British National Formulary for Children

The British National Formulary for Children is the unrivalled guidance on prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines to children.

BNF for Children is the only child-focused drug formulary in the world that is both independent, and has rigorous, accredited content creation processes. It is trusted by health professionals worldwide as their primary source for minimising medication errors in paediatrics.

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Speed and safety: Provides rapid reference to essential information on the selection of safe and effective medicines for individual patients

Evidence Grading: As part of NICE accreditation recommendations, BNFc content is now evidence graded to reflect the strength of evidence behind them, increasing transparency to support healthcare professionals with clinical decision making

Always up-to-date: The content is revalidated, revised, and updated on a monthly basis, making sure you access only the very latest prescribing knowledge

Worldwide credibility: The BNFc uses clinical evidence from a diverse range of sources and a network of experts, giving you the confidence to select medicines safely

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Publication Updates

09 Jun

BNF for Children June 2020 Update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 4 dose changes and 5 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes:

Adrenaline/epinephrine auto-injectors (Emerade®): all strengths of auto-injector pens have been recalled from patients due to failure to activate. Healthcare professionals are advised to ensure that patients who have previously been prescribed an Emerade® 150, 300 or 500 microgram pen are supplied with a prescription for an alternative brand—see the MHRA website for full details [MHRA/CHM advice].
Hypoglycaemia: updated guidance on management.
Poisoning, emergency treatment: updated guidance on the management of beta-blockers poisoning in-line with TOXBASE recommendations.
Poisoning, emergency treatment: updated guidance on the management of paracetamol poisoning in-line with TOXBASE recommendations.
Skin infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on management of impetigo.

Dose Changes:

Co-fluampicil [update to dosing information].
Qvar® (beclometasone dipropionate) [age-range extension].
Seretide 50 Evohaler® (fluticasone with salmeterol) [age-range extension].
Seretide 100 Accuhaler® (fluticasone with salmeterol) [age-range extension].

New Preparations:

Combisal® 25/50 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Combisal® 25/125 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Combisal® 25/250 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Fusacomb 50/250 Easyhaler® [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Fusacomb 50/500 Easyhaler® [fluticasone with salmeterol].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

12 May

BNF for Children May 2020 Update

This update contains 3 significant changes, 5 dose changes and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes:
• Benzodiazepines: reminder of risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, flurazepam, loprazolam, lorazepam, lormetazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, temazepam; see example in diazepam).
• COVID-19: new guidance incorporating a collection of resources.
• Opioids: reminder of risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in alfentanil, buprenorphine, codeine phosphate, diamorphine hydrochloride, dihydrocodeine tartrate, dipipanone hydrochloride, fentanyl, hydromorphone hydrochloride, meptazinol, methadone hydrochloride, morphine, oxycodone hydrochloride, pentazocine, pethidine hydrochloride, remifentanil, sufentanil, tapentadol, tramadol hydrochloride; see example in morphine).

Dose Changes:

• Betamethasone with clioquinol [updated child age range].
• Digoxin [clarification of maximum doses for children 5-9 years].
• Glucagon [update to age ranges for hypoglycaemia].
• Idursulfase [updated age range].
• Sodium fluoride [updating dosing for prophylaxis of dental caries].

New Preparations: Cytotect® [cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

14 Apr

BNF for Children April 2020 Update

This update contains 4 significant changes, 5 dose changes and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes:
• Adrenaline/epinephrine (Emerade®) pre-filled auto-injector: update on failure to activate [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Antimicrobial stewardship: new guidance.
• Etonogestrel (Nexplanon®) contraceptive implants: new insertion site to reduce rare risk of neurovascular injury and implant migration [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Medicines optimisation: new guidance.

Dose Changes:
• Benzoin tincture, compound [updated child age range].
• Eucalyptus with menthol [frequency of dosing].
• Eucalyptus with menthol [updated child age range].
• Fluocinolone acetonide with clioquinol [updated dosing frequency].
• Paracetamol with buclizine hydrochloride and codeine phosphate [child age ranges].

New Preparations:
Benzathine benzylpenicillin, Mozobil® [ plerixafor ].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

10 Mar

BNF for Children March 2020 Update

This update contains 11 significant changes and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes: 

• Cannabidiol with clobazam for treating seizures associated with Dravet syndrome [NICE guidance].

• Cannabidiol with clobazam for treating seizures associated with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome [NICE guidance].

• Diabetic foot infections, antibacterial therapy: new guidance on management.

• Malaria, prophylaxis: updated country recommendations in the recommended regimens for prophylaxis against malaria in-line with Public Health England.

• Malaria, prophylaxis: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

• Mecasermin (Increlex®▼): risk of benign and malignant neoplasia [MHRA/CHM advice].

• Newborn life support image (see Life support algorithm image) updated.

• Ondansetron: small increased risk of oral clefts following use in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy [MHRA/CHM advice].

• Pneumococcal vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

• Sodium valproate: updated Pregnancy Prevention Programme [MHRA/CHM advice].

• Valproic acid: updated Pregnancy Prevention Programme [MHRA/CHM advice].

New Preparations: Zalkya® [ dienogest ].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

11 Feb

BNF for Children February 2020 Update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 0 dose changes and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes

Domperidone for nausea and vomiting: lack of efficacy in children; reminder of contraindications in adults and adolescents [MHRA/CHM advice].
Immunisation schedule: changes to infant schedule for pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Skin infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance for management of cellulitis and erysipelas.
Tuberculosis: updated guidance on management.
Yellow fever vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

New Preparations

Mimpara® granules [ cinacalcet ]

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on

https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changesStockleys

14 Jan

BNF For Children January 2020 Update

This update contains 4 significant changes.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Asthma, acute: updated guidance on management.
Asthma, chronic: updated guidance on management.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: updated guidance.
Yellow fever vaccine, live: stronger precautions in people with weakened immunity and in those aged 60 years or older [MHRA/CHM advice].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

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