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

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

10 Dec

BNF for Children December 2019 Update

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

See details

Significant Changes: 

Adrenaline/epinephrine auto-injectors: recent action taken to support safety [MHRA/CHM advice].
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Lanadelumab for preventing recurrent attacks of hereditary angioedema [NICE guidance].
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance for community-acquired pneumonia.
Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance for hospital-acquired pneumonia.

New Preparations: Takhzyro® [lanadelumab], Zinforo® [ceftaroline fosamil].

New Monographs: Cannabidiol.

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

12 Nov

BNF for Children November 2019 Update

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

See details

Significant Changes: 

Fingolimod (Gilenya®): increased risk of congenital malformations; new contraindication during pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not using effective contraception [MHRA/CHM advice].
Human papillomavirus vaccine updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Immunisation schedule: updated national human papillomavirus immunisation programme in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Montelukast (Singulair®): reminder of the risk of neuropsychiatric reactions [MHRA/CHM advice].
Parenteral nutrition supplements: light protection required to reduce the risk of serious adverse effects in premature neonates [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Changes:

Human papillomavirus vaccines: Dosing now includes male patients.

New Preparations:
Dupixent® [dupilumab], Gardasil 9® [human papillomavirus vaccines], Nyxoid® [naloxone hydrochloride], Orkambi® granules [lumacaftor with ivacaftor], Vitrakvi® [larotrectinib].

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

08 Oct

BNFC October 2019 Update

This update contains 3 significant changes.

See details

Significant Changes:

Depression– updated guidance management.
Rotavirus vaccine : updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Ulcerative colitis : updated guidance on management.

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

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