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 Formulary Chapter 13: Skin - Full Chapter
Notes:

Dermatology prescribing may require use of expensive unlicensed
creams and ointments (known as ‘Specials’). Please consult the revised British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) list of preferred Specials (2018) for advice on appropriate product choice.

Specials Recommended by the British Association of Dermatologists for Skin Disease

Several medicines in the skin chapter are available for purchase over the counter and may be appropriate for self care. Please consult the local OTC policy for more details.

LSCMMG: Over The Counter (OTC) Items That Should Not Be Routinely Prescribed In Primary Care Policy 

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13.06  Expand sub section  Acne and rosacea
Brimonidine tartrate (Mirvaso® )
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Green Restricted

Gel 3mg/g

Restricted to use in patients with moderate to severe, persistent facial erythema of rosacea.

 
Link  LSCMMG: Brimonidine Tartrate (Mirvaso) 3mg/g Gel NMR
Link  MHRA: Brimonidine gel (Mirvaso): risk of exacerbation of rosacea
Link  MHRA: Brimonidine gel (Mirvaso): risk of systemic cardiovascular effects; not to be applied to damaged skin
 
Ivermectin
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Green
Cream 10mg/g
 
Topical treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea (papulopustular) in adults.
 
Appropriate for initiation and on-going prescribing in both primary and secondary care. To be used as an alternative treatment when metronidazole and azelaic acid topical preparations are not effective, contraindicated or not tolerated by the patient. Ivermectin cream may be tried for a 3 month period, at which point it can be stopped if not effective or continued if effective.
 
For indications relating to oral ivermectin see subsection 05.05 Anthelmintics.
 
Link  LSCMMG: Ivermectin cream 10mg/g (Soolantra®) NMR
 
13.06.01  Expand sub section  Topical preparations for acne
13.06.01  Expand sub section  Benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid
Azelaic Acid
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Green

Gel 15% (Finacae®)
Cream 20% (Skinoren®)

 
 
Benzoyl Peroxide (Acnecide®)
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Green

Gel 5%

If sun exposure is unavoidable, an appropriate sunscreen or protective clothing should be used.

 
 
Benzoyl peroxide with clindamycin
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Green

Gel benzoyl peroxide 5%, clindamycin 1% 

If sun exposure is unavoidable, an appropriate sunscreen or protective clothing should be used.

 
 
13.06.01  Expand sub section  Topical antibacterials for acne
Erythromycin with zinc acetate
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Green

Lotion erythromycin 40mg/ml, zinc acetate 12mg/ml

 
 
Clindamycin
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Green

Lotion 1%
Gel 1% (Zindaclin®)

 
 
13.06.01  Expand sub section  Topical retinoids and related preparations for acne to top
 note 

If sun exposure is unavoidable, an appropriate sunscreen or protective clothing should be used.

Adapalene (Differin®)
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Green

Cream 0.1%
Gel 0.1%

The MHRA advises females of childbearing potential should use effective contraception.

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

 
 
Adapalene with benzoyl peroxide
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Green

Gel adapalene 0.1%, benzoyl peroxide 2.5% 

The MHRA advises females of childbearing potential should use effective contraception.

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

 
 
Tretinoin with clindamycin (Treclin®)
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Green

Gel clindamycin 1%, tretinoin 0.025%

The MHRA advises females of childbearing potential should use effective contraception.

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

 
 
TrifaroteneBlack Triangle (Aklief®)
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Green

Cream 50micrograms/g

Acne vulgaris of the face and/or the trunk in patients from 12 years of age and older, when many comedones, papules and pustules are present.

The MHRA advises females of childbearing potential should use effective contraception.

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

 
Link  LSCMMG: Trifarotene (Aklief®) 50 microgram/g cream NMR
 
13.06.01  Expand sub section  Other topical preparations for acne
13.06.02  Expand sub section  Oral preparations for acne
13.06.02  Expand sub section  Oral antibiotics for acne
Doxycycline
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Green

Capsules 50mg, 100mg
Dispersible tablets 100mg

 
 
Erythromycin
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Green

Tablets e/c 250mg
Suspension 125mg/5mL, 250mg/5mL

 
Link  MHRA: Erythromycin: caution required due to cardiac risks (QT interval prolongation); drug interaction with rivaroxaban
Link  MHRA: Erythromycin: update on known risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
 
Lymecycline
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Green
Capsules 408mg 
 
Oxytetracycline
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Green
Tablets 250mg 
 
13.06.02  Expand sub section  Hormone treatment for acne
Co-Cyprindiol
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Green

Tablets cyproterone 2mg / ethinylestradiol 35 micrograms

 
Link  MHRA: Cyproterone acetate with ethinylestradiol (co-cyprindiol): balance of benefits and risks remains positive
Link  MHRA: Cyproterone acetate: new advice to minimise risk of meningioma
 
13.06.02  Expand sub section  Oral retinoid for acne to top
IsotretinoinBlack Triangle
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Red

Capsules 5mg, 10mg, 20mg

Consultant dermatologist or specialist only.

Healthcare professionals are reminded that the use of oral retinoids is contra-indicated in pregnancy due to a high risk of serious congenital malformations, and any use in females must be within the conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme.


MHRA: Oral retinoid medicines▼: revised and simplified pregnancy prevention educational materials for healthcare professionals and women


Each prescription for oral isotretinoin for women should be limited to a supply of up to 28 days' treatment. Pregnancy must be excluded before initiation and before each repeat prescription.

