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BNF April 2022 Update

This update contains 10 significant changes, 2 dose changes, 3 new monographs, 2 new preparations, and 3 deleted preparations.

Significant Changes:

  • Antiplatelet drugs: guidance added on the use of antiplatelet drugs for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
  • Buprenorphine: updated information on available transdermal patch strengths and prescribing considerations.
  • Chlorhexidine [primary therapeutic area changed to genito-urinary system, secondary therapeutic area changed to oropharynx].
  • Chloroquine: increased risk of cardiovascular events when used with macrolide antibiotics; reminder of psychiatric reactions [MHRA/CHM advice].
  • COVID-19 antivirals: reporting to the UK COVID-19 Antivirals Pregnancy Registry [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir with ritonavir, and remdesivir; see example in remdesivir).
  • COVID-19 vaccines: updated guidance in-line with UK Health Security Agency recommendations.
  • Hydroxychloroquine sulfate: increased risk of cardiovascular events when used with macrolide antibiotics; reminder of psychiatric reactions [MHRA/CHM advice].
  • Immunisation schedule: updated guidance in-line with UK Health Security Agency recommendations.
  • Ivacaftor: Ivacaftor, tezacaftor, elexacaftor (Kaftrio®▼) in combination with ivacaftor (Kalydeco®): risk of serious liver injury; updated advice on liver function testing [MHRA/CHM advice].
  • Smoking cessation: updated guidance on management.

Dose Changes:

  • Eltrombopag [addition of Southeast Asian ethnicity to dosing for treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and aplastic anaemia].
  • Etanercept [update to dosing].

New Monographs:

  • Minjuvi® [tafasitamab]
  • Paxlovid® [nirmatrelvir with ritonavir]
  • Vumerity® [diroximel fumarate]

New Preparations:

  • Luforbec® [beclometasone with formoterol]
  • Vaxelis® [diphtheria with tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine]

Deleted Preparations:

  • Buplast® [buprenorphine]
  • Prenotrix® [buprenorphine]
  • Synflorix® [pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (adsorbed)]

For further details on changes in the BNF click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnf/PHP107699