Chapters
| Status | Drug name | NICE TAs | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Amitriptyline | (Off label). Low abuse, low cost | |
| Amitriptyline | Anti-migraine | |
| Aspirin 300mg dispersible tablets | Topical analgesia - for gargling | |
 | Aspirin suppositories | ||
| Botox A | ||
 | Buprenorphine patches | Specialist initiation only. Patches must be prescribed by brand. | |
| Buprenorphine S/L tablets | Specialist initiation only | |
| Capsaicin cream 0.075% | Only strength licensed for post-herpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy. | |
| Carbamazepine | Trigeminal neuralgia only | |
| Co-codamol 30/500 capsules | Wherever possible, avoid theu se of combination products. Use paracetamol and codeine separately. All combination products of paracetamol and codeine/dihydrocodeine are deemed products less suitable for prescribing in the BNF. Capsules have a very high relative cost. Sodium content. Only if swallowing difficulties. | |
| Co-codamol 30/500 effervescent tablets | Wherever possible, avoid theu se of combination products. Use paracetamol and codeine separately. All combination products of paracetamol and codeine/dihydrocodeine are deemed products less suitable for prescribing in the BNF. Capsules have a very high relative cost. Sodium content. Only if swallowing difficulties. | |
| Co-codamol 30/500 tablets | Wherever possible, avoid theu se of combination products. Use paracetamol and codeine separately. All combination products of paracetamol and codeine/dihydrocodeine are deemed products less suitable for prescribing in the BNF. Capsules have a very high relative cost. Sodium content. Only if swallowing difficulties. | |
| Codeine phosphate 25mg/5ml syrup | ||
| Codeine phosphate 60mg/1ml injection | ||
| Codeine phosphate tablets | ||
| Diamorphine hydrochloride injection | ||
| Dihydrocodeine solution | For patients with swallowing difficulties | |
| Dihydrocodeine tablets | ||
| Dihydroergotamine IV | ||
| Duloxetine | ||
| Erenumab (Aimovig®) | ||
| Fentanyl injection | ||
| Fentanyl lozenges | For palliative care use only | |
| Fentanyl patches | ||
| Fentanyl sublinual tablets | For palliative care use only | |
| Fetanyl nasal spray | ||
| Flunarazine tablets | Not licensed in the UK. Licensed in Europe and Ireland - preventative management in primary headache. | |
| Fremanezumab (Ajovy®) | ||
| Gabapentin capsules | Second line - please be aware of the abuse potential associated with this class of agent - see NHS England advice. | |
| Gabapentin tablets | Second line - please be aware of the abuse potential associated with this class of agent - see NHS England advice. | |
| Lidocaine 5% patch | For patients who have been treated in line with NICE CG173 Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings but are still experiencing neuropathic pain associated with previous herpes zoster infection (post-herpetic neuralgia) | |
| Meptazinol | ||
| Meptazinol (Meptid®) | HGS only | |
| Methoxyflurane (Penthrox®) | For severe pain of traumatic origin and facilitation of management of significant fractures and dislocations | |
| Migraleve® pink | ||
| Morphine sulphate 100mg/100ml PCA | ||
| Morphine sulphate 100mg/5ml solution | ||
| Morphine sulphate 10mg/5ml solution | ||
| Morphine sulphate 5mg/5ml intrathecal injection | For West Midlands Rehab Unit only | |
| Morphine sulphate injection | ||
| Morphine sulphate M/R capsules | Zomorph | |
| Morphine sulphate M/R sachets | MST continus | |
| Morphine sulphate M/R tablets | ||
| Morphine sulphate suppositories | ||
| Morphine sulphate tablets | ||
| Oxycodone hydrochloride capsules | Lynlor capsules preferred brand | |
| Oxycodone hydrochloride injection | ||
| Oxycodone hydrochloride M/R tablets | Reltebon MR tablets preferred brand | |
| Oxycodone hydrochloride SF solution | ||
| Paracetamol 1000mg/100ml infusion | ||
| Paracetamol SF suspension | ||
| Paracetamol soluble tablets | High sodium content - only if swallowing difficulties. | |
| Paracetamol suppositories | ||
| Paracetamol tablets | ||
| Pethidine injection | ||
| Pizotifen elixir | ||
| Pizotifen tablets | ||
| Pregabalin | 4th line after duloxetine. Advice of specialist if duloxetine is unsuitable. Please be aware of the abuse potential associated with this class of agent - See NHS England advice. Prescribers should prescribe generically. | |
| Propranolol | Anti-migraine | |
 | Rimegepant | ||
| Rizatriptan tablets | Reserved for patients who are vomiting due to migraine | |
| Sumatriptan 6mg/0.5ml syringe (plus auto-injector) | ||
| Sumatriptan nasal spray | ||
| Sumatriptan tablets | ||
| Topiramate tablets | Prophylaxis of migraine. Specialist recommendation. | |
| Tramadol capsules | Second line after morphine and codeine. Soluble tablets - high relative cost - patients with swallowing difficulties. | |
| Tramadol soluble tablets | Second line after morphine and codeine. Soluble tablets - high relative cost - patients with swallowing difficulties. | |
| Zolmitriptan | Tablets, orodispersible tablets and nasal spray |
Drug status key
Formulary drugs are allocated a traffic light status. This provides guidance on where clinical and prescribing responsibilities lie in regard to the initiation and maintenance of prescribing.
Grey
Positive NICE TA and/or awaiting local clarification on place in therapy. Please contact your medicines optimisation team for more information.
Red
Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists only.
Amber
Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists and transfer to primary care prescribing when appropriate, or in primary care following a specialists recommendation. Prior to initiation some medicines may require committee agreement or a framework to support safe transfer and maintenance.
Green
Initiation and maintenance of prescribing by specialists, GPs and other qualified clinicians.
Blue
Under review at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
