Drug switching

Switching patients from IV to oral antimicrobials

IV antimicrobials are important for the effective treatment of infection but there are many benefits to timely switching to oral formulations. This article explains why switching is important, when switches should be considered and how to improve implementation.…

Switching antidepressants: advice and practicalities

In the right circumstances, changing to a different antidepressant can improve the chances of successfully treating depression. This article outlines when switching medicines may be appropriate and how to select a strategy that reduces risk to the patient.…

Alendronic acid shortage is contributing to medication errors, warn pharmacists

Exclusive: Pharmacists say switching patients' medication as a result of the alendronic acid shortage is affecting concordance and potentially causing harm.…

How we set up the UK’s first clopidogrel genomics testing system

Specialist clinical pharmacist Alex Matos explains how he has been implementing pharmacogenomics in daily use on the acute stroke ward.…

We can manage patients’ moves off the bipolar treatment Priadel successfully

The imminent withdrawal of the most popular UK brand of lithium is causing confusion and distress, but this can be managed successfully if pharmacists take a strategic approach.…

NHS savings from adalimumab biologic switching hit earlier than expected

The NHS will make financial savings from switching to biosimilar versions of adalimumab earlier than originally anticipated, according to NHS England’s regional pharmacist for the south of England.…

Pharmacy drug-switching protocols a ministerial ‘power grab’, says shadow health secretary

Amendments to legislation allowing pharmacists to switch patients’ medicine without consulting their GP is “an extraordinary power grab” by health ministers, the shadow health secretary has said.…

Switching to biosimilar and generic medicines saved the NHS over £300m in a year

NHS England saved £324m in 2017/2018 by switching from using ten “expensive” medicines to “better value and equally effective” alternatives, mainly generic and biosimilar medicines, NHS Improvement has revealed.…

Switchbacks to branded products more likely with generic medicines than authorised generics, study finds

Switching from branded to authorised generic medicines is associated with a lower switchback rate than switching from branded to generic medicines, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal (3 April 2018).…

Pharmacists should have a formal role in managing drug recovery patients, Scottish MSPs told

Community pharmacists should be given a formal role in managing patients in drug recovery programmes in Scotland who are “being parked” on methadone for years.…