Online Formulary

Drug Status Key

On Formulary
Specialist Initiation

On formulary but requires initiation by a specialist.
GPs may then take on maintenance prescribing -
Using the Formulary (eastkentformulary.nhs.uk)
Shared Care
Hospital Only
Not Recommended

Preferences

First Line
Second Line
Third Line
No Preference

Newsletters

Please click on a month in the table below for the corresponding newsletter.

Kent & Medway Newsletters

Issues	Contents Summary
Issue 55 - February 2024	Mounjaro®▼ (tirzepatide) KwikPen® solution for injection Wegovy® (semaglutide) solution for injection for Weight Management Trurapi® (insulin aspart) 100units/ml solution for injection Fezolinetant (Veoza®) – not for NHS prescribing Prescribing of Armour Thyroid and other unlicensed desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) products Gluten Free Prescribing in Kent and Medway Reducing OTC Prescriptions in Primary Care East Kent HCP – KCHFT pilot: mucolytic drug holiday initiative MHRA Press Release – Pioneering genetic biobank to start recruiting patients on stroke prevention medicines MHRA Drug Safety Update – January 2024 NICE News – February 2024 Shortages Summary Shortage of Tegretol 200mg and 400mg prolonged release tablets ADHD medication availability and supply disruption update Riluzole availability
Issue 56 - March 2024	Kent and Medway Dry Eye Guidance - updated Reducing ONS Starter Pack Prescriptions in Primary Care Prescribing of DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) – reminder that sitagliptin is 1st line choice Daridorexant for treating long-term insomnia Impact of C. Difficile Infections and Management Update – 2nd May 2024 LMWH Prescribing Pathways in East Kent Sharps Bin Provision - Swale Borough Council MHRA Drug Safety Update February 2024 Shortages Summary Shortage of Rasagiline 1mg tablets (March 2024)
Issue 57 - April 2024	Glaucoma – Generic prescribing Eye supplements - Lutein and Antioxidants Reminder: Eye Lid Hygiene Continence and stoma appliances - Ordering process reminder ScriptSwitch® Quantity Limit Switches PITstop diabetes on-demand videos New SPS Resource – Managing Interactions with Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) BNF Interaction Update: Tramadol – Warfarin Interaction MHRA Drug Safety Update March 2024 NICE News – April 2024 NHS England: Puberty Suppressing Hormones for Children and Adolescents with Gender Incongruence Shortages Summary ADHD medication availability and supply disruption update Discontinuations of Insulatard® InnoLet® and Levemir InnoLet® 3ml pre-filled disposable devices
Issue 58 - May 2024	Adding “Hospital/specialist” medications to a patient’s medication screen on EMIS Reminder – MHRA Drug Safety Update 19 April 2022. Pregabalin (Lyrica): findings of safety study on risks during pregnancy Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines from Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee (IMOC) April 2024 Obtaining Anticoagulant alert cards and DOAC booklets Methadone Prescribing Cost-effective Prescribing of Macrogol Oral Powder Sachets PrescQIPP Clinical Masterclass webinars UTI diagnostic quick reference tool review consultation - closes 2 June MHRA Drug Safety Update Shortages Update
Issue 59 - June 2024	Eprex to Retacrit switch - Message from East Kent Hospitals UFT for GP Practices Reminder – Ongoing GLP-1 RA Supply Issues GLP-1 RAs for Weight Management / The risks of inadvertent prescribing and dispensing of injectable semaglutide (Wegovy®& Ozempic®) EasyChamber® spacer devices MORPh webinar: SMRs & Medicines Optimisation and Sustainability in Respiratory Care Pharmacy First Reminder for East Kent Practices – Hospital Only Formulary status for Trimetazidine and Sucralfate National Patient Safety alert: Shortage of Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) MHRA Drug Safety Update – May 2024 NICE News – June 2024 Shortages Summary
Issue 60 - July 2024	Clozapine prescribing Assessment of a pharmacist’s ability to interpret, review, and action CYP2C19 pharmacogenetic reports and obtain pharmacist’s views on the reporting structure – Deadline 26th July 2024. Best Practice Guidance (BPG) for Care Homes National Patient Safety – Improvement Programmes TARGET Antibiotics – Prescribing in Primary Care Webinar: Paediatric antimicrobial prescribing in primary care Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines MHRA Drug Safety Update Shortages summary
