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 Formulary Chapter 13: Skin - Full Chapter
Notes:

Specials Recommended by the British Association of Dermatologists for Skin Disease

Most prescribing uses licensed medicines whose safety and efficacy are assured. For many common dermatological diseases including psoriasis and eczema, the range of licensed medicines is limited. As a result, Dermatology prescribing may rely significantly on unlicensed creams and ointments (known as ‘Specials’) containing tars, dithranol, salicylic acid, steroids and other active constituents in a range of concentrations and bases. This is of particular concern in primary care where lack of effective price controls and a mechanism to ensure independent scrutiny of product quality has increased costs and concern about standards. To address these concerns, and help optimise quality of care, adherence to the revised British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) list of preferred Specials (2018) is encouraged.

 Details...
13.02.01  Expand sub section  Emollients
Aquamax®
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Cetraben®
(Cream and ointment)
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Emollin® spray
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Emulsifying Ointment BP
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Epimax ® Isomol Gel
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Epimax ® Oatmeal cream
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Epimax®
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Formulary
Green
 
Link  MHRA Drug Safety Update: Epimax Ointment and Epimax Paraffin-Free Ointment: reports of ocular surface toxicity and ocular chemical injury
 
Hydromol® cream
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Hydromol® Intensive
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Hydromol® ointment
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Formulary
Green
  • This product is also known locally as ‘Emulsifying Ointment RVI
    Formula’. It is softer than emulsifying ointment BP. Epaderm ointment is
    made to the same formula, but is more expensive.
 
 
Liquid and White Soft Paraffin Ointment (50:50)
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Formulary
Green
 
 
QV® cream
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Formulary
Green
 
 
QV® Intensive ointment
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Formulary
Green
 
 
ZeroAQS®
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Formulary
Green
  • SLS free alternative to Aqueous Cream.
 
 
Zerobase®
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative to Diprobase
 
 
Zerocream®
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative to E45® Cream.
 
 
Zeroderm ® ointment
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Zerodouble® Gel
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative to Doublebase gel.
 
 
Zeroveen® cream
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Formulary
Green
  • Alternative to Aveeno
 
 
White Soft Paraffin BP
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Formulary
Green
 
 
Yellow Soft Paraffin BP
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Green
 
 
AquaGel lubricating jelly
(oil-free)
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Formulary
Green
  • Approved for the relief of dryness of the nose, lips and face when a patient is using oxygen via nasal prongs, CPAP masks etc
 
 
13.02.01  Expand sub section  Emollients - preparations containing urea
Balneum® Plus cream
(Emollient preparation containing Urea)
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Green
 
 
13.02.01  Expand sub section  Emollients - with antimicrobials
Dermol®
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Formulary
Green plus
  • Lomg term use Green plus
 
 
Dermol® 500 Lotion
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Formulary
Green
  • Long term use Green plus
 
 
13.02.01.01  Expand sub section  Emollient bath and shower preparations
 note 

Note: Emollient bath and shower preparations are included in the NHS England guidance Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care   

Bath and shower preparations for dry and pruritic skin conditions
Formulary
Black
 
Link  Emollient Prescribing Guideline and Formulary North East North Cumbria
 
Hydromol® bath and shower
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Formulary
Red
  • For inpatient use only as per Trust Moisture-Associated Tissue Damage (MASD) guidelines
 
 
 ....
 Non Formulary Items
Aqueous Cream BP

View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Non Formulary
Black
Link  MHRA DSU: Aqueous cream: may cause skin irritation
  
Key
Restricted Drug Restricted Drug
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to adult BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to children's BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
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.  

Black

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.  

Brown

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

Not Recomended

NOT REVIEWED: Drugs that haven not been reviewed yet. This usually means that an application is in progress. These drugs are not normally considered appropriate for prescribing in the North East and North Cumbria until such time that a decision is taken on their formulary status.  

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