Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Medicines Update

GGC Medicines Update is a series of blogs with important medicines related messages relevant to all healthcare professionals across GGC.

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 ggc.medicines.update@nhs.scot

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 further information and 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.

Appropriate and Safe Conversion from Warfarin to a DOAC

Posted: Monday, November 3, 2025

Category - Medicines Update

Click here to access the full blog

  • Patients admitted to hospital who take warfarin (or any other coumarin anticoagulant), should be considered for a switch to a suitable direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). This recommendation is based on the reduced bleeding risk with DOACs when compared with warfarin and improved patient acceptability given the lack of need for ongoing monitoring in hospital and community-based clinics.
  • The Appropriate and Safe Conversion from Warfarin to a DOAC guideline available in the GGC Adult Therapeutics Handbook includes full detail, such as situations when patients should not be switched, recommended choice of DOAC and how to switch patients.
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West of Scotland Regional Formulary - Progress Update October 2025

Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Category - Medicines Update

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  • A new regional West of Scotland formulary is being developed, which will replace the NHSGGC formulary over time.
  • The latest edition of the regular Formulary Focus newsletter has been issued to help keep staff in participating Health Boards up-to-date with project progress.
  • Excellent progress has been made so far, with the review of four chapters currently underway (Cardiovascular, Gastro-Intestinal, Respiratory and Skin).
  • Nominations are being sought from NHSGGC staff who are interested in membership of the new West of Scotland Formulary Committee.
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Patient views and experience of deprescribing medicines – Implications for practitioners

Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2025

Category - Medicines Update

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In May this year, NHSGGC undertook a comprehensive public survey to understand how people feel about their medicines and about deprescribing. Over 1000 responses were received, giving invaluable insights into how patients feel about their currently prescribed medicines and their willingness to consider reducing or stopping them.

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GGC Guideline Update: Management plan for patients on oral anticoagulants in the peri-operative period

Posted: Friday, September 5, 2025

Category - Medicines Update

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NHSGGC representatives start shaping new West Of Scotland Formulary content

Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025

Category - Medicines Update

Click here to access the full blog

  • Over the next 18 months, a new Regional West of Scotland Formulary is being created which will replace the NHSGGC formulary over time
  • A regular newsletter will be issued to keep staff in participating health boards up-to-date with project progress
  • Nominations are being sought from health care professionals who consider themselves to be experts in particular therapeutic areas to be part of each chapter expert working group for both the paediatric and adult formularies, please complete this form to nominate yourself.
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