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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Publication Updates

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

13 Nov

BNFC November 2018 update

This update contains 1 significant change and 1 dose change.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Transdermal fentanyl patches: life-threatening and fatal opioid toxicity from accidental exposure, particularly in children [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Levonorgestrel [update to timings of administration of intra-uterine devices and advice on additional contraceptive precautions].

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

08 Oct

BNFC October 2018 update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 1 dose change and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes:

Side-effects and their further information sections have been reviewed against the current product literature and terms used to define these have been standardised across all drug monographs for this update.
Dinutuximab beta for treating neuroblastoma [NICE guidance].
Ear, Ear infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on management of otitis media.
Heavy menstrual bleeding: updated guidance on management.
Nusinersen (Spinraza®): reports of communicating hydrocephalus not related to meningitis or bleeding [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Rufinamide [update to age range for use in children and dosing information for use with valproate].

New Preparations: Qarziba® [dinutuximab beta]; Xgeva® [denosumab] (BNFC only).

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

14 Sep

BNFC September 2018 update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 3 new preparations and 6 dose changes.

See details

Significant Changes:

Darunavir boosted with cobicistat (darunavir with cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide): avoid use in pregnancy due to risk of treatment failure and maternal-to-child transmission of HIV-1 [MHRA/CHM advice].
Eltrombopag (Revolade®): reports of interference with bilirubin and creatinine test results [MHRA/CHM advice].
Parenteral amphotericin B: reminder of risk of potentially fatal adverse reaction if formulations confused [MHRA/CHM advice].
Pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDI): risk of airway obstruction from aspiration of loose objects [MHRA/CHM advice], see Respiratory system, drug delivery.
Venous thromboembolism: updated guidance on prophylaxis.Dose Changes:
Adenosine [dose clarification for neonate and children under 12 years for termination of supraventricular tachycardias and diagnosis of supraventricular arrhythmias].
Anakinra [dosing in severe renal impairment].
Budenofalk® [deletion of dosing information for collagenous colitis and update on advice on reducing dose following treatment in Crohn’s disease].
Hexetidine [update to age-range for use in children].
Hydroxocobalamin [frequency of maintenance dosing for macrocytic anaemia without neurological involvement].
Raltegravir [directions for administration for granules for oral suspension deleted as available packs may contain conflicting advice; see individual packs for instructions for reconstitution].

New Preparations: Sprycel® [dasatinib], Kineret® [anakinra], Ivemend® [fosaprepitant]

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

14 Aug

BNFC August 2018 update

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

See details

Significant Changes:

Diabetic complications: updated guidance.
Dolutegravir (Tivicay®, Triumeq®, Juluca®): signal of increased risk of neural tube defects; do not prescribe to women seeking to become pregnant; exclude pregnancy before initiation and advise use of effective contraception [MHRA/CHM advice].
Dyslipidaemias: updated guidance on familial hypercholesterolaemia.
Oropharyngeal infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on sore throat (acute).
Vaccines: updated guidance for Meningococcal group B vaccines.

Dose Changes:

Canakinumab.
Haloperidol.
Mometasone furoate [prophylaxis and treatment of seasonal allergic or perennial rhinitis—age range extended].
Vancomycin [deletion of the statement recommending the use of ideal body-weight to calculate intravenous doses in obese patients].

New Preparations:

Firazyr® [icatibant].
Zemplar® [paricalcitol].

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

10 Jul

BNFC July 2018 update

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

See details

Significant changes:

Daclizumab (Zinbryta®) — marketing authorisation withdrawn for safety reasons.
Tivicay® (dolutegravir), Triumeq® (dolutegravir, abacavir, lamivudine), Juluca® (dolutegravir, rilpivirine): neural tube defects reported in infants born to women exposed to dolutegravir at the time of conception [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose changes:

Amitriptyline hydrochloride [dose for depression deleted].
Ganciclovir.
Macrogol 3350 with potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride.
Vancomycin.

New Preparations: Mylotarg® [gemtuzumab ozogamicin], Simponi® [golimumab], Spiriva Respimat® [tiotropium], Trospium chloride, Valcyte® [valganciclovir].

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

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