16 February 2026
February BNF + BNFC Knowledge Updates
British National Formulary
This update contains 12 significant changes, 3 dose changes and 2 new monographs.
Significant changes
Birch bark extract: name change to birch bark extracts.
Diarrhoea (acute): updated guidance on the use of antibacterial drugs for acute diarrhoea.
Epilepsy: updated guidance on management.
Givinostat: new important safety information.
Mesalazine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension [MHRA/CHM advice].
Penicillamine: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice].
Penicillins: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice] (advice in all penicillins; see example in amoxicillin).
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on community-acquired pneumonia.
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Semaglutide (Rybelsus®): transition to new formulation and risk of medication error [MHRA/CHM advice].
Vaccination, general principles: updated guidance on vaccination in pregnancy.
Vutrisiran: new indications and dose for treatment of wild-type and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in patients with cardiomyopathy.
Dose changes
Amoxicillin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
Clarithromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
Erythromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
New monographs
Beyonttra® [acoramidis] for Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis in patients with cardiomyopathy (wtATTR-CM) (initiated under specialist supervision); Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in patients with cardiomyopathy (hATTR-CM) (initiated under specialist supervision).
Voranigo® [vorasidenib] for Astrocytoma; Oligodendroglioma.
BNF for Children
This update contains 9 significant changes, 3 dose changes and 1 new monograph.
Significant changes
Birch bark extract: name change to birch bark extracts.
Epilepsy: updated guidance on management.
Givinostat: new important safety information.
Mesalazine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension [MHRA/CHM advice].
Penicillamine: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice].
Penicillins: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice] (advice in all penicillins; see example in amoxicillin).
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on community-acquired pneumonia.
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Vaccination, general principles: updated guidance on vaccination in pregnancy.
Dose changes
Amoxicillin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
Clarithromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
Erythromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
New monographs
Voranigo® [vorasidenib] for Astrocytoma; Oligodendroglioma.
