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.

Subscribe Content Updates

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

900 +

drugs

7million +

page views

200 +

treatment summaries

360

Searches per hour

*based on average data in the last 12 months

Related Publications

British National Formulary

Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference

Stockley’s Drug Interactions

Martindale’s Adverse Drug Reactions Checker

AHFS Drug Information

Drugs in Pregnancy & Lactation

Publication Updates

14 May

BNFC May 2019 Update

This update contains 4 significant changes, 1 dose changes and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin): new restrictions and precautions for use due to very rare reports of disabling and potentially long-lasting or irreversible side effects [MHRA/CHM advice].
Pneumococcal vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Prescribing in pregnancy: medicines with teratogenic potential: what is effective contraception and how often is pregnancy testing needed? [MHRA/CHM advice].
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: new guidance for acute exacerbations of Bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis)
Dose Changes:
Glycerol phenylbutyrate [Dose rounding recommendation for children under 2 years].

New Preparations: Maviret® [glecaprevir with pibrentasvir], Symkevi® [tezacaftor with ivacaftor].

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

09 Apr

BNFC April 2019 Update

This update contains 4 significant changes, 1 dose changes and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Carbimazole: increased risk of congenital malformations; strengthened advice on contraception [MHRA/CHM advice].
Carbimazole: risk of acute pancreatitis [MHRA/CHM advice].
Controlled drugs and drug dependence: reclassification of gabapentin and pregabalin as Class C and Schedule 3 Controlled Drugs. Note: Preparation records containing pregabalin (BNF only) or gabapentin may not display a CD3 symbol for the April 2019 monthly update but will be amended in due course.
Yellow fever vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

Dose Changes:

Stiripentol [updated dosing information]

New Preparations: Blincyto® [blinatumomab], Tygacil® [tigecycline].

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

12 Mar

BNFC March 2019 update

This update contains 8 significant changes, 4 dose changes and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Anthrax vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: updated guidance on management.
Cholera vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Ipilimumab (Yervoy®): reports of cytomegalovirus (CMV) gastrointestinal infection or reactivation [MHRA/CHM advice].
Japanese encephalitis vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Methotrexate: updated recommendations for conception and contraception.
Tapentadol(Palexia®): risk of seizures and reports of serotonin syndrome when co-administered with other medicines [MHRA/CHM advice].
Typhoid vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

Dose Changes:

Adalimumab [maintenance dosing updated].
Anthrax vaccine [dosing schedule updated].
Imipenem with cilastatin[dosing recommendation in renal impairment updated].
Japanese encephalitis vaccine [dosing schedule updated].

New Preparations: Palexia® oral solution [tapentadol]

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

12 Feb

BNFC February 2019 update

This update contains 6 significant change and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C (sofosbuvir): risk of hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes [MHRA/CHM advice].
Emollients (see Emollient and barrier preparations): new information about risk of severe and fatal burns with paraffin-containing and paraffin-free emollients [MHRA/CHM advice].
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia [NICE guidance].
Hydrocortisone muco-adhesive buccal tablets: should not be used off-label for adrenal insufficiency in children due to serious risks [MHRA/CHM advice].
Smoking cessation: updated guidance.
Valproate medicines (see sodium valproate and valproic acid): are you acting in compliance with the pregnancy prevention measures? [MHRA/CHM advice].

New Preparations: Nplate® [romiplostim]

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

15 Jan

BNFC January 2019 update

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

See details

Significant Changes: 

Doxycycline: license extension into children aged 8 to 11 years.
Guidance on prescribing: New Medicines Service and Medicines Use Review service information included, and highlighted in the relevant treatment summaries.
Systemic and inhaled fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin): small increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection; advice for prescribing in high-risk patients [MHRA/CHM advice].
Vaccines: updated guidance on the influenza vaccine in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Vaccines: updated guidance on the routine immunisation schedule in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

Dose Changes:

Colistimethate sodium [dosing recommendations for inhalation of nebulised solution and for intravenous use].

New Preparations: Cetraxal Plus® [ciprofloxacin with fluocinolone acetonide], Crysvita® [burosumab], Zebinix® [eslicarbazepine acetate].

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

11 Dec

BNFC December 2018 update

This update contains 1 significant change, 7 dose changes and 1 new preparation.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Lyme disease: updated guidance on management.

Dose Changes:

Amoxicillin [update to indications and doses for Lyme Disease].
Azithromycin [update to indication and doses for Lyme Disease].
Ceftriaxone [update to indications and doses for Lyme Disease].
Clarithromycin [dosing recommendation for Lyme Disease deleted in line with updated guidance].
Doxycycline [update to indications and doses for Lyme Disease].
Erythromycin [dosing recommendation for Lyme Disease deleted in line with updated guidance].
Influenza vaccine [update to indication of annual immunisation against seasonal influenza (for children in clinical risk groups who have not received seasonal influenza vaccine previously)].

New Preparations: Verkazia® eye drops [ciclosporin]

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

View more View all content updates