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

SMC Update - July 2016

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

Brivaracetam (Briviact®) has been accepted for restricted use as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adult and adolescent patients from 16 years of age with epilepsy. The restriction limits use to patients with refractory epilepsy and treatment should be initiated by physicians who have appropriate experience in the treatment of epilepsy.

Vortioxetine (Brintellix®) has been accepted for restricted use in the treatment of major depressive episodes in adults. The restriction limits use to patients who have experienced an inadequate response (either due to lack of adequate efficacy and/or safety concerns/intolerability) to two or more previous antidepressants.

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