British National Formulary (BNF) 73

Joint Formulary Committee

73 (March 2017)

Compiled with the advice of clinical experts and continually updated to reflect the latest evidence from credible sources worldwide, the new edition of the British National Formulary 73 (BNF) provides up-to-date guidance on prescribing, dispensing, and administering medicines. Access to the latest edition of the BNF is vital for healthcare professionals, as it reflects current best practice as well as legal and professional guidelines relating to the uses of medicines.

NICE has accredited the editorial process used by the British National Formulary to produce its resources.*

New content updates in the BNF 73 include:

• Updated guidance for conditions including anal fissure, coeliac disease, dementia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, food allergy, multiple sclerosis and short bowel syndrome. New prescribing guidance for biological and biosimilar medicines.

• New drug monographs alirocumab, blinatumomab, brivaracetam, ceftobiprole, clevidipine, elvitegravir, isavuconazole, nivolumab and panobinostat.

• New safety information about fire risk with paraffin-based skin emollients on dressings and clothing and advice on minimising the risk of infections when being treated with idelalisib.

• Updated guidance on starting routine for oral progestogen-only contraceptives and the use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors as monotherapy for treating type 2 diabetes.

Improvements in the new edition:

Since the launch of the new format BNF we have actively sought your comments and feedback, and as a result have made the following improvements to this edition:

• Important safety information is displayed prominently within the monograph

• Class monographs (e.g. ACE inhibitors) are easy to navigate to from the individual monographs.