9th June 2014
Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Hot topics
NICE Evidence Update: Opioids in palliative care
The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced a summary of the selected new evidence relevant to the use of opioids in palliative care since the NICE clinical guideline: Opioids in palliative care (CG140) was published in 2012. The new evidence identified in this Evidence Update (58) is not expected to have any impact on the existing guidance. For more information, click here.
Drug updates
Tramadol to become Schedule 3 Controlled Drug
Tramadol, currently a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) will become a Schedule 3 Controlled Drug as from 10 June 2014 in England, Wales and Scotland. Controlled Drug prescription requirements will apply, but it will be exempt from safe custody requirements. This follows a consultation by the advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (see our news article 14 March 2014). For more information, click here.
Zopiclone and zaleplon to become Schedule 4 (Part 1) Controlled Drugs
Zopiclone and zaleplon currently both Prescription Only Medicines (POM) will become Schedule 4 (Part 1) Controlled Drugs as from 10 June 2014 in England, Wales and Scotland. This brings them under the same category as zolpidem and the benzodiazepines (except temazepam and midazolam). For more information, click here.
Ketamine injection supply problems
Pfizer UK has confirmed that it is currently out of stock of ketamine (Ketalar) 10mg/mL and 100mg/mL injection and that the 50mg/mL injection is very low. There have been supply problems with ketamine injection since November 2012 (see our news article 21-09-2012). The ketamine 10mg/mL and 100mg/mL are not expected to be back in stock until March 2015. There are currently no further details on the 50mg/mL injection. For enquiries please contact Pfizer customer services (01304 616161).
Latest additions
PCF updated monographs
The following monographs of the on-line Palliative Care Formulary (PCF) have been updated during April 2014 and supersede those in the publication of the 4th edition of the Palliative Care formulary (PCF4) and PCF4+2013 epdf. They can be accessed from the formulary section of the website:
Chapter 01: Loperamide
Chapter 02: Haemostatics (new merged monograph)
Chapter 04: Melatonin, Anti-epileptics (new merged monograph), Gabapentin and pregabalin (new merged monograph), Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine, Levetiracetam, Valproate
Chapter 05: Paracetamol, Nefopam, Celecoxib (minor update), Ibuprofen (minor update), Diamorphine, Alfentanil, Quick Prescribing Guide: Management of procedure-related pain
Chapter 06: Helicobacter pylori gastritis
Chapter 07: Progestogens
Chapter 09: Ferrous sulfate
Chapter 10: Rubefacients and other topical products
Chapter 20: Quick Clinical Guide: Setting up a CME McKinley T34 syringe pump for CSCI
For a full list of all the monographs updated since the publication of PCF4, click here. Follow us on twitter @palliativedrugs for the latest updates.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock