{"id":1048,"date":"2015-05-16T11:00:12","date_gmt":"2015-05-16T11:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/?p=1048"},"modified":"2015-05-11T15:27:56","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T15:27:56","slug":"news-and-updates-from-www-palliativedrugs-com-76","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/2015\/05\/16\/news-and-updates-from-www-palliativedrugs-com-76\/","title":{"rendered":"News and updates from www.palliativedrugs.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Safety updates<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Potential risk of error in selecting incorrect oxycodone strength<\/strong><br \/>\nThe National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that incidents have occurred involving the\u00a0selection of the wrong strength of oxycodone oral solution by prescribers on Egton Medical\u00a0Information Systems (EMIS), used by GP surgeries. This appears to be due to the fact that the\u00a0oxycodone 10mg\/mL solution appears as the first option before the oxycodone 5mg\/5mL solution.\u00a0Pharmacists are being advised to confirm all prescriptions for the 10mg\/mL solution are correct.\u00a0For more information, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.npa.co.uk\/News-Views-Events\/News\/Patient-Safety\/Potential-risk-of-error-in-selecting-incorrect-oxycodone-strength\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Codeine for cough and cold contra-indicated for children under 12 years<\/strong><br \/>\nCodeine for cough and cold is now contraindicated in children under 12 years, and not\u00a0recommended in children between 12 and 18 years with compromised respiratory function. An EU\u00a0review confirmed that the way codeine is converted into morphine in children under 12 years is\u00a0more variable and unpredictable, and therefore they are at increased risk of undesirable effects.\u00a0These restrictions bring the use of codeine for cough and cold more in line with the restrictions on\u00a0the use of codeine for pain in children (see our news item <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/news\/june\/codeine-restricted-use-in-children.html\" target=\"_blank\">26 June 2013<\/a>). For more information,\u00a0click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/ema\/index.jsp?curl=pages\/news_and_events\/news\/2015\/04\/news_detail_002316.jsp&amp;mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1%22\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hot topics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Legislation changes for controlled drugs<\/strong><br \/>\nSeveral legislation changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 have been approved by the\u00a0Parliament for England, Scotland and Wales, resulting in changes in practice on 1 June 2015 and\u00a030 November 2015. Those most relevant to palliative care include:<\/p>\n<p>1 June 2015<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>temazepam prescriptions will now be required to meet full prescription requirements for\u00a0Schedule 2 and 3 CDs<\/li>\n<li>electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 CDs will be permitted where the Electronic\u00a0Prescribing System (EPS) is used<\/li>\n<li>physiotherapist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe the following CDs for the\u00a0treatment of organic disease or injury:<\/li>\n<li>PO diazepam, dihydrocodeine, lorazepam, morphine, oxycodone, temazepam<\/li>\n<li>TD fentanyl<\/li>\n<li>morphine by injection<\/li>\n<li>chiropodist\/podiatrist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe the following CDs for the\u00a0treatment of organic disease or injury:<\/li>\n<li>PO diazepam, dihydrocodeine, lorazepam, temazepam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>30 November 2015<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ketamine will become a Schedule 2 CD (with exemptions for specific health professionals\u00a0under Patient Group Directions)<\/li>\n<li>Standardised requisition forms for Schedule 1, 2 and 3 CDs will become mandatory. Hospices\u00a0and prisons will be exempt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other changes involve the emergency supply of phenobarbital, authority for NHS Ambulance\u00a0Trusts to possess and supply CDs, authority to supply CDs in prisons, midwife supply orders,\u00a0paramedic and operating department practitioner stock requisition. For more information, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/uksi\/2015\/891\/made\" target=\"_blank\">click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cochrane review: Buprenorphine for treating cancer pain<br \/>\n<\/strong>Two new Cochrane reviews have been published in full on-line:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>buprenorphine for treating cancer pain (<a href=\"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/14651858.CD009596.pub4\/full\" target=\"_blank\">CD009596<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>pharmacological interventions for pain in children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/14651858.CD010750.pub2\/full\" target=\"_blank\">CD010750<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Drug updates<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ketamine supply update<br \/>\n<\/strong>Pfizer have confirmed that although they anticipated that ketamine 10mg\/mL (20mL vials) and\u00a0100mg\/mL (10mL vials) would be available in March, they are still out of stock and they are unable\u00a0to give an updated date of availability.\u00a0Ketamine injection 50mg\/mL (10mL vials) are still available (see our news item <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/news\/february\/ketamine-supply-update.html\" target=\"_blank\">12th February\u00a02015<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>New PO magnesium product for hypomagnesaemia<\/strong><br \/>\nA magnesium powder sachet for oral solution is now available and authorized for the prevention\u00a0and treatment of magnesium deficiency in children from 2years, adolescents and adults.\u00a0Magnaspartate sachets (Kora Healthcare, Ireland) contain magnesium aspartate equivalent to\u00a0243mg (10mmol) of magnesium. Each sachet can be dissolved in 50\u2212200mL water, orange juice\u00a0or tea. In addition, sachets dissolved in 200mL water can be administered via enteral feeding\u00a0tubes. NHS basic cost is \u00a38.95 for 10 sachets. For the SPC, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.medicines.org.uk\/emc\/medicine\/30238\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Methylnaltrexone indication extended<\/strong><br \/>\nMethylnaltrexone is now authorized for all adult patients for the treatment of opioid-induced\u00a0constipation when response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient i.e. the restriction on use in\u00a0advanced illness has been lifted. For more information, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/docs\/en_GB\/document_library\/Summary_of_opinion\/human\/000870\/WC500186177.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prucalopride indication extended<\/strong><br \/>\nPrucalopride is now authorized for all adult patients for the treatment of chronic constipation when\u00a0response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient i.e. the restriction on use in women only has\u00a0been lifted. For more information, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/docs\/en_GB\/document_library\/Summary_of_opinion\/human\/001012\/WC500186166.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Latest additions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PCF updated monographs summary (April 2015)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe online Palliative Care Formulary is being continually updated. The following monographs have\u00a0been updated during April 2015 and supersede those in the publication of the 5th edition of the\u00a0Palliative Care formulary (PCF5) and PCF5 epdf. They can be accessed from the formulary\u00a0section of the website.<\/p>\n<p>April 2015<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chapter 05: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/shop\/combinationpackages.html\" target=\"_blank\">Strong opioids<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Chapter 07: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/shop\/combinationpackages.html\" target=\"_blank\">Systemic corticosteroids<\/a> (minor change)<\/li>\n<li>Chapter 13: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/shop\/combinationpackages.html\" target=\"_blank\">Propofol<\/a> (minor change)<\/li>\n<li>Chapter 24: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/shop\/combinationpackages.html\" target=\"_blank\">Prolongation of the QT interval in palliative care<\/a> (minor change)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For further details of the minor changes, see the individual notifications in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Latest additions<\/a>\u00a0section of the website. For a full list of all the monographs updated since the publication of PCF5,\u00a0click <a href=\"\/\/www.palliativedrugs.com\/download\/PCF5%2B_updated_monographs_list_1504_sc_final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Follow us on twitter @palliativedrugs for the latest updates.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock<!--TrendMD v2.4.8--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Safety updates Potential risk of error in selecting incorrect oxycodone strength The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that incidents have occurred involving the\u00a0selection of the wrong strength of oxycodone oral solution by prescribers on Egton Medical\u00a0Information Systems (EMIS), used by GP surgeries. This appears to be due to the fact that the\u00a0oxycodone 10mg\/mL solution [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/2015\/05\/16\/news-and-updates-from-www-palliativedrugs-com-76\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-updates-from-www-palliativedrugs-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}