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

SMC Update - February 2011

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

Capsaicin cutaneous patches (Qutenza®) have been accepted for restricted use for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in non-diabetic adults who have not achieved adequate pain relief from, or who have not tolerated, conventional first and second-line treatments. Treatment should be under the supervision of a specialist in pain management.

Fenticonazole (Ginoxin®) has been rejected for use in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. The manufacturer failed to make a submission.

Ivabradine (Procoralan®) has been rejected for the treatment of symptomatic chronic stable angina pectoris in coronary artery disease adults with normal sinus rhythm, in combination with beta-blockers, in patients inadequately controlled with an optimal beta-blocker dose and whose heart rate is > 60 bpm. The manufacturer failed to make a submission.

Miconazole buccal tablets (Loramyc®) have been rejected, following a resubmission, for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. The manufacturer failed to provide a sufficiently robust clinical and economic analysis to gain acceptance.

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