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

SMC advice for August

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued new guidance on several medicines including nebivolol in chronic heart failure, clopidogrel in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and pregabalin for central neuropathic pain in adults.

Nebivolol has been accepted for the treatment of stable mild and moderate chronic heart failure (CHF) in addition to standard therapies in elderly patients 70 years or older.

Clopidogrel has been accepted for restricted use for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in combination with aspirin. Treatment is restricted to continuation for 4 weeks.

Pregabalin has been rejected for central neuropathic pain in adults. The SMC note that in a randomised controlled trial pregabalin was superior to placebo in terms of the primary efficacy variable, the weekly mean pain score but the economic analysis did not demonstrate value for money.

Action: Clinicians should be aware of this latest advice and ensure that the recommendations are adopted into current practice.