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.
Posted: Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Off-label or unlicensed use of medicines here.
The MHRA and the NHS Circular PCA(P)(2015)17 recommend that ‘specials’ and imported unlicensed medicines should only be used where there is no suitable licensed alternative. Clinicians should not routinely use an unlicensed preparation when there is a licensed product available, unless there is a specific clinical reason.
Posted: Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Suspected defective medicines policy here
Guidance for reporting a suspected defective medicine is provided within this policy,
along with a reporting form. These can be found via GGC Medicines: Medicines Policies
under the miscellaneous section (8.1 and 8.1.1).
Posted: Monday, August 7, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
MHRA Drug Safety Update July 2023 here
Posted: Monday, August 7, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Key Medicine Shortages July 2023 here
Includes: atomoxetine capsules, diazepam rectal solution tubes, glucagon (GlucaGen) injection, testosterone (Tostran) gel, paracetamol suppositories and GLP-1 agonists.
Posted: Monday, August 7, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Prolongation of the QTc interval can lead to a life-threatening arrhythmia known as Torsades de Pointes (TdP).
This blog series aims to provide prescribers and other healthcare professionals with practical advice on how to manage cases of potential drug-induced QTc prolongation and the prescribing of QTc prolonging drugs. The blogs cover interpretation of the QT interval, risk factors for QTc prolongation, drug interactions which can increase the risk of QTc prolongation and what can be done to minimise the risks of drug-induced QTc prolongation. These blogs have been developed to replace GGC Medicines Update Extra bulletin MUE 08: Drug induced QT prolongation (July 2018).
Posted: Monday, August 7, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Guideline News June 2023 here
Posted: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
MHRA Drug Safety Update June 2023
Posted: Monday, June 26, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
This is the fourth and final blog in a series outlining risks relating to insulin prescribing and administration for adults in hospital, and at discharge and aims to provide good practice points to minimise these risks.
Posted: Monday, June 26, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
Posted: Friday, June 16, 2023
Category - Medicines Update
New app launched to support patients with mental health conditions
Aim is to provide patients with good quality validated, and clinically effective self-management materials
Content includes a library of trustworthy and reliable resources offering not only information about common mental health symptoms and conditions but also materials to help manage them.
Access website https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/myapp-my-mental-health/ or download app via App Store or Google Play. Instructions on how to access the app are available here.
Healthcare professionals are encouraged to signpost this resource to patients where appropriate