Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Guideline News December 2022

• Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been associated with PPI use.
• The NHSGGC guideline on Management of Suspected or Proven Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) in Adults advises stopping gastric acid suppression (e.g. PPIs) where possible.

• In recent years there have been reports of a link between PPI use and pneumonia, however, evidence is conflicting and therefore there are no NHSGGC guidelines for the management of PPIs in patients with pneumonia.

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

MHRA Drug Safety Update December 2022

MHRA Drug Safety Update November 2022

• Metformin can commonly reduce vitamin B12 levels in patients, which may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Refer to MHRA Drug Safety Update here.

• B12 deficiency risk increases with higher metformin doses, longer treatment duration and patients with a risk of B12 deficiency (see below for additional risk factors)