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 Formulary Chapter 2: Cardiovascular system - Full Chapter
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02.06  Expand sub section  Nitrates, calcium-channel blockers, and potassium-channel activators
02.06  Expand sub section  Angina
02.06.01  Expand sub section  Nitrates
Glyceryl Trinitrate
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Formulary
Green

 

    • 400 microgram/metered dose spray Green Traffic Light.   
      5mg & 10mg/day patches - for use in cardiothoracic critical care unit.Red Traffic Light.

 

 
 
Glyceryl Trinitrate Injection
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Formulary
Red
  • 5mg in 5ml , 50mg in 10ml & 50mg in 50ml injections 

 

 
 
Isosorbide Dinitrate 10mg in 10ml injection
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Formulary
Red
 
 
Isosorbide Mononitrate 10mg, 20mg and 40mg tablets, and 60mg MR tablets
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Formulary
Green
  • 10mg, 20mg and 40mg tablets
  • 60mg MR tablets - should only be used in patients when the non-modified release tablets are unsuitable Restricted Item
 
 
02.06.02  Expand sub section  Calcium-channel blockers
Amlodipine
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First Choice
Green
  • Preferred calcium channel blocker for treating hypertension.
    • If a 10mg dose is not tolerated e.g. due to leg/ankle
      oedema, consider reducing dose before changing to an
      alternative such as lercanidipine.

 
Diltiazem
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First Choice
Green
  • Preferred calcium channel blocker for angina.
  • Zemtard® is the formulary brand of choice for starting new patients on long acting diltiazem.
 
Felodipine
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Formulary
Green
  • M/R tablets: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg 
 
 
Nimodipine Injection
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Formulary
Red
  • 10mg in 50ml for IV infusion 
 
 
Verapamil Injection
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Formulary
Red
  • Injection: 5mg/2ml (2.5mg/1ml) 
 
 
Lercanidipine
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Alternatives
Green
  • For use as a second line calcium channel blocker where amlodipine is not tolerated. 
 
 
Nifedipine
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Alternatives
Green
  • Once daily formualtions are preferred
  • 20mg controlled release tablets (Adalat LA), 30mg & 60mg m/r capsules (Coracten XL)
  • 5mg & 10mg capsules
  • 10mg & 20mg retard tablets
  • 20mg in 1ml (1mg/drop) nifedipine oral solution is also approved for use unlicensedunlicensed.
 
 
Verapamil
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Alternatives
Green
  • Tablets - 40mg, 80mg, 120mg, 160mg
  • MR Tablets - 240mg
  • Oral Solution - 40mg/5ml
 
 
Nimodipine
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Alternatives
Green plus
  • 30mg tablets - treatment should be on the advice of the stroke team or a cardiologist.
 
 
Nicardipine 1mg in 1ml injection
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Alternatives
Red
  • Approved as a second line agent for the treatment of aortic dissection and pre-eclampsia.
 
 
02.06.03  Expand sub section  Other anitanginal drugs to top
Nicorandil
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Formulary
Green
 
Link  MHRA Drug Safety Update (Jan 2016): Nicorandil (Ikorel): now second-line treatment for angina - risk of ulcer complications
 
Ivabradine
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Formulary
Green plus
  • Angina - for intiation on advice from a consultant cariologist in patients with contra-indications to or intolerance of beta-blockers.
  • Heart failure  - approved for use in accordance with NICE guidelines.
 
Link  NICE CG126: Guidance on Stable Angina (2011)
Link  MHRA Drug Safety Update (Dec 2014): Ivabradine (Procoralan) in the symptomatic treatment of angina: risk of cardiac side effects
Link  NICE TA267: Ivabradine for treating chronic heart failure
 
Ranolazine
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Formulary
Green plus
  • For use in the treatment of angina in those patients for whom other treatments have been unsuccesful.
  • Initial prescribing should be by a consultant cardiologist only. 
 
Link  NICE CG126: Guidance on Stable Angina (2011)
 
02.06.04  Expand sub section  Peripheral vasodilators and related drugs
Naftidrofuryl
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Formulary
Green plus
  • Approved for the treatment of intermittent claudication in people with peripheral arterial disease. 
 
