Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

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

Certain drug classes and combinations of medicines confer greater risk for frail patients than the general adult population. Any medicine which can cause sedation, hypotension or hypoglycaemia can increase risk of falls. 

To access the full blog via Microsoft Sway, click here

Guideline News July 2023 here

Off-label or unlicensed use of medicines here.

The MHRA and the NHS Circular PCA(P)(2015)17 recommend that ‘specials’ and imported unlicensed medicines should only be used where there is no suitable licensed alternative. Clinicians should not routinely use an unlicensed preparation when there is a licensed product available, unless there is a specific clinical reason.

Suspected defective medicines policy here

Guidance for reporting a suspected defective medicine is provided within this policy,
along with a reporting form. These can be found via GGC Medicines: Medicines Policies
under the miscellaneous section (8.1 and 8.1.1).

MHRA Drug Safety Update July 2023 here

Key Medicine Shortages July 2023 here

Includes: atomoxetine capsules, diazepam rectal solution tubes, glucagon (GlucaGen) injection, testosterone (Tostran) gel, paracetamol suppositories and GLP-1 agonists.

QTc Interval - Summary here

Prolongation of the QTc interval can lead to a life-threatening arrhythmia known as Torsades de Pointes (TdP).

This blog series aims to provide prescribers and other healthcare professionals with practical advice on how to manage cases of potential drug-induced QTc prolongation and the prescribing of QTc prolonging drugs. The blogs cover interpretation of the QT interval, risk factors for QTc prolongation, drug interactions which can increase the risk of QTc prolongation and what can be done to minimise the risks of drug-induced QTc prolongation. These blogs have been developed to replace GGC Medicines Update Extra bulletin MUE 08: Drug induced QT prolongation (July 2018).  

Guideline News June 2023 here

MHRA Drug Safety Update June 2023