National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Siponimod now recommended for patients with secondary progressive MS

Updated draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended siponimod for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.…

Scottish Medicines Consortium accepts nasal spray for depression previously rejected by NICE

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted the use of esketamine nasal spray for use within NHS Scotland for adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.…

NICE updates anaphylaxis guidance to ensure patients carry two adrenaline injectors in response to coroner’s report

Healthcare professionals should always offer people with allergies a prescription for two further adrenaline injectors before discharge from hospital and advise patients to carry these with them at all times, updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has s…

Change of guidance needed for management of missed miscarriage, researchers say

Researchers are calling for a change to national guidance after a study suggests that combination treatment could increase the chance of resolution after a missed miscarriage.…

Aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen should not be prescribed for chronic pain syndromes, NICE draft guidance says

Common pain medicines, such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen, should not be offered to patients with chronic primary pain, according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence draft guidance. …

Draft NICE guidance advises against the use of gabapentinoids and benzodiazepines for sciatica

Gabapentinoids, oral corticosteroids and benzodiazepines should not be offered to patients with sciatica, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

No improvement in mortality rates for COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir

There are “no statistically significant differences” for mortality and serious adverse events in COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir, a rapid evidence review carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has concluded.…

Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19, says NHS England

The NHS has changed its advice on only taking paracetamol to treat the symptoms of COVID-19 and now says that patients can take either paracetamol or ibuprofen to self-medicate for symptoms such as fever or headache.…

NICE recommends ‘life-changing’ drug for the prevention of migraine

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended fremanezumab for the prevention of chronic migraine in adults.…

Storytelling, music and song: how psychosocial approaches to dementia change lives

While medicines can be an important part of dementia treatment, there are doubts over whether they provide meaningful benefits for patients. As a result, emphasis is being placed on non-pharmacological approaches, some of which have had a transformative impact on the lives of patients with deme…