The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published new or updated guidance for the month of October 2024. This month there is one technology appraisal, one guideline and one diagnostics guidance that impact upon primary care.
The Latanoprost–netarsudil for previously treated primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension technology appraisal has been published. This treatment is recommended as an option for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in adults with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension when a prostaglandin analogue alone has not reduced IOP enough, only if:
- they have then tried a fixed-dose combination treatment and it has not reduced IOP enough, or
- a fixed-dose combination treatment containing beta-blockers is unsuitable.
The Acute kidney injury: prevention, detection and management guideline has been updated. It covers preventing, detecting and managing acute kidney injury in children, young people and adults. The update include new and updated recommendations on assessing risk factors for acute kidney injury in adults having iodine-based contrast media.
The Technologies for the assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnostics guidance has been published. It makes recommendations that QbTest is an option to help diagnose ADHD in people aged 6 to 17 years. It should only be used with standard clinical assessment by a healthcare professional. Additional research is recommended before other tests can be recommended for use or the age limits widened.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this month's new guidance and implement any necessary changes to practice.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on newly licensed medicines.
Drospirenone (Slynd®) has been rejected for use as a progestogen only contraceptive. The manufacturer failed to make a submission for this indication.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.
During September 2024 Clinical Knowledge Summaries were published or updated in the following areas.
All of the topics have been reviewed and updated with minor structural and layout changes. The Hypercalcaemia topic has been updated to align severity definitions with current literature. An attempt has been made to clarify recommendations for referral to secondary care based on or extrapolated from available guidelines and expert opinion.
Action: Clinicians who see patients with any of these conditions may find the new and updated information useful when reviewing current clinical practice.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published Drug Safety Update for September 2024 (PDF).
This issue contains the precautionary recommendations for men taking valproate containing medicines that was published earlier this month. Due to the potential for an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders it is recommended that men on valproate are made aware of these risks and that effective contraception is used during treatment and for three months after treatment stops.
Lastly, this issue contains a summary of letters to healthcare professionals in August. These generally related to supply issues and recalls.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this month's new guidance and implement any necessary changes to practice.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published new or updated guidance for the month of September 2024. This month there are two technology appraisals that impact upon primary care.
The Vibegron for treating symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome technology appraisal has been published. This treatment is an option for treating the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome in adults. It is only recommended if antimuscarinic medicines are not suitable, do not work well enough or have unacceptable side effects. It is recommended that the range of suitable treatments are discussed with consideration given to the advantages and disadvantages of all the options, then the least expensive suitable treatment should be used.
The Empagliflozin for treating type 2 diabetes in people 10 to 17 years technology appraisal has been terminated. The manufacturer did not provide an evidence submission and therefore NICE is unable to make a recommendation for empagliflozin for this indication.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this month's new guidance and implement any necessary changes to practice.
