Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines

Medicines Update -2024

For all healthcare professionals across NHSGGC both in primary care and the acute sector.

Please note, Medicines Update blogs are correct at the time of publication.

Medicines Update blogs remain on the website for 4 years. If you would like a copy of a blog published more than 4 years ago, please contact  medicines.update@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Click here for a promotional poster on Medicines Update and here for an animation on the Communications subcommittee of ADTC resposnsible for the development of Medicines Update.

If you would like to contribute to Medicines Update, click here for a guide to blog writing and the checklist to complete prior to submitting a blog to the Communications Subcommittee of ADTC.

06/09/2023 announcement

Accessing GGC Clinical Guidelines via Medicines Update blogs and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook 

GGC Clinical Guidelines have migrated to the Right Decisions for Health and Care platform. As a result of the migration, direct links to GGC guidelines within Medicines Update blogs (and the Adult Therapeutics Handbook, GGC Medicines App) currently go to the homepage and not individual guidelines. This change was out with our control. 
Please note, there is a message on the homepage highlighting intermittent issues with the search function, therefore, if you cannot find a guideline via the search box, select the relevant category from the homepage or if the guideline still can't be found, contact clinical.guidelines@ggc.scot.nhs.uk. 
An update will be provided in due course.

Key Medicine Shortages – April 2024

Posted: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

Includes:

Diazepam 10mg/2.5ml rectal solution tubes, Guanfacine (Intuniv®) 2mg and 3mg modified release tablets, Fiasp® (insulin aspart) FlexTouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens, Levemir InnoLet® (insulin detemir) 100units/ml solution for injection pre-filled disposable devices, Insulatard InnoLet® (insulin isophane human) 100units/ml suspension for injection 3ml pre-filled disposable devices, Monomil® XL (isosorbide mononitrate) 60mg modified release tablets, Methadone 5mg tablets, Pabrinex® IV and IM injections, and Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebules

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Safe disposal of sharps waste in primary care

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2024

Category - Medicines Update

  • Many patients may need to use sharps, such as needles, syringes and fingertip lancing devices, to treat and manage their condition.

  • Sharps should never be disposed of in domestic waste, recycling, or in a container that is no longer needed, such as a drinks can or a bottle. This is potentially hazardous to anyone who comes into contact with the waste, including refuse collectors and members of the public.

  • To minimise the risk of needle stick injuries, a sharps bin, (e.g. SharpSafe® or Sharpsguard®) can be prescribed, which can be returned to the patient’s GP practice for safe disposal once full. GP practices can accept sharps containers independent of their source, however, sharps containers (with exception of needle exchange) should not be returned to community pharmacies.

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