As a RED drug, isotretinoin should be supplied by secondary care. Local exceptions to this are for patients under the care of the consultant-led integrated community dermatology service, OMNES.  

 Community pharmacies can dispense FP10s for isotretinoin from OMNES where it is clear that the prescription has been issued within the context of a Pregnancy Prevention Programme. Do not dispense 7 days beyond issue date of FP10. Please refer the pharmacy checklist and  Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): introduction of new safety measures, including additional oversight of the initiation of treatment for patients under 18 years of age 

Contra-indicated in patients with hypersensitivity to peanuts or soya (capsule filling contains soya-bean oil).

Neuropsychiatric reactions have been reported in patients taking oral retinoids. The MHRA advises patients and carers to seek medical attention if changes in mood or behaviour occur.

Patients should avoid excessive exposure to UV light (including sunlight, solariums)—sunscreen with a high protection factor should be applied.

 
Link  MHRA: Isotretinoin – updates to prescribing guidance and survey of services
Link  MHRA: Isotretinoin (Roaccutane▼): introduction of new safety measures, including additional oversight of the initiation of treatment for patients under 18 years of age
Link  MHRA: Isotretinoin: risk of serious skin reactions
Link  MHRA: Oral retinoid medicines▼: revised and simplified pregnancy prevention educational materials for healthcare professionals and women
Link  MHRA: Oral retinoids: pregnancy prevention—reminder of measures to minimise teratogenic risk
 
13.06.03  Expand sub section  Topical preparations for rosacea
 ....
Key
Restricted Drug Restricted Drug
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
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Link to adult BNF
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Link to children's BNF
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Link to SPCs
SMC
Scottish Medicines Consortium
Cytotoxic Drug
Cytotoxic Drug
CD
Controlled Drug
High Cost Medicine
High Cost Medicine
Cancer Drugs Fund
Cancer Drugs Fund
Homecare
Homecare
CCG

ICB commissioned

NHSE
NHS England commissioned
Blueteq
Blueteq form needed
Green Low Carbon

Low carbon footprint

Amber Medium Carbon

Medium carbon footprint

Red High carbon footprint

High carbon footprint

Status Description

Green

Green: Appropriate for initiation and ongoing prescribing in both primary and secondary care. Generally, little or no routine drug monitoring is required.  

Green Restricted

Green (Restricted): Appropriate for initiation and ongoing prescribing in both primary and secondary care provided: Additional criteria specific to the medicine or device are met, or The medicine or device is used following the failure of other therapies as defined by the relevant LSCMMG pathway. Generally, little or no routine drug monitoring is required.   

Red

Red medicines: Medicine is supplied by the hospital for the duration of the treatment course. Primary care initiation or continuation of treatment is not recommended unless exceptional circumstances such as specialist GP. Red medicines are those where primary care prescribing is not recommended. These treatments should be initiated by specialists only and prescribing retained within secondary care. They require specialist knowledge, intensive monitoring, specific dose adjustments or further evaluation in use. If however, a primary care prescriber has particular specialist knowledge or experience of prescribing a particular drug for a particular patient it would not always be appropriate for them to expect to transfer that prescribing responsibility back to secondary care. There should be a specific reason and a specific risk agreement, protocol and service set up to support this. Primary care prescribers may prescribe RED medicines in exceptional circumstances to patients to ensure continuity of supply while arrangements are made to obtain ongoing supplies from secondary care.  

Amber 0

Amber level 0: Suitable for prescribing in primary care following recommendation or initiation by a specialist. Little or no specific monitoring required. Patient may need a regular review, but this would not exceed that required for other medicines routinely prescribed in primary care. Brief prescribing document or information sheet may be required. Primary care prescribers must be familiar with the drug to take on prescribing responsibility or must get the required information. When recommending or handing over care, specialists should ask primary care prescribers to take over prescribing responsibility, and should give enough information about the indication, dose, monitoring requirements, use outside product licence and any necessary dose adjustments to allow them to confidently prescribe.  

Amber 1

Amber level 1 (with shared care): Suitable for prescribing in primary care following recommendation or initiation by a specialist. Minimal monitoring required. Patient may need a regular review, but this would not exceed that required for other medicines routinely prescribed in primary care. Full prior agreement about patient’s on-going care must be reached under the shared care agreement. Primary care prescribers are advised not to take on prescribing of these medicines unless they have been adequately informed by letter of their responsibilities with regards monitoring, side effects and interactions and are happy to take on the prescribing responsibility. A copy of locally approved shared care guidelines should accompany this letter which outlines these responsibilities. Primary care prescribers should then tell secondary care of their intentions as soon as possible by letter so that arrangements can be made for the transfer of care.  

Amber 2

Amber level 2 (with shared care and enhanced service): Initiated by specialist and transferred to primary care following a successful initiation period. Significant monitoring required on an on-going basis. Full prior agreement about patient’s on-going care must be reached under the shared care agreement. Suitable for enhanced service. These medicines are considered suitable for GP prescribing following specialist initiation of therapy, as per shared care document which will be sent out with the request to prescribe, with on-going communication between the primary care prescriber and specialist. Amber Level 2 medicines require significant monitoring for which an enhanced service may be suitable. (Subject to local commissioning agreements).  

Do Not Prescribe

Do not prescribe: NOT recommended for use by the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Includes medicines that NICE has not recommended for use and terminated technology appraisals, unless there is a local need.  

Grey

Grey medicines: Medicines which have not yet been reviewed or are under the review process. GPs and specialists are recommended not to prescribe these drugs. This category includes drugs where funding has not yet been agreed.   

Multiple

Refer to local guidance.  

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