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

SMC Update - July 2017

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

Ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone ear drops (Cilodex®) have been accepted for restricted use in the treatment of acute otitis media in patients with tympanostomy tubes (AOMT) and acute otitis externa in adults and children. The restriction limits use in acute otitis media to patients with tympanostomy tubes.

Glycopyrronium (Sialanar®) has been accepted for use in the symptomatic treatment of severe sialorrhoea (chronic pathological drooling) in children and adolescents aged 3 years and older with chronic neurological disorders.

Saxagliptin and dapagliflozin (Qtern®) has been accepted for restricted use in adults aged 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control when metformin and/or sulphonylurea and one of the monocomponents of Qtern is not adequately effective or when already being treated with the free combination of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin. The restriction limits use to a combination with metformin when a sulphonylurea is inappropriate.

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