- Prescribing Advice for GPs - https://www.prescriber.org.uk -

NICE Guidance - July 2011

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published new guidance for the month of July 2011. This month there are two technology appraisals that impact upon primary care.

Retigabine (Trobalt®) is recommended (QRG) for the adjuvant treatment of partial onset seizures in epilepsy. NICE has recommended that this treatment as an option for individuals aged 18 years and older in whom existing treatments have proven ineffective or have been poorly tolerated. Treatment changes would normally be recommended by a specialist.

Agomelatine (Valdoxan®) has not been recommended (QRG) for the treatment of major depressive episodes. The appraisal was terminated when the manufacturer advised that they would not be making an evidence submission as the current evidence would not allow an economic case to be made. NICE has noted that NHS organisations should take into consideration the reasons why an evidence submission was not made when deciding whether or not to recommend local use of agomelatine.

Action: Clinicians should be aware of these recommendations and implement any necessary changes to practice.