SMC Update - October 2012 - Prescribing Advice for GPs

SMC Update - October 2012

October 10, 2012 at 9:19 am | In Prescribing Extra - Drugs |

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

Fluticasone and formoterol inhaler (flutiform^®) has been accepted for use in the regular treatment of asthma where the use of a combination product is appropriate. It is noted that this product has been shown to be non-inferior to another combination product and may offer cost savings.

Ivabradine (Procoralan^®) has been accepted for restricted use in the treatment of chronic heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IV in patients in sinus rhythm and in combination with standard therapy. Use is restricted to patients whose resting heart rate remains ≥75 beats per minute despite optimal standard therapy.

Strontium ranelate (Protelos^®) has been rejected for the treatment of osteoporosis in men at increased risk of fracture. The manufacturer failed to make a submission.

Tocofersolan oral solution (Vedrop^®) has been rejected for the treatment of vitamin E deficiency due to digestive malabsorption in paediatric patients. The manufacturer failed to make a sufficiently robust economic case.

Zonisamide (Zonegran^®) has been rejected for use as monotherapy for the treatment of partial seizures. The manufacturer failed to make a submission.

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