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

13 Aug

BNFC August 2019 Update

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

See details

Significant Changes:

Contraceptives, hormonal: updated guidance on combined hormonal contraceptives.
Crohn’s disease: updated guidance on management.
Flutiform® 50 microgram/ 5 microgram inhaler (fluticasone with formoterol): age range extension to include children aged 5 to 12 years for the prophylaxis of asthma.
Oral retinoid medicines (acitretin, isotretinoin, and tretinoin): revised and simplified pregnancy prevention educational materials for healthcare professionals and women [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Epipen® preparations (adrenaline/epinephrine) [body-weight ranges for children’s dosing updated]

New Preparations: Gilenya® [fingolimod].

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

09 Jul

BNFC July 2019 Update

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

See details

Significant Changes: 

Magnesium sulfate: risk of skeletal adverse effects in the neonate following prolonged or repeated use in pregnancy [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Emicizumab [alternative dosing for existing indications added].
Iloprost [expression of rate of intravenous infusion updated; dosing recommendation unchanged].

New Preparations: Cuprior® [trientine dihydrochloride], Renapime® [cefepime].

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

11 Jun

BNFC June 2019 Update

This update contains 11 significant changes, 2 dose changes and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes: 

Elvitegravir boosted with cobicistat: avoid use in pregnancy due to risk of treatment failure and maternal-to-child transmission of HIV-1 [MHRA/CHM advice] (see elvitegravir with cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide).
Gabapentin (Neurontin®) and risk of abuse and dependence: new scheduling requirements from 1 April [MHRA/CHM advice].
Immunisation schedule: updated National flu immunisation programme in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Influenza vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
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.
Quinolones: new MHRA/CHM advice on restrictions and precautions for use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
Renal and ureteric stones: new guidance on management.
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: new guidance on management of Cough, acute.
Valproate medicines and serious harms in pregnancy: new Annual Risk Acknowledgement Form and clinical guidance from professional bodies to support compliance with the Pregnancy Prevention Programme [MHRA/CHM advice] (see sodium valproate and valproic acid).
Yellow fever vaccine, live (Stamaril®) and fatal adverse reactions: extreme caution needed in people who may be immunosuppressed [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Caffeine citrate [maintenance dosing].
Malarone® Paediatric (atovaquone with proguanil hydrochloride) [update to weight ranges for prophylaxis of falciparum malaria].

New Preparations: Nucala® [mepolizumab], Slenyto ® [melatonin].

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

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

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