Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Hot topics
Court ruling requires NHS England to issue guidance for the prescribing and dispensing of pregabalin for neuropathic pain
Generic pregabalin capsules are now available in all usual strengths (25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 150mg, 225mg, 300mg and 600mg) authorized for epilepsy or generalised anxiety disorder only.
The patent for the use of pregabalin in central and peripheral neuropathic pain resides with the Lyrica brand of pregabalin capsules (Pfizer) and does not expire until 2017, making Lyrica the only product authorized for such use.
Following a legal dispute, a court ruling has required NHS England to issue guidance for the prescribing and dispensing of pregabalin which states that when used for neuropathic pain, the brand name Lyrica should be written on the prescription (NHS England prescribing guidance).
Note: gabapentin is an alternative first-line option for neuropathic pain (see our Gabapentin and pregabalin monograph). Generic gabapentin capsules, authorized for peripheral neuropathic pain, are as effective as, and significantly cheaper than, the Lyrica brand of pregabalin.
NICE Guidelines on bladder cancer
The NICE Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer (NG2) have now been published. For the full guidance, click here.
New vision for co-ordinated end of life care published
National Voices in collaboration with the National Council for Palliative Care, and NHS England have published a new vision for co-ordinated care for people near the end of life ‘Every Moment Counts’. For more information, click here.
Latest additions
Palliative Care Formulary updated monographs summary (February/March 2015)
The online PCF is being continually updated. The following monographs have been updated during February/March 2015 and supersede those in the publication of the 5th edition of the Palliative Care formulary (PCF5) and PCF5 pdf. The updated monographs can be accessed from the formulary section of the website:
Chapter 04: Antihistaminic antimuscarinic anti-emetics (minor change)
Chapter 04: Quick Clinical guide: Vertigo (new)
Chapter 06: Urinary tract infections (minor change).
In addition, a correction has been made to the following monograph:
Chapter 29: Oral nutritional supplements (correction November 2014).
For further details of the minor changes or corrections, see the individual notifications in the Latest additions section of the website.
For a full list of all the monographs updated since the publication of PCF5, click here. Follow us on twitter @palliativedrugs for the latest updates.
Spinal infusions for analgesia survey
Results from our survey (December 2014 – February 2015) are available on the Latest additions section of the website.
Free access to the on-line Palliative Care Formulary renewed for NHS Scotland
We are delighted to report that NHS Education for Scotland has subscribed to the on-line Palliative Care Formulary (PCF) for a third year. The on-line PCF is hosted on the Palliative Care portal of the NHS Scotland Knowledge Network website and is available free of charge to those with an NHS Education Scotland ATHENS user name and password. The content is continually updated and represents the most current PCF version. For more information, click here.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock