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

08 Oct
British National Formulary for Children logo
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
British National Formulary for Children logo
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
British National Formulary for Children logo
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
British National Formulary for Children logo
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

11 Jun
British National Formulary for Children logo
BNFC June 2018 update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 4 new preparations and 3 dose changes. 

See details

Significant Changes: 

 

Asthma, chronic: updated guidance on management.

Immunoglobulins: updated guidance for Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin.

Quinine: clarification of parenteral dose for the treatment of malaria [dose reduction necessary if parenteral treatment is required for more than 48 hours].

Vaccines: updated guidance for Hepatitis A Vaccine.Vaccines for travel: updated guidance on Hepatitis A. 

 

Dose Changes: Co-codamol [doses for children aged 12 to 15 years].

Elvitegravir with cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide [age-range extension].

Raltegravir [dose for oral suspension—new dose for neonates and update to dose for child with body-weight 3kg; update to directions for administration for oral suspension].  

 

New Preparations: 

 

Hemlibra® [emicizumab], RoActemra® preparations [tocilizumab], Truvada®[emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil], Yervoy® [ipilimumab].

 

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on changes. 

14 May
British National Formulary for Children logo
BNFC May 2018 Update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 7 new preparations and 6 dose changes.

See details

Significant Changes:

  • Cystic fibrosis: updated guidance.
  • Noradrenaline/norepinephrine 0.08 mg/mL (4 mg in 50 mL) solution for infusion association with potential risk of medication errors.
  • Skin infections: head lice eradication products: risk of serious burns if treated hair is exposed to open flames or other sources of ignition [MHRA/CHM advice].
  • Terbinafine: clarification of hepatic monitoring advice.
  • Valproic acid and sodium valproate: valproate medicines contraindicated in women and girls of childbearing potential unless conditions of Pregnancy Prevention Programme are met [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

  • Abatacept [update to dosing advice].
  • Levonorgestrel [update to effective duration for Levosert® intra-uterine device].
  • Levonorgestrel [update to timing for emergency contraception].
  • Lopinavir with ritonavir [update to age-range — now licensed from 14 days].
  • Sodium nitrite.
  • Sodium thiosulfate.

New Preparations: Cetraxal® [ciprofloxacin ear drops], Chenodeoxycholic acid [chenodeoxycholic acid capsules], Cubicin® [daptomycin], Harvoni® [ledipasvir with sofosbuvir], Kyleena® [levonorgestrel intrauterine device], Sovaldi® [sofosbuvir], Tasigna® [nilotinib].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on changes

 

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