Description
Practical and evidence-based, BNF for Children (BNFC) is the only child-focused drug formulary in the world that is both independent, and has rigorous, accredited content creation processes.
Relied on by health professionals who prescribe, dispense, and administer medicines to paediatrics, BNFC supports confident decision-making at the point of care, including best practice guidelines and advice from a network of paediatric experts. The process is overseen by a Paediatric Formulary Committee.
Extensive content updates in BNFC 2025-2026 edition include:
New monographs for:
- Agamree® [vamorolone] for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Apretude® [cabotegravir] for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV-1 infection
- Biktarvy® [bictegravir with emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide] for treatment of HIV1 infection
- Duvyzat® [givinostat] for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Emollient creams and ointments, hydrogenated castor-oil containing for treatment of dry skin conditions, eczema, and psoriasis
- Joenja® [leniolisib] for treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome
- Methenamine hippurate for prophylaxis of uncomplicated lower urinary-tract infection
- Ospolot® [sultiame] for treatment of rolandic epilepsy (self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes)
- Piasky® [crovalimab] for treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Sogroya® [somapacitan] for treatment of deficiency of growth hormone
- Winlevi® [clascoterone] for treatment of acne vulgaris
MHRA advice on:
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol® 100mg/5mL liquid): temporary stock-out and update to posology (reduction of maximum daily dose)
- Dabigatran etexilate: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs): paediatric formulations
- Epimax® ointment and Epimax® paraffin-free ointment: reports of ocular surface toxicity and ocular chemical injury
- GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists: potential risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation
- GLP-1 receptor agonists: reminder of the potential side effects and to be aware of the potential for misuse
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate: risk of meningioma and measures to minimise this risk
- Montelukast: reminder of the risk of neuropsychiatric reactions
- Prolonged-release opioids: removal of indication for relief of post-operative pain
- Sodium valproate: new advice for male patients already taking sodium valproate and new precautionary advice for male patients
- Topical corticosteroids: introduction of new labelling and a reminder of the possibility of severe side effects, including Topical Steroid Withdrawal Reactions
- Topiramate (Topamax®): introduction of new safety measures, including a Pregnancy Prevention Programme
- Valproic acid: new advice for male patients already taking valproic acid and new precautionary advice for male patients
- Warfarin sodium: to be alert to the risk of drug interactions with tramadol
Other significant changes include updated guidance on:
- Amphotericin B: review of indications and dose for liposomal preparations, as well as updates to directions for administration, breast-feeding, pregnancy, cautions, and monitoring advice
- Anaemia, iron deficiency: updated guidance for oral iron
- Antibacterials, principles of therapy: update to notifiable diseases reporting
- Antibacterials, use for prophylaxis: updated guidance on secondary prevention of meningococcal disease and secondary prevention of pertussis
- Asthma, chronic: updated guidance on management
- Budesonide with formoterol (DuoResp Spiromax® 160 micrograms/4.5 micrograms, and Fobumix® 160/4.5 Easyhaler): new indication and dose for mild asthma, reliever therapy.
- Cefotaxime: removal of indication and dose for emergency treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease, before urgent transfer to hospital, in patients who cannot be given benzylpenicillin
- Ceftriaxone: update to indications and dosing for pre-hospital treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease
- Central nervous system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on management
- Chloramphenicol: updated monitoring advice
- Cholera vaccines: updated guidance for immunisation
- Co-amoxiclav: update to structure of indications and dose section; tablet dose expression changed to co-amoxiclav (total of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid)
- Co-codamol: update to dose expression
- Combined hormonal contraceptives: update to breast-feeding advice
- Dalteparin sodium: update to indications and dosing for treatment and prophylaxis of thromboembolism, and associated monitoring requirements
- Dexamethasone: update to dose advice for adjunctive treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis
- Ear: updated guidance for the removal of ear wax
- Emtricitabine with tenofovir alafenamide: new indication and dose for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV-1 infection
- Fever: updated guidance on management
- Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues: new restrictions on use for puberty suppression
- Human papillomavirus vaccine: updated guidance for immunisation
- Hydroxychloroquine sulfate: updated pregnancy and breast-feeding advice
- Immunisation schedule: updated guidance for immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in children aged 3 years and 4 months; immunisation against influenza; immunisation against pertussis in pregnancy
- Influenza vaccine: updated guidance for immunisation
- Intra-uterine contraceptive devices (copper): name change of Novaplus T 380® Ag to Eurogine T 380® Ag, and name change of Novaplus T 380® Cu to Eurogine T 380® Cu.
- Malaria, prophylaxis: updated guidance
- Medical emergencies in the community: update to antibacterials for suspected bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease; update to guidance on the use of salbutamol in the management of acute asthma
- Neonatal infection, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on management
- Nutritional Borderline Substances re-arranged to align with changes made to the categorisation and coding of these products by the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances and NHS Business Services Authority
- Oral iron: indications and doses updated for iron-deficiency anaemia (advice in ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, sodium feredetate)
- Parenteral anticoagulants: updated guidance for use of heparin flushes
- Pertussis vaccine: updated guidance for immunisation
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (adsorbed): name change of Apexxnar® to Prevenar 20®
- Poisoning, emergency treatment: updated guidance for paracetamol overdose
- Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on fluoroquinolones
- Sacubitril with valsartan: update to dose expression
- Sepsis: updated guidance on management
- Status epilepticus: updated guidance for management
- Sympathomimetics: updated guidance for septic shock
- Tuberculosis: updated guidance for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis
- Urinary-tract infections: updated guidance on fluoroquinolones, prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections, and treatment of lower urinary-tract infections
BNFC is published jointly by BMJ Group, Pharmaceutical Press, RCPCH, and NPPG.
