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 Formulary Chapter 6: Endocrine system - Full Chapter
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06.03.02  Expand sub section  Glucocorticoid therapy
Prednisolone
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First Choice
Green
  • The lowest cost formulation should be used when clinically appropriate.  Formulations approved include:
    • 1mg, 5mg tablets;
    • 5mg soluble tablets;
    • 1mg in 1ml oral solution (Prednisolone Dompé®);
    • 5mg suppositories.
 
Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate (Efcortesol®)
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Formulary
Green
  • 100mg/ml solution for injection
  • As an additional option to hydrocortisone sodium succinate for patients who are steroid dependent (pituitary or adrenal cause and occasionally non-endocrine reasons for long term steroid use) to manage sick day rules to avoid an Addisonian crisis.
  • Paraesthesia and pain may follow intravenous injection.
 
 
Dexamethasone
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Alternatives
Green
  • 500microgram & 2mg tablets
  • 500microgram soluble tablets
  • 2mg in 5ml oral solution and 5mg in 5ml oral solution  is also approved. unlicensedunlicensed
  • 20mg/5ml oral solution Red
  • Approved for use in patients requiring high dose to reduce pill burden
 
Link  MHRA Alert (Oct 2014): Dexamethasone 4 mg/ml injection (Organon Laboratories Limited): reformulation with changes in name, concentration, storage conditions, and presentation
 
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate 2mg, 4mg, and 16mg (tablets)
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Alternatives
Green
 
 
Dexamethasone 3.3mg in 1ml and 6.6mg in 2ml
(injection )
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Alternatives
Green
  • Note: there are two different strength preparations of dexamethasone injection available in the UK (3.8mg/ml and 3.3mg/ml) where traditionaly a 4mg/ml preparation was available and prescribed as such. To avoid confusion the 3.3mg/ml strength is the preparation of choice in the acute Trusts. Where previously a 4mg dose would have prescribed it is appropriate to prescribe a 3.3mg dose (or multiples thereof). This is because the range of doses given in clinical practice varies widely and subsequent doses tend to be adjusted to reflect clinical response. If 4mg is required please ensure that the appropriate volume of 3.3mg/ml is (e.g. 1.2ml) prescribed (or mulitples thereof).
 
 
Hydrocortisone
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Alternatives
Green
  • 10mg and 20mg tablets
  • 5mg, 10mg and 20mg dispersible tablets   
  • 2.5mg buccal tablets 
  • 5mg/5ml and 10mg/5ml oral solution (Colonis®)
  • In patients who are unable to swallow or have swallowing difficulties the most cost effective product should be used     
  • 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg & 5mg granules (in capsules for opening) Green plus
    • Approved for treatment of adrenal insufficiency in infants, children and adolescents
    • Patients should be transitioned onto tablets once they are able to take them
 
Link  MHRA Drug Safety Update (Feb 2021): Alkindi (hydrocortisone granules): risk of acute adrenal insufficiency in children when switching from hydrocortisone tablet formulations to granules
 
Methylprednisolone Acetate 40mgin 1ml and 120mg in 3ml (depot)
(injection)
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Alternatives
Green
 
 
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate 40mg, 125mg, 500mg & 1000mg (injection)
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Alternatives
Green
 
Link  MHRA Drug Safety Alert (Oct 2017): Methylprednisolone injectable medicine containing lactose (Solu-Medrone 40 mg): do not use in patients with cows’ milk allergy 
Link  NICE NG220: Multiple sclerosis in adults: management
 
Triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg in 1ml
(Intramuscular/intra-articular injection)
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Alternatives
Green
 
 
Betamethasone 4mg in 1ml
(injection)
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Alternatives
Red
 
 
06.03.02  Expand sub section  Disadvantages of corticosteroids
06.03.02  Expand sub section  Use of corticosteroids
06.03.02  Expand sub section  Pregnancy and breastfeeding
06.03.02  Expand sub section  Administration to top
06.03.02  Expand sub section  Withdrawal of corticosteroids
 ....
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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