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.

Metformin and reduced vitamin B12 levels

Posted: Monday, November 14, 2022

Category - Medicines Update

  • Metformin can commonly reduce vitamin B12 levels in patients, which may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Refer to MHRA Drug Safety Update here.

  • B12 deficiency risk increases with higher metformin doses, longer treatment duration and patients with a risk of B12 deficiency (see below for additional risk factors)

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Menopause information and prescribing resources

Posted: Monday, October 31, 2022

Category - Medicines Update

Key messages

  • Refer to available guidance for information on how to alleviate symptoms of the menopause (see links in further information below)
  • Refer to the NHSGGC Adult Medicines Formulary for preferred hormone replacement therapy (HRT) options
  • If ‘off-label’ testosterone is being considered for low sexual desire (when HRT alone is not effective), refer to NICE and British Menopause Society (BMS) guidance and the NHSGGC Unlicensed Medicines Policy
Read More...