post summarises the latest NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde decisions relating to new medicines assessed by SMC and considered by the Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee (ADTC) and uses a nationally developed format specifically aimed for patients and the public.

For full details of the medicines included in this post that are available for use, including any restrictions on prescribing, please see the relevant entry in the GGC Formulary.

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Click here to access the full blog

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• Two adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) devices should always be prescribed and supplied.
• Patients should carry two in-date AAI devices at all times.
• Patients and their carers should be trained on their particular device, as injection technique varies between brands (Epipen®, Jext®).

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• GMAWS is effective in managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
• The 2025 revised guidance allows easier estimation of alcohol units consumed.
• The Fast Alcohol Screening Tool (FAST) score is used to assess use disorder: a score of 5 or more suggests alcohol dependency.
• Prevention and treatment of Wernicke’s encephalopathy refers to ‘Vitamins B&C solution’ for intravenous infusion. Pabrinex® is no longer routinely available.
• The treatment of those at risk of Wernicke’s encephalopathy has been simplified.
• Oral thiamine should be continued for at least 6 weeks after becoming abstinent and having established a satisfactory diet. At that point thiamine discontinuation should be considered.
• Senior medical review of diagnosis and the need for possible adjunctive therapy if the patient:
• requires more than 120mg diazepam (or 12mg lorazepam) in 24 hours or
• is requiring full dose treatment 96 hours after last alcohol ingestion.
• Alterations to AWS treatment for patients with liver disease have been more clearly defined (see further details in Background section):
• All patients with evidence of advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) use symptom triggered treatment only.
• Patients with evidence of advanced liver disease and liver dysfunction: jaundice (bilirubin >80micromol/l), coagulopathy (INR/Prothrombin time ratio >1.5) or history of hepatic encephalopathy: use symptom triggered lorazepam: 1mg-2mg.

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• Cardiovascular diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in Scotland, the second most common cause of death after cancer.

• The Cardiovascular Risk Factors Programme, launched in April 2025, aims to address this challenge with the goal of reducing avoidable premature CVD deaths by 20% in 20 years.

• To support implementation of the programme a 'National cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and risk factors toolkit' has been created on the Right Decision Service website.