Issue 61 - August 2024	Ongoing GLP-1 RA Supply Issues – Quantities and Incidents FreeStyle Libre 3 Clozapine Fact Sheet for Primary Care Clinicians An Update on Metolazone (Xaqua®) Prescribing in Kent and Medway ICB OpenPrescribing Webinar for Primary Care Teams Polypharmacy: Medicines and the Risk of Falls in Older People Lunchtime Masterclass MHRA Drug Safety Update – July 2024 NICE News – August 2024 Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) support for medicines shortages - PERT Shortages Summary
Issue 62 - September 2024	2024-2045 Medicines Optimisation Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (Previous MOS Scheme) Learning from Near Misses during Anticoagulant switching GP Practice Support For Patients Under Early Release Scheme Valproate Use in Men: Contraception Use PrescQipp Prescribing Mastery Webinars MHRA Drug safety Update Shortages Summary
Issue 63 - October 2024	Topiramate- Implementing MHRA Safety Measures in Kent & Medway Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidance Reporting a Controlled Drug Issue Home Use of Nebulised asthma rescue therapy in children Salbutamol SPC update The adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) service REMINDER: Prescribe Apixaban generically ScriptSwitch® Prescribing - GP Prescriber Knowledge Centre Chlordiazepoxide possible genotoxicity risk and KMPT Alcohol Detox policy update Update on the Supply of Semaglutide Injections (Ozempic®) & Prescribing of Tirzepatide Injections (Mounjaro®) Ardens Resources for SGLT2i Hydroxycarbamide with Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems New RPS and RCGP Repeat Prescribing Toolkit will improve safety and efficiency MHRA Drug Safety Update Shortages Summary NICE News Bimonthly – Oct 2024
Issue 64 - November 2024	Kent and Medway ICB Pain Services Community of Practice Webinar Rivaroxaban – generic available – All DOACs MUST be prescribed generically Independence Wound Protection and Collection Pouches (VAP range) – Non formulary items Reminder – Kent and Medway ICB Forceval® capsules Position Statement Opioids- Safer Prescribing and Preferred Cost-effective Brands. Information for General Practice MHRA Drug Safety Update – October 2024 Shortages Summary Discontinuation NovoRapid® (insulin aspart) FlexTouch® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens Reminder for East Kent Practices – Oral Morphine Prescribing Resources
Issue 66 - December 2024	Reminder - Registering for MHRA Safety Alerts ADHD Medication Supply Disruption Update – November 2024 TARGET webinars Varenicline (Champix) National Changes to Community Pharmacy Dispensing Regulations: Original Pack Dispensing MHRA Drug Safety Update – November 2024 Nice news Shortages Summary Shortage of Quetiapine modified release tablets, (Biquelle XL and Brancico XL) Shortage of Fiasp (insulin aspart) FlexTouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens Shortage of Tresiba (insulin degludec) FlexTouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens Discontinuation of Insulatard® (isophane insulin, human) Penfill® 100units/ml suspension for injection 3ml cartridges Discontinuation of saxagliptin/metformin (Komboglyze) 2.5mg/1000mg tablets
Issue 67 - January 2025	Promethazine Prescribing in NHS Kent and Medway Promethazine and Promazine – look alike/sound alike prescribing error Vitamin D – Medicines or Food Supplement products Discontinuation of Ralvo® Plasters My mHealth MHRA Drug Safety Update – December 2024 Shortages Summary
Issue 68 - February 2025	SPS Webinar- MSATS: Safer Use of Insulin- Wednesday 26th March 12:30pm-14:00pm Supplies of GLP-1 RAs Discontinuation of FreeStyle Libre 2 – Transition to FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Vaccination Training Opportunities- Building Skills and Knowledge Aerobika mucus clearance device prescribing in primary care Tissue Viability training sessions March 2025 Safety considerations with Urospir: First licensed spironolactone oral solution Polypharmacy Masterclasses: Health Innovation Network Kent and Medway List of New Approved Guidelines from Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee (IMOC) January 2025 Valproate Drug Safety Update MHRA Drug Safety Update Shortages Update NICE News

Please note that newsletters are archived after 12 months to avoid offering out-of-date information.