Knowledge products overview

14th April 2026

Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)

For April, 48 new medicines have been added, and numerous medicines have been amended.

14th April 2026

British National Formulary

This update contains 12 significant changes, 1 dose change, 1 classification change, 1 new monograph and 1 deleted monograph. 

Significant Changes:  

• Chikungunya vaccine (live) (IXCHIQ®): updates to restrictions of use following safety review [MHRA/CHM advice]. 

• Chronic heart failure: updated guidance on management. 

• GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide; see example in dulaglutide). 

• Immunisation schedule: updated guidance for immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus. 

• Improving information supplied with Gabapentinoids (pregabalin/gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in gabapentin, pregabalin, all benzodiazepines, eszopiclone, zolpidem tartrate, zopiclone; see example in diazepam). 

• Isotretinoin: changes to prescribing guidance and additional risk minimisation measures [MHRA/CHM advice]. 

• Omeprazole: new advice in cautions and renal impairment for oral suspension. 

• Respiratory syncytial virus immunisation: updated guidance. 

• Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus®): risk of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) [MHRA/CHM advice]. 

• Semaglutide (Wegovy®): update to indications and dosing for weight management. 

• urea (13C): name change to urea (13C). 

• Vitamins: updated guidance for management of vitamin D deficiency. 

Dose Changes:  

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (Abrysvo®) [update to indications and dose]. 

Classification Changes:  

• Selexipag [primary classification changed to Prostaglandins and related substances]. 

New Monographs:  

• Lyfnua® [gefapixant]. 

Deleted Monographs: Exenatide; Insulin glargine with lixisenatide; Lixisenatide. 

14th April 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 7 significant changes.

Significant Changes:

• GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide; see example in dulaglutide).
• Improving information supplied with Gabapentinoids (pregabalin/gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in gabapentin, all benzodiazepines; see example in diazepam).
• Isotretinoin: changes to prescribing guidance and additional risk minimisation measures [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Omeprazole : new advice in cautions and renal impairment for oral suspension.
• Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus®): risk of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) [MHRA/CHM advice].
• urea (13C): name change to urea (¹³C).
• Vitamins: updated guidance for management of vitamin D deficiency.

14th April 2026

Agilio: Diagnosis and Treatment Guidance

This update contains 5 significant changes and 9 minor changes.

Significant Changes:

• Bruising— reviewed. A literature search was conducted in February 2026 to identify evidence-based guidelines, UK policy, systematic reviews, and key randomized controlled trials published since the last revision of this topic. The topic has been updated in line with current evidence in the literature. No major changes to the recommendations have been made.
• Chlamydia – uncomplicated genital— reviewed. A literature search was conducted in December 2025 to identify evidence-based guidelines, UK policy, systematic reviews, and key randomized controlled trials published since the last revision of the topic. The structure of the topic was changed to improve clarity.
• Palpitations— reviewed. A literature search was conducted in January 2026 to identify evidence-based guidelines, UK policy, systematic reviews, and key randomized controlled trials published since the last revision of this topic. Brief information about the use of patient-activated electrocardiogram (ECG) devices has been added. No major changes to the recommendations have been made.
• Postnatal care— reviewed. A literature search was conducted in February 2026 to identify evidence-based guidelines, UK policy, systematic reviews, and key randomized controlled trials published since the last revision of this topic. No major changes to the recommendations have been made.
• Whitlow (staphylococcal and herpetic) — reviewed.  A literature search was conducted in February 2026 to identify evidence-based guidelines, UK policy, systematic reviews, and key randomized controlled trials published since the last revision of the topic. There have been minor structural changes to the topic and the evidence supporting the recommendations has been updated in line with the identified literature. Minor changes have been made to the prescribing information sections, aligning the information with the cited prescribing information references. There have been no major changes to the recommendations.

Minor Changes:

• Asthma— minor update. Broken links have been amended, and the wording has been slightly changed in the section on the management of newly diagnosed asthma.
• Diabetes – type 2 — minor update. Updated to align with the 2026 update to NICE guidance Type 2 Diabetes in adults: management.
• Heart failure – chronic — minor update. Typographical error corrected.
• Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes— minor update. Aligned with the 2026 update to NICE guidance Type 2 diabetes in adults: management.
• Measles — minor update. Wording changed in the diagnosis section to clarify the use of HPT oral fluid kits as a surveillance tool, highlighting that the confirmation of diagnosis through laboratory infection is the responsibility of the clinician.
• Prostate cancer— minor update. Update to Assessment section.

14th April 2026

Psychotropic Drug Directory

This update contains changes to 9 records.

Revisions: 1.14 Depression

Minor updates: 2.2.1.2 Specific antipsychotic switches; 2.2.1.5 LAI and Depot injections; 2.2.7 Switching or discontinuing antidepressants; 3.2 Cardiovascular (CV) disease; 3.3 Diabetes; 3.6 Hepatic impairment; 3.8 Parkinson’s disease (PD); 7.0 Psychotropic drugs.

14th April 2026

Palliative Care Formulary

This update contains 2 revised monographs.

The following monographs have been partially updated: Ketamine; Proton pump inhibitors.