Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

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Key messages

• Do not routinely stop cognitive enhancers as may cause a decline in symptom control.
• Pain can present as a change in behaviour or distress in patients with dementia.
• NSAIDs should ideally be avoided in older people due to increased risk of adverse effects.
• Anti-emetics can have a high anticholinergic burden - review indication and consider stopping if appropriate.

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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.

To access the full blog via Microsoft Sway, click here

To access the full blog via Microsoft Sway, click here

Generic prescribing is usually recommended for a number of reasons including cost-effectiveness, reduction in prescribing and dispensing errors and reducing risk of supply problems. However, in certain circumstances it is important to prescribe medication by brand name.

Key Messages

• Scottish Government consensus statement removes the need for GLP1 medications (Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) and GLP1-RAs/Glucagon-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonists (GIP-RAs)) for weight management to be supplied through a specialist weight management service providing that appropriate lifestyle and dietary advice can be given to the patient.
• Consensus statement also allows for Health Boards to identify priority groups for treatment, commencing with those with a higher BMI plus co-morbidities.
• There is a requirement to identify a prescribing pathway to complement the lifestyle and dietary advice provided by GGC Weight Management Service.
• NHSGGC Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee (ADTC) have supported the consensus statement though both semaglutide (Wegovy®) (GLP1-RA) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) (GLP1/GIP-RA) remain non-formulary pending an agreed prescribing pathway.
• Prescribers are requested not to prescribe these drugs for weight management until an agreed pathway has been developed and implemented and they have been added to the NHSGGC Adult Medicines Formulary.