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 Formulary Chapter 6: Endocrine system - Full Chapter
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06.01.01.02  Expand sub section  Intermediate- and long-acting insulins
 note 

Note: preloaded pens and Innolet® devices should only be used where cartridges are not suitable.

Isophane Insulin (Insulatard®)
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved Insulatard® formulations include:
    • 10ml vial;
    • 5x3ml cartridges (for use with Novopen® and Novopenmate® devices);
    • 5x3ml Innolet® pens. 

 
 
Isophane Insulin (Humulin® I)
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved Humulin® I formulations include:
    • 10ml vials;
    • 5x3ml cartridges;
    • 5x3ml pens. 

 
 
Insulin Glargine biosimilar Abasaglar®
(Long acting)
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Formulary
Green
  • First choice long acting basal insulin in patients eligible for treatment in line with NICE and NTAG
  • Approved Abasaglar® formulations include:
    • 5x3ml cartridge
    • 5x3ml Kwikpen®.

 
Link  NG17: Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management
Link  NTAG: Abasaglar® Insulin Glargine Biosimilar 100 units/ml for the treatment of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
 
Insulin degludec  (Tresiba®)
(Long acting)
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Formulary
Green plus
  • 100 units/mL only
  • Pre-filled pen and cartridges
  • Approved for use in patients with Type 1 diabetes with
    • Nocturnal/Severe Hypogycaemia (with or without hypoglycaemic unawareness) in patients who would otherwsie progress to insuling pump treatment as per NICE TA151); or
    • Recurrent DKA episodes despite good compliance and who would otherwise progress to insulin pump therapy
    • Paediatric patients who cannot tolerate glargine sting
    • Paediatric patients with poor control on the high HbA1c pathway
    • Patients or Parents/Carers with unpredictable lifestyles such as students or shift workers.
 
 
Insulin Detemir (Levemir®)
(Long acting)
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative choice long acting basal insulin.
  • Approved Levemir® formualtions include:
    • 5x3ml cartridges;
    • 5x3ml pens. 

 
 
Insulin Glargine (Lantus®)
(Long acting)
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative choice long acting basal insulin. 
  • Approved Lantus® formulations include:
    • 10ml vials;
    • 5x3ml cartridges;
    • 5x3ml pens (Solostar® - in line with NICE). 
 
 
Insulin Glargine  (Toujeo®)
(Long acting)
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative choice long acting basal insulin.
  • Approved Toujeo® formulations include:
    • 3x1.5ml pen (Solostar®).

 
 
06.01.01.02  Expand sub section  Biphasic insulins
Biphasic Isophane Insulin (Humulin® M3)
(Conventional )
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved Humulin®M3 formulations include:
    • 10ml vials;
    • 5x3ml cartridges;
    • 5x3ml pens. 

 
 
Biphasic Insulin Aspart (NovoMix® 30)
(Analogue)
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved NovoMix® 30 formulations include:
    • 5x3ml cartridges (for use with Novopen® and Novopen® Penmate injection devices)
    • 5x3ml Flexpen® pens. 

 
 
Biphasic Insulin Lispro (Humalog® Mix 25 amd Mix 50)
(Analogue)
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved formulations of Humalog® Mix 25 and Mix 50 include:
    • 5x3ml cartridges
    • 5x3ml Kwikpen®
 
 
 ....
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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