The WMAS produces and contributes to a range of medicines-related publications for healthcare professionals and members of the public.
Monkeypox Advice
A separate monkeypox page has been created to house information and advice for healthcare professionals regarding human monkeypox infections.
COVID-19 Vaccine Advice
On 1 September 2021 the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine be offered to individuals aged 12 years and over with severe immunosuppression in proximity of their first or second primary COVID-19 vaccine doses. Here the WMIC provide a list of medicines that corresponds to the JAK inhibitors and other biologic immune modulators mentioned in the JCVI advice and suggest appropriate timing of a third primary dose of COVID‑19 vaccine. [updated 23 September 2021]
National COVID-19 treatment Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
The national COVID-19 treatment PGD templates have been moved to the National Antiviral Service (NAVS) healthcare professionals page.
Ukrainian Medicines Resources
Healthcare professionals can access information to help identify and translate medication details for Ukrainian refugees via our recent blog post.
UKMi Medicines Q&As
Medicines Q&As are produced by UKMi pharmacists throughout the UK, and provide evidence-based, and quality controlled answers to common or unusual enquiries made to Medicines Information services.
UKMi Q&As that have been produced by and are maintained by the WMAS (the specialist UKMI centre for porphyria and complementary medicine) are listed below. These and all current UKMi Q&As are available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website.
Turmeric: considering its safety and interactions
Cannabidiol oil – potential adverse effects
How should medicines be dosed in children who are obese?
What is the risk of GI bleeding with SSRIs?
Which commonly used nebuliser solutions are compatible?
What is the equivalent dose of oral prednisolone to IV hydrocortisone?
How should intravenous potassium chloride be administered in adults?
Metformin for hirsutism and acne in polycystic ovary syndrome
How should crusted and other forms of difficult-to-treat scabies be managed?
Porphyria
Medicines that are considered safe for use in the acute porphyrias
Using haem arginate (human hemin) in acute porphyria attacks
What advice should be given to patients with porphyria who intend to travel?
What are the restrictions on prescribing for patients with non-acute porphyria?
Safety of topical medicines in porphyria
What is the most suitable treatment for acne in a patient with porphyria?
Safety of dental medicines in acute porphyria
Making safe medicine choices during general anaesthesia and surgery in acute porphyria
Complementary medicine
Chondroitin – drug interactions
Is it safe to take herbal medicines during pregnancy?
Is it safe for breast feeding women to take herbal medicines?
Bulletins
Note: Malathion (Derbac M) is among the suggested treatments in the above bulletin, but is currently unavailable. Alternative treatments are dimeticone and wet combing (see bulletin for details).
Cardiff & Vale UHB prescribing resources
Good Prescribing Guide and INFORM Formulary
The Good Prescribing Guide is available on the microguide app via iTunes and Google play store
The Guide is intended to supplement the British National Formulary and Cardiff and Vale INFORM Formulary and to provide information on local practices within the University Health Board. The guidelines are intended for adult secondary care practice. The Department of Child Health in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board produce Clinical Guidelines for use in paediatrics.
Good practice guides
How to do an enquiry on adverse effects of complementary or alternative medicines
Other publications
The following letter to the editor highlights three cases of COVID-19 “rebound” associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir pre-hospital therapy from the cohort of patients treated by the National Antiviral Service (NAVS):
Coulson JM, Adams A, Gray LA, Evans A. COVID-19 “Rebound” associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir pre-hospital therapy. J Infect. 2022; S0163-4453(22)00363-2. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.06.011
The following article was adapted from a review commissioned and written by the WMIC for the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group:
McArtney R, Bailey A, Champion H. What is a ketogenic diet and how does it affect the use of medicines? Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2017; 102:194-9.
In conjunction with the Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales, WMIC has published two articles on safe prescribing in the acute porphyrias:
Lockett CD and Badminton MN. Safe prescribing in the autosomal dominant acute porphyrias: a practical approach: Part I. Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin. August 2015; No. 293: pp. 1131 – 1134
Lockett CD and Badminton MN. Safe prescribing in the autosomal dominant acute porphyrias: a practical approach: Part II. Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin. October 2015; No. 294: pp. 1135 – 1138
07 Sep 22
National COVID-19 treatment PGD templates moved to NAVS healthcare professionals page.
01 Jul 22
National COVID-19 treatment PGD templates updated.
22 Jun 22
COVID-19 “Rebound” article added. Links to articles on SPS website updated.
14 Jun 22
Monkeypox advice added.
21 Apr 22
Ukrainian Medicines Resources added.
30 Mar 22
National COVID-19 treatment PGD templates updated.
09 Feb 22
Paxlovid PGD added.
31 Jan 22
Sotrovimab PGD template updated.
07 Jan 22
Molnupiravir PGD and sotrovimab PGD template updated.
17 Dec 21
Sotrovimab PGD template added and Ronapreve PGD template updated.
15 Dec 21
National COVID-19 treatment PGD templates added.
24 Sep 21
COVID-19 Vaccine advice updated.
10 Sep 21
Advice on COVID-19 Vaccine third primary dose for immunosuppressed individuals added
