Leicestershire Medicines Strategy Group LMSG Working on behalf of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Health Community FE B RU A R Y 20 1 5 www.lmsg.nhs.uk Tra f f i c Li ght s Shared Care Please see www.lmsg.nhs.uk UPDATED Agomelatine for depression for further details RED – Secondary care only AMBER – Secondary care initiation, then primary care with shared care agreement GREEN – Primary or secondary care BLACK – Not recommended for prescribing in primary or secondary care (including new drugs that have not been through the approval process). RED NEW Simeprevir - Hepatitis C Dolutegravir - HIV (previously black) Additional requirement for specialist to monitor LFTs 3 and 6 weeks after initiation. Agomelatine should not be prescribed for those over 75 years as trial data shows it is ineffective in this patient group. UPDATED Methylphenidate for ADHD In the case of methylphenidate modified release specify the brand that is prescribed to enable the GP to continue prescribing the same brand. Methylphenidate immediate release preparations are interchangeable and can be prescribed generically. QIPP detail aid Prednisolone - Use Plain Not Soluble Tablets Plain prednisolone tablets are significantly cheaper than soluble ones and should be preferred in the majority of patients. AMBER None this month Guidelines NEW Hypnotic Prescribing NEW Sleep Hygiene patient leaflet UPDATED Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults GREEN None this month Licensed colecalciferol 20,000 unit capsules are now available, Fultium D3® is no longer contra-indicated in patients with peanut allergy. MHRA drug safety updates Medicines related to valproate: risk of abnormal pregnancy outcomes BLACK NEW Nintedanib (Vargatef) - Lung cancer NEW Apremilast (Otezla) - Psoriatic arthritis Yellow Card extended to include devices, counterfeits and defective medicines Interface Pharmacist Comments & Feedback Contact Dolly Sud, Acting Interface Pharmacist E-mail: medicines.info@uhl-tr.nhs.uk Dolly Sud will be the acting interface pharmacist while Helen Hardman is on maternity leave from March 2015. FOR NHS USE ONLY—NOT TO BE USED OR REPRODUCED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.