The BNF is a joint publication of the British Medical
Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It is
published under the authority of a Joint Formulary
Committee which comprises representatives of the two
professional bodies, the UK Health Departments, the
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and
a national guideline producer. The Dental Advisory Group
oversees the preparation of advice on the drug management
of dental and oral conditions; the Group includes
representatives of the British Dental Association and a
representative from the UK Health Departments. The Nurse
Prescribers’ Advisory Group advises on the content relevant
to nurses and includes representatives from different parts
of the nursing community and from the UK Health
Departments.
The BNF aims to provide prescribers, pharmacists, and
other healthcare professionals with sound up-to-date
information about the use of medicines.
The BNF includes key information on the selection,
prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.
Medicines generally prescribed in the UK are covered and
those considered less suitable for prescribing are clearly
identified. Little or no information is included on medicines
promoted for purchase by the public.
Information on drugs is drawn from the manufacturers’
product literature, medical and pharmaceutical literature,
UK health departments, regulatory authorities, and
professional bodies. Advice is constructed from clinical
literature and reflects, as far as possible, an evaluation of the
evidence from diverse sources. The BNF also takes account
of authoritative national guidelines and emerging safety
concerns. In addition, the editorial team receives advice on
all therapeutic areas from expert clinicians; this ensures that
the BNF’s recommendations are relevant to practice.
The BNF is designed as a digest for rapid reference and it
may not always include all the information necessary for
prescribing and dispensing. Also, less detail is given on areas
such as obstetrics, malignant disease, and anaesthesia since
it is expected that those undertaking treatment will have
specialist knowledge and access to specialist literature.
Similarly, little or no information is included on medicines
for very rare conditions. BNF for Children should be
consulted for detailed information on the use of medicines in
children. The BNF should be interpreted in the light of
professional knowledge and supplemented as necessary by
specialised publications and by reference to the product
literature. Information is also available from medicines
information services, see Medicines Information Services
(see inside front cover).
It is important to use the most recent BNF information for
making clinical decisions. The print edition of the BNF is
updated in March and September each year. Monthly
updates are provided online via Medicines Complete and the
NHS Evidence portal. The more important changes are listed
under Changes; changes listed online are cumulative (from
one print edition to the next), and can be printed off each
month to show the main changes since the last print edition
as an aide memoire for those using print copies.
The BNF Publications website (www.bnf.org) includes
additional information of relevance to healthcare
professionals. Other digital formats of the BNF—including
versions for mobile devices and integration into local
formularies—are also available.
BNF Publications welcomes comments from healthcare
professionals. Comments and constructive criticism should
be sent to:
British National Formulary,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society,
66–68 East Smithfield
London
E1W1AW
[email protected]
The contact email for manufacturers or pharmaceutical
companies wishing to contact BNF Publications is
[email protected]
Author(s): Joint Formulary Committee
Publisher: Pharmaceutical Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Tags: British National Formulary; Pharmacology; Basic Medical Sciences; Medicines
00 BNF 84
01 BNF IFC
01a BNF Insert
02 BNF Prelims
Preface
Contents
General Information
Acknowledgements
BNF Staff
Joint Formulary Committee
Dental Advisory Group
Nurse Prescribers’ Advisory Group
How BNF Publications are constructed
How to use BNF Publications in print
Changes
03 BNF Main Chapters
Guidance on prescribing
Prescription writing
Emergency supply of medicines
Controlled drugs and drug dependence
Adverse reactions to drugs
Guidance on intravenous infusions
Medicines optimisation
Antimicrobial stewardship
Prescribing in children
Prescribing in hepatic impairment
Prescribing in renal impairment
Prescribing in pregnancy
Prescribing in breast-feeding
Prescribing in palliative care
Prescribing in the elderly
Drugs and sport
Prescribing in dental practice
Chapter 1 Gastro-intestinal system
Outline placeholder
Chronic bowel disorders
Constipation and bowel cleansing
Diarrhoea
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Food allergy
