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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 4 - Central nervous system 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing

04.08.01 Control of epilepsy
04.08.01 Partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation
04.08.01 Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine
04.08.01 Ethosuximide
04.08.01 Gabapentin and pregabalin
04.08.01 Lacosamide
04.08.01 Lamotrigine
04.08.01 Levetiracetam
04.08.01 Perampanel
04.08.01 Phenobarbital and other barbiturates
04.08.01 Phenytoin
04.08.01 Rufinamide
04.08.01 Tiagabine
04.08.01 Topiramate
04.08.01 Valproate

Sodium Valproate
(Epilepsy)

Formulary
  • Crushable tablets 100mg
  • E/C tablets 200mg, 500mg
  • Episenta® Modified Release capsules 150mg, 300mg (More cost effective than m/r tablets)
  • Epilim Chrono® Modified Release tablets 200mg, 300mg, 500mg
  • Oral solution sugar Free 200mg in 5mL


Prescribing generically or by brand is discretionary.

 

Entry reviewed: November 2023

Sodium Valproate (Episenta®)
(Injection)

RED
Formulary

300mg/3mL Injection

Oral and IV bioavailability similar. Patients already satisfactorily treated with oral sodium valproate may be continued at their current dosage. The total daily dose should be divided in three to four single slow intravenous injections or should be given by continuous or repeated infusion.

See above for links to safety information

 

Entry reviewed: November 2023

04.08.01 Vigabatrin
04.08.01 Zonisamide
04.08.01 Benzodiazepines
04.08.01 Other Drugs
Classifications
May be initiated in any care setting
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.