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

SMC Update - September 2010

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

Dronedarone (Multaq®) has been accepted for restricted use in adult clinically stable patients with a history of, or current non-permanent atrial fibrillation when conventional first-line anti-arrhythmic medicines are ineffective, contra-indicated or not tolerated. Treatment should also be started by a specialist.

Esomeprazole (Nexium®) has been accepted for restricted use for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in children 1 to 11 years old when licensed doses of a generic proton pump inhibitor have been ineffective.

Agomelatine (Valdoxan®) has been rejected following a resubmission for the treatment of major depressive episodes in adults. the economic analysis was not sufficiently robust to gain acceptance.

Febuxostat (Adenuric®) has been accepted for restricted use in the treatment of chronic hyperuricaemia in conditions where urate deposition has already occurred (including a history, or presence, of tophus and/or gouty arthritis) when treatment with allopurinol is inadequate, not tolerated or contraindicated.

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