The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on new medicines.
Eslicarbazepine (Zebinix®) has been accepted for restricted use after a resubmission for patients with highly refractory epilepsy who remain uncontrolled with existing anti-epileptic drugs as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.
Oxycodone hydrochloride injection (OxyNorm®) has been accepted for restricted use for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer who have difficulty in tolerating parenteral morphine or diamorphine therapy.
Glucosamine sulphate (Glusartel®) has been rejected for use in patients for the relief of symptoms in mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The economic analysis was not sufficiently robust to gain acceptance.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.