Gastric acid disorders and ulceration
Gastro-intestinal smooth muscle spasm
Liver disorders and related conditions
Obesity
Rectal and anal disorders
Stoma care
Chapter 2 Cardiovascular system
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Arrhythmias
Bleeding disorders
Blood clots
Blood pressure conditions
Cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention
Heart failure
Hyperlipidaemia
Myocardial ischaemia
Oedema
Vascular disease
Chapter 3 Respiratory system
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Airways disease, obstructive
Allergic conditions
Conditions affecting sputum viscosity
Cough and congestion
Interstitial lung disease
Respiratory depression, respiratory distress syndrome and apnoea
Chapter 4 Nervous system
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Dementia
Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
Mental health disorders
Movement disorders
Nausea and labyrinth disorders
Pain
Sleep disorders
Substance dependence
Chapter 5 Infection
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Amoebic infection
Bacterial infection
Fungal infection
Helminth infection
Protozoal infection
Viral infection
Chapter 6 Endocrine system
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Antidiuretic hormone disorders
Bone metabolism disorders
Corticosteroid responsive conditions
Diabetes mellitus and hypoglycaemia
Dopamine responsive conditions
Gonadotrophin responsive conditions
Hypothalamic and anterior pituitary hormone related disorders
Sex hormone responsive conditions
Thyroid disorders
Chapter 7 Genito-urinary system
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Bladder and urinary disorders
Bladder instillations and urological surgery
Contraception
Erectile and ejaculatory conditions
Gynaecological conditions
Obstetrics
Vaginal and vulval conditions
Chapter 8 Immune system and malignant disease
Immune system
Immune system disorders and transplantation
Malignant disease
Antibody responsive malignancy
Carcinoid syndrome
Cytotoxic responsive malignancy
Hormone responsive malignancy
Immunotherapy responsive malignancy
Photodynamic therapy responsive malignancy
Targeted therapy responsive malignancy
Chapter 9 Blood and nutrition
Blood and blood-forming organs
Anaemias
Iron overload
Neutropenia and stem cell mobilisation
Platelet disorders
Nutrition and metabolic disorders
Fluid and electrolyte imbalances
Metabolic disorders
Mineral and trace elements deficiencies
Nutrition (intravenous)
Nutrition (oral)
Vitamin deficiency
Chapter 10 Musculoskeletal system
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Arthritis
Hyperuricaemia and gout
Neuromuscular disorders
Pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders
Soft tissue and joint disorders
Chapter 11 Eye
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Allergic and inflammatory eye conditions
Dry eye conditions
Eye infections
Eye procedures
Glaucoma and ocular hypertension
Retinal disorders
Chapter 12 Ear, nose and oropharynx
Ear
Otitis externa
Otitis media
Removal of earwax
Nose
Nasal congestion
Nasal infection
Nasal inflammation, nasal polyps and rhinitis
Oropharynx
Dry mouth
Oral hygiene
Oral ulceration and inflammation
Oropharyngeal bacterial infections
Oropharyngeal fungal infections
Oropharyngeal viral infections
Chapter 13 Skin
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Dry and scaling skin disorders
Infections of the skin
Inflammatory skin conditions
Perspiration
Pruritus
Rosacea and acne
Scalp and hair conditions
Skin cleansers, antiseptics and desloughing agents
Skin disfigurement
Sun protection and photodamage
Superficial soft-tissue injuries and superficial thrombophlebitis
Warts and calluses
Chapter 14 Vaccines
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Immunoglobulin therapy
Post-exposure prophylaxis
Tuberculosis diagnostic test
Vaccination
Chapter 15 Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia
Anaesthesia adjuvants
Malignant hyperthermia
Local anaesthesia
Chapter 16 Emergency treatment of poisoning
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Active elimination from the gastro-intestinal tract
Chemical toxicity
Drug toxicity
Methaemoglobinaemia
Snake bites
Appendix 1 Interactions
Appendix 2 Borderline substances
Outline placeholder
Feed additives
Foods for special diets
Nutritional supplements for metabolic diseases
Appendix 3 Cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines
Appendix 4 Wound management products and elasticated garments
Dental Practitioners’ Formulary
Approved list for prescribing by Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribers (NPF)
Non-medical prescribing
Index of manufacturers
Special-order manufacturers
Index
Recommended wording of cautionary and advisory labels
Approximate Conversions and Units
Abbreviations and Symbols
Latin abbreviations
E numbers
Medical emergencies in the community
Adult Advanced Life Support Algorithm
