British National Formulary for Children

The British National Formulary for Children is the unrivalled guidance on prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines to children.

BNF for Children is the only child-focused drug formulary in the world that is both independent, and has rigorous, accredited content creation processes. It is trusted by health professionals worldwide as their primary source for minimising medication errors in paediatrics.

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Speed and safety: Provides rapid reference to essential information on the selection of safe and effective medicines for individual patients

Evidence Grading: As part of NICE accreditation recommendations, BNFc content is now evidence graded to reflect the strength of evidence behind them, increasing transparency to support healthcare professionals with clinical decision making

Always up-to-date: The content is revalidated, revised, and updated on a monthly basis, making sure you access only the very latest prescribing knowledge

Worldwide credibility: The BNFc uses clinical evidence from a diverse range of sources and a network of experts, giving you the confidence to select medicines safely

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Publication Updates

08 Sep

BNF for Children September 2020 Update

This update contains 6 significant changes, 1 dose change and 2 new monographs.

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Significant Changes:
• Amphotericin: name change to amphotericin B.
• Amphotericin B: Liposomal and lipid-complex formulations: name change to reduce medication errors [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Cytarabine: Liposomal and lipid-complex formulations: name change to reduce medication errors [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Daunorubicin: Liposomal and lipid-complex formulations: name change to reduce medication errors [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Doxorubicin hydrochloride: Liposomal and lipid-complex formulations: name change to reduce medication errors [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Flucytosine: Updated recommendations for the use in patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency [MHRA/CHM advice].

Dose Change:
• Cefixime [update to dosing for uncomplicated gonorrhoea].

New Monographs:
• Cefazolin.
• Veklury® [remdesivir].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on
https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

11 Aug

BNF for Children August 2020 Update

This update contains 3 significant changes, 8 dose changes, and 1 deleted monograph.

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Significant Changes:

Genital system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance for the management of uncomplicated gonorrhoea.
Ketotifen for the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis [AWMSG guidance].
Smallpox vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.

Dose Changes:

Azithromycin [update to dosing for uncomplicated gonorrhoea].
Ceftriaxone [update to dosing for gonococcal infections].
Chloroquine [update to dosing for prophylaxis of malaria].
Ciprofloxacin [update to dosing for gonococcal infections].
Doxycycline [update to dosing for prophylaxis of malaria].
Proguanil hydrochloride [update to age range for prophylaxis of malaria].
Solifenacin succinate [update to include child dosing].
Tipranavir [dose removed for child 2-11 years as oral solution formulation discontinued].

Deleted Monograph: Stavudine

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on
https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

14 Jul

BNF for Children July 2020 Update

This update contains 6 significant changes.

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Significant Changes:

Hyperthyroidism: updated guidance on management.
Hypothyroidism: updated guidance on management.
Larotrectinib for treating NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours [NICE guidance].
Rabies vaccine: updated guidance in-line with Public Health England recommendations.
Sodium valproate: Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme: temporary advice for management during coronavirus (COVID-19) [MHRA/CHM advice].
Valproic acid: Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme: temporary advice for management during coronavirus (COVID-19) [MHRA/CHM advice].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

09 Jun

BNF for Children June 2020 Update

This update contains 5 significant changes, 4 dose changes and 5 new preparations.

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Significant Changes:

Adrenaline/epinephrine auto-injectors (Emerade®): all strengths of auto-injector pens have been recalled from patients due to failure to activate. Healthcare professionals are advised to ensure that patients who have previously been prescribed an Emerade® 150, 300 or 500 microgram pen are supplied with a prescription for an alternative brand—see the MHRA website for full details [MHRA/CHM advice].
Hypoglycaemia: updated guidance on management.
Poisoning, emergency treatment: updated guidance on the management of beta-blockers poisoning in-line with TOXBASE recommendations.
Poisoning, emergency treatment: updated guidance on the management of paracetamol poisoning in-line with TOXBASE recommendations.
Skin infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on management of impetigo.

Dose Changes:

Co-fluampicil [update to dosing information].
Qvar® (beclometasone dipropionate) [age-range extension].
Seretide 50 Evohaler® (fluticasone with salmeterol) [age-range extension].
Seretide 100 Accuhaler® (fluticasone with salmeterol) [age-range extension].

New Preparations:

Combisal® 25/50 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Combisal® 25/125 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Combisal® 25/250 [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Fusacomb 50/250 Easyhaler® [fluticasone with salmeterol].
Fusacomb 50/500 Easyhaler® [fluticasone with salmeterol].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

12 May

BNF for Children May 2020 Update

This update contains 3 significant changes, 5 dose changes and 1 new preparation.

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Significant Changes:
• Benzodiazepines: reminder of risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, flurazepam, loprazolam, lorazepam, lormetazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, temazepam; see example in diazepam).
• COVID-19: new guidance incorporating a collection of resources.
• Opioids: reminder of risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in alfentanil, buprenorphine, codeine phosphate, diamorphine hydrochloride, dihydrocodeine tartrate, dipipanone hydrochloride, fentanyl, hydromorphone hydrochloride, meptazinol, methadone hydrochloride, morphine, oxycodone hydrochloride, pentazocine, pethidine hydrochloride, remifentanil, sufentanil, tapentadol, tramadol hydrochloride; see example in morphine).

Dose Changes:

• Betamethasone with clioquinol [updated child age range].
• Digoxin [clarification of maximum doses for children 5-9 years].
• Glucagon [update to age ranges for hypoglycaemia].
• Idursulfase [updated age range].
• Sodium fluoride [updating dosing for prophylaxis of dental caries].

New Preparations: Cytotect® [cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

14 Apr

BNF for Children April 2020 Update

This update contains 4 significant changes, 5 dose changes and 2 new preparations.

See details

Significant Changes:
• Adrenaline/epinephrine (Emerade®) pre-filled auto-injector: update on failure to activate [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Antimicrobial stewardship: new guidance.
• Etonogestrel (Nexplanon®) contraceptive implants: new insertion site to reduce rare risk of neurovascular injury and implant migration [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Medicines optimisation: new guidance.

Dose Changes:
• Benzoin tincture, compound [updated child age range].
• Eucalyptus with menthol [frequency of dosing].
• Eucalyptus with menthol [updated child age range].
• Fluocinolone acetonide with clioquinol [updated dosing frequency].
• Paracetamol with buclizine hydrochloride and codeine phosphate [child age ranges].

New Preparations:
Benzathine benzylpenicillin, Mozobil® [ plerixafor ].

For further details on changes in the BNFC click on https://www.medicinescomplete.com/#/content/bnfc/PHP107699?hspl=changes

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