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

SMC Update - July 2010

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on new medicines.

Sitagliptin (Januvia®) has been accepted for restricted use as monotherapy to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are inadequately controlled by diet and exercise alone and for whom metformin is inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.

Ketoprofen/omeprazole (Axorid®) has been accepted for the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis in patients with a previous history or who are at risk of developing NSAID associated gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers and gastroduodenal erosions in whom continued treatment with ketoprofen is essential. This review also notes that other NSAIDs can be co-prescribed with proton pump inhibitors at lower cost.

Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.