Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Latest Medicines Updates & News

Adult Vancomycin Intermittent Infusion Guideline Update

Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Key Messages

  • The GGC Adult Vancomycin Intermittent Infusion guideline and Prescribing, Administration and Monitoring chart (Vanc-PAM) have been updated.
  • The GGC Adult Vancomycin dose calculator has been updated to use adjusted body weight (AdjBW) to calculate the creatinine clearance (CrCl) in patients weighing above their ideal body weight (IBW).
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Update to the GGC Adult Gentamicin Prescribing, Administration and Monitoring (PAM) Chart

Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Prescribers should ensure that the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) (attached to the PAM chart) is issued to the patient/carer as soon as possible. The gentamicin PIL now asks patients to report any pre-existing issues with hearing or balance as well as personal or familial history of mitochondrial disease and any previous hearing or balance issues relating to antibiotics.

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Update to the GGC Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) calculator for use in Adults

Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Key messages:

  • The GGC Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) calculator will now use Adjusted Body Weight (AdjBW) rather than Maximum Body Weight (MBW) to estimate renal function for patients who weigh more than their Ideal Body Weight (IBW).

  • AdjBW provides a better estimate of renal function for patients who are overweight or obese.

  • AdjBW is IBW plus 40% of the difference between ideal and actual body weight.

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Formulary Update (Aug 2024)

Posted: Monday, August 26, 2024

Category - Formulary Update

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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Medicines reconciliation - Mental Health

Posted: Friday, August 9, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

The Emergency Care Summary (ECS) for patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia may show no record of any antipsychotic prescription; this may indicate they are prescribed a specialist medicine such as clozapine or an antipsychotic depot.

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