Link  NICE CG147: Lower limb peripheral arterial disease management
Link  NICE TA223: Intermittent claudication drugs
 
02.06.04  Expand sub section  Other preparations used in peripheral vascular disease
 ....
Key
Restricted Drug Restricted Drug
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
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Link to adult BNF
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Link to children's BNF
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Link to SPCs
Cytotoxic Drug
Cytotoxic Drug
CD
Controlled Drug
High Cost Medicine
High Cost Medicine
NHSE
NHS England
Homecare
Homecare
CCG
ICB
Green Low Carbon

Low carbon footprint

Amber Medium Carbon

Medium carbon footprint

Red High carbon footprint

High carbon footprint

Status Description

Red

Drugs for hospital use only. The responsibility for initiation and monitoring treatment should rest with an appropriate hospital clinician and the drug should be supplied through the hospital throughout the duration of treatment. In some very exceptional circumstances (e.g. due to distance from the hospital, storage, supply or mobility/transport problems) it may be appropriate for the GP to be asked to prescribe a Red drug. This should be negotiated on an individual patient basis and should only be done with the GP’s prior informed agreement where the roles of the GP and hospital services are clearly defined and agreed. The GP should not feel under pressure to prescribe in these circumstances. For all RED drugs automatically added to the formulary in response to a positive NICE TA: Prescribers need to ensure that local Trust new drug governance procedures and pharmacy processes are followed before any prescribing.   

Amber

Drugs initiated by hospital specialist, but where continuing treatment by GPs may be appropriate under a shared care arrangement. These medicines are considered suitable for primary care prescribing following specialist initiation of therapy and stabilisation, with ongoing communication between the primary care prescriber and specialist as set out in the associated shared care guideline (SCG). Shared care should be initiated by the specialist, which includes consultant, suitably trained specialist non-medical prescriber or GPwER within a secondary, tertiary, or primary care clinic. The specialist should send the primary care prescriber a copy of the NENC Clinical Effectiveness and Governance (CEG) Subcommittee approved SCG to sign. The primary care prescriber should sign the SCG or indicate reasons why they are unable to accept the agreement and return a copy back to the specialist, as soon as possible. SCGs are available or are being developed for most of the drugs listed as AMBER.   

Green plus

Drugs normally recommended or initiated by a hospital specialist who is a prescriber, a GP with an extended role [GPwER], or a specialist within primary care which can be safely maintained in primary care and monitored in primary care. In some cases, a further restriction for use may be defined. The primary care prescriber must be familiar with the drug to take on prescribing responsibility or must obtain the required information from the specialist. Therefore, provision of additional information, or an information leaflet, may be appropriate in some cases to facilitate continuing treatment by primary care prescriber or provide information re stopping criteria. These are considered suitable for primary care prescribing following specialist assessment and recommendation of therapy, with ongoing communication between the primary care prescriber and specialist, if necessary. In some case these drugs require specialist initiation and short to medium term monitoring of efficacy or toxicity until the patient’s dose is stable. Following specialist review the patient may be transferred to primary care for ongoing prescribing. Ongoing prescribing by primary care can include, if required, additional dose titrations and assessment of efficacy, with ongoing communication between the primary care prescriber and specialist, if necessary. If the drug requires urgent initiation, it is expected that the specialist undertakes the initial prescribing responsibility for an appropriate period of time, usually a minimum of 28 days. A GREEN+ drug can only be recommended to primary care for initiation if does not need to be initiated within 28 days.  

Green

Medicines suitable for initiation, ongoing prescribing and discontinuation in all care settings, subject to appropriate communication between those responsible.  

Brown

UNDER REVIEW: drugs whose current formulary status or RAG status is currently under review.  

Not Recomended

Drugs that have been considered by the NENC Clinical Effectiveness and Governance (CEG) Subcommittee (or other approved body) and are not approved for prescribing within the North East and North Cumbria ICS. These may also include all medicines with a “not NHS” or “DLCV” classification in the BNF, those agents as included within the NICE “Do not do” list, and those agents included with the NHS England: Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care.  

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