Preferred brands

Using approved (generic) names is generally encouraged for prescribing in both primary and secondary care, this aims to improve cost-effectiveness.

However, to help with cost pressures across the NHS and specifically for primary care prescribing some locally agreed preferred brands are specified in the formulary.

Click here for a list of some of the Medicines Optimisation Teams preferred brands

The following is a list of the current formulary preferred brands. It is not a complete list of drugs. Please follow the appropriate links to find the full information.

Chapter 1 Gastrointestinal

Octasa®

• Mesalazine MR 400mg and 800mg (see section 1.5.1 Aminosalicylates)

Pentasa®

• Mesalazine MR 500mg and 1g, granules, enema, suppositories 1g (see section 1.5.1 Aminosalicylates)

Cholurso®

• Ursodeoxycholic acid (see section 1.9.1 Drugs affecting biliary composition and flow)

CosmoCol®, Laxido®

• Macrogol oral powder, compound (see section 1.6.4 Osmotic laxatives)

Chapter 2 Cardiovascular

Chemydur® XL

• Isosorbide mononitrate MR 60mg (see section 2.6.1 Nitrates)

Adizem-XL®, Slozem®, Tildiem® 60mg, Tildiem® LA

• Diltiazem (see section 2.6.2 Calcium-channel blockers)

Half Securon® SR/ Securon® SR, Univer®

• Verapamil (see section 2.6.2 Calcium-channel blockers)

Chapter 3 Respiratory

Saline Steripoule®

• Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser solution (See section: 3.1.5 Peak flow meters, inhaler devices and nebulisers)

Braltus®

• Tiotropium (See section: 3.1.2 Antimuscarinic bronchodilators)

Clenil® modulate, Qvar®, Qvar Autohaler®, Qvar Easi-breathe®

• Beclometasone (See section: 3.2 Corticosteroids)

Oxis Turbohaler®

• Formoterol fumerate (See section: 3.1.1 Adrenoceptor agonists)

Emerade®, Epipen®

• Adrenaline / epinephrine (see section: 3.4 Antihistamines, hyposensitisation, and allergic emergencies)

Chapter 4 Central Nervous System

Alzain®

• Pregabalin (epilepsy and GAD) (see 4.8.1 Control of the epilepsies)

Circadin® MR

• Melatonin (see 4.1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics )

Zaluron® XL

• Quetiapine MR (see 4.2.1 Antipsychotics drugs)

Depixol®

• Flupentixol decanoate (see 4.2.1 Antipsychotics drugs)

Modecate®

• Fluphenazine decanoate (see 4.2.1 Antipsychotics drugs)

Haldol®

• Haloperidol decanoate (see 4.2.2 Antipsychotic depot injections)

Priadel®

• Lithium (see 4.2.3 Drugs used for mania and hypomania)

Xenidate® XL, Concerta® XL, Equasym® XL, Medikinet® XL

• Methylphenidate MR 18mg and 36mg (see 4.4 CNS stimulant and drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

Zomorph®

• 12 hourly morphine sulphate (see 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics)

Butec®

• Buprenorphine patches (see 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics)

Matrifen®, Mezolar®

• Fentanyl patches (see 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics)

Shortec®

• Oxycodone (immediate release) (see 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics)

Longtec®

• Oxycodone MR (see 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics)

Madopar®

• Co-beneldopa (see 4.9.1 Dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease)

Sinemet®

• Co-careldopa (see 4.9.1 Dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease)

Ipinnia® XL

• Ropinirole MR tablets (see 4.9.1 Dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease)

Pipexus® MR

• Pramipexole MR tablets (see 4.9.1 Dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease)

Luventa® XL

• Galantamine MR Capsules (see 4.11 Dementia)

Chapter 6 Endocrine

Sukkarto®

• Metformin MR 500mg and 1000mg (see 6.1.2 Antidiabetic drugs)

Chapter 7 Genito-urinary system

Neditol® XL

• Tolterodine MR 4mg Capsules (see section 7.4.2 Drugs for urinary frequency, enuresis, and incontinence)

Chapter 9 Blood and nutrition

Accrete-D3®, TheiCal-D3®, Calfovit D3®

• Calcium and vitamin D (see section 9.6.4 Vitamin D)

Chapter 11 Eye

Sno Tears®, Liquifilm Tears®

• Polyvinyl alcohol eye drops (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

Viscotears®, Viscotears®

• Carbomer eye drops (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

VitA-POS®, Lacri-lube®

• Liquid paraffin eye ointment (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

Celluvisc®, Evolve® Carmellose

• Carmellose sodium eye drops (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

Evolve® Hypromellose

• Hypromellose eye drops (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

Clinitas® single use, Evolve® HA

• Sodium hyaluronate eye drops (see section 11.8.1 Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants, and astringents)

Chapter 12 ENT

Avamys®

• Fluticasone furoate (see section 12.2.1 Drugs used in nasal allergy)

Bactroban® nasal ointment

• Mupirocin for nasal infection (see section 12.2.3 Nasal preparations for infection)

Chapter 13 Skin

Rozex®

• Metronidazole gel 0.75% (see 13.2.1 Bacterial skin infections)

Dovonex®

• Calcipotriol (see 13.3 Inflammatory skin conditions)

Dithrocream®, Micanol®

• Dithranol (see 13.3 Inflammatory skin conditions)

Clinipod®

• Sodium chloride 0.9% (skin cleanser) (see 13.9 Skin cleansers, antiseptics, and desloughing agents)

Home > Formulary > Preferred brands

• First line
• Second line
• Specialist
• Hospital