Formulary News (June 2014)
Additions to the GGC Adult Formulary
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee (ADTC) met on 9th June 2014 and added the following medicines/indications/ formulations to the GGC Formulary. Additions are to the Total Formulary unless specified otherwise.
Aripiprazole long-acting injection (Abilify Maintena®) for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients stabilised with oral aripiprazole is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question. It is restricted to use under the overall supervision of a psychiatrist.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Budesonide gastro-resistant granules (Budenofalk®) for the induction of remission in patients with mild to moderate active Crohn’s disease affecting the ileum and/or ascending colon is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question. It is restricted to initiation by, or on the advice of gastroenterologists.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Canagliflozin tablets (Invokana®) for use in adults aged 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control as add-on therapy with other glucose-lowering medicinal products including insulin, when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control is included in the GGC Adult Formulary. It is restricted to initiation by clinicians experienced in the management of diabetes for:
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dual therapy in combination with metformin when a sulphonylurea is inappropriate
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triple therapy in combination with metformin plus standard of care
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as an add-on to insulin therapy in combination with insulin plus standard of care.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Certolizumab pegol injection (Cimzia®) for the treatment of adult patients with severe active axial spondyloarthritis, comprising (1) Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and (2) Axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of AS (nr-axSpA) is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question. It is restricted to specialist use.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Defibrotide infusion (Defitelio®) for the treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) also known as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) therapy is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question. It is restricted to specialist use.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Dolutegravir tablets (Tivicay®) for use in combination with other antiretroviral medicinal products for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected adults and adolescents above 12 years of age is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question. It is restricted to use by HIV specialists.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Fluticasone furoate and vilanterol dry powder inhaler (Relvar Ellipta®) for the regular treatment of asthma in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older where use of a combination medicinal product (long-acting beta2-agonist and inhaled corticosteroid) is appropriate in patients not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and 'as needed' inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists is included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
Prescribing note: Fluticasone furoate is a high-potency inhaled steroid (with a dose of 92micrograms once daily broadly equivalent to 250micrograms twice daily of fluticasone propionate). When used for asthma, due consideration for the likelihood of step-down should be given prior to initiation as there are no available step-down options containing a dose lower than 92 microgram of fluticasone furoate.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Sofosbuvir tablets (Sovaldi®) for use in combination with other medicinal products for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in adults is included in the GGC Adult formulary for the indication in question pending protocol. It is restricted to specialist use in accordance with local protocol (under development).
For relevant SMC advice click here
New medicines, indications and formulations not included in the GGC Adult Formulary or GGC Paediatric Formulary
The following are not included in the GGC Adult Formulary following the latest ADTC meeting. Where the reason is other than not recommended advice from SMC it is noted. NB: these medicines may be included in the Formulary for other indications or for other formulations. Please refer to Formulary.
Avanafil tablets (Spedra®) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men is not included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Cobicistat tablets (Tybost®) as a pharmacokinetic enhancer of atazanavir 300 mg once daily or darunavir 800 mg once daily as part of antiretroviral combination therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected adults is not included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Infliximab infusion (Remicade®) for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine, or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies is not included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Natalizumab infusion (Tysabri®) as a single disease modifying therapy in highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for adult patients aged 18 years and over with high disease activity despite treatment with glatiramer acetate is not included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Paclitaxel Albumin infusion (Abraxane®) for use in combination with gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is not included in the GGC Adult Formulary for the indication in question.
For relevant SMC advice click here
Other Formulary Decisions
UT 380® short/standard intra-uterine device for contraception is now included as an additional choice within the Preferred List of the GGC Adult Formulary.
Diprobase® cream for the use as an emollient for dry skin conditions has been moved to the Total Formulary. Zerobase® Cream is the nearest Preferred List option.