Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Medicines Update

For all healthcare professionals across NHSGGC both in primary care and the acute sector.

Please note, Medicines Update blogs are correct at the time of publication.

Medicines Update blogs remain on the website for 4 years. If you would like a copy of a blog published more than 4 years ago, please contact  medicines.update@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Click here for a promotional poster on Medicines Update and here for an animation on the Communications subcommittee of ADTC responsible for the development of Medicines Update.

If you would like to contribute to Medicines Update, click here for a guide to blog writing. When you email the committee to discuss writing a blog, you will be sent a checklist to complete prior to submitting the blog for review.

06/09/2023 announcement

Accessing GGC Clinical Guidelines via Medicines Update blogs and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook 

GGC Clinical Guidelines have migrated to the Right Decisions for Health and Care platform. As a result of the migration, direct links to GGC guidelines within Medicines Update blogs (and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook, GGC Medicines App) currently go to the homepage and not individual guidelines. This change was out with our control. 
Please note, there is a message on the homepage highlighting intermittent issues with the search function, therefore, if you cannot find a guideline via the search box, select the relevant category from the homepage or if the guideline still can't be found, contact clinical.guidelines@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
An update will be provided in due course.

Prescribing Medicines by Brand

Posted: Thursday, September 26, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

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.

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Weight Management Prescribing of GLP1-RAs and GLP1-RAs/GIPs in Primary and Secondary Care – Non-Formulary Position Statement

Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

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.
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Management of Chemoprophylaxis of Meningococcal Septicaemia and Meningitis for Close Contacts

Posted: Thursday, September 19, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Key messages

  • Quick access to chemoprophylaxis for close contacts is critical.
  • Parents/carers and siblings at the bedside of a patient need rapid and easy access to chemoprophylaxis managed within the hospital.
  • Pre-labelled patient packs, available via acute site emergency stock locations, should be used for bedside carers and siblings.
  • If pre-labelled patient packs are not available, a Hospital “Day Care Prescription form” can be used to prescribe and dispense chemoprophylaxis.
  • NHSGGC clinical guideline provides information for prescribing and supply during in and out of hours period.
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NHSGGC Medicines Information Service

Posted: Friday, September 13, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

The NHSGGC MI enquiry service provides evidence based information and advice to support safe and effective prescribing. The advice is provided in response to specific enquiries and is tailored to individual patients, while taking account of the NHSGGC Formulary and prescribing guidelines.

In addition to the enquiry service, MI also leads on a number of other services and resources including the Adult Therapeutics Handbook, the NHSGGC Formulary, and the Medicines Update blogs.

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Reducing Overprescribing and Medication Waste

Posted: Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

This is the first in a series of blogs on overprescribing with future focuses on inappropriate polypharmacy, transitions of care, data and digital, and non-pharmacological choices.

It is part of a wider public campaign launched by NHSGGC, aiming to reduce medicines waste by sharing information and advice with staff, patients and members of the public.

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Contraceptive Advice: Valproate and Topiramate Medicines

Posted: Monday, September 9, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Key messages:

  • The Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme (Prevent) Guide for Healthcare Professionals was updated in January 2024. Refer to Updated Valproate Regulatory Measures.
  • MHRA Drug Safety Update September 2024, recommends, as a precaution, that male patients on valproate use effective contraception (condoms, plus contraception used by the female sexual partner) throughout the valproate treatment period and for 3 months after stopping valproate.
  • Topiramate is now also contraindicated in pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential unless the conditions of a Pregnancy Prevention Programme are fulfilled. As topiramate is classed as an enzyme-inducer, not all contraceptive methods are suitable.
  • This updated blog provides local expert advice to assist decision making on contraceptive methods.
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