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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 6 - Endocrine system 
Notes:

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

06.05.02 Posterior pituitary hormones and antagonists
06.05.02 Posterior pituitary hormones

Argipressin (Synthetic Vasopressin)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

20Unit/1mL Injection
Only Stocked in ITU for septic shock or organ donation
N.B. £101 per 1 ampoule

Desmopressin injection

RED
Formulary

4microgram/1mL Injection

Desmopressin nasal spray
(Diabetes Insipidus)

Formulary

 

10micrograms/dose nasal spray

 

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

Desmopressin oral
(Diabetes Insipidus)

Formulary

100 microgram, 200microgram tablets

60microgram, 120microgram, 240microgram sublingual tablets sugar free

360micrograms/mL oral solution (Demovo®)

 

NB: Oral lyophilisates (DDAVP melt®) are classified as do not prescribe DNP

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

Desmopressin oral
(Post-hypophysectomy polyuria/polydipsia (removal of pituitary gland))

Formulary

100 microgram, 200microgram tablets

60microgram, 120microgram, 240microgram sublingual tablets sugar free

 

NB: Oral lyophilisates (DDAVP melt®) are classified as do not prescribe DNP

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

Desmopressin oral
(Nocturnal Enuresis in children)

Formulary

100 microgram, 200microgram tablets

120microgram, 240microgram sublingual tablets sugar free

360micrograms/mL oral solution (Demovo®)

 

NB: Oral lyophilisates (Desmomelt®) are classified as do not prescribe DNP

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

Desmopressin oral lyophilisates (Noqdirna®)
(Idiopathic nocturia in adults)

RED
Formulary

25microgram, 50microgram lyophilisates

 

NB: Only licensed for idiopathic nocturia, in adults

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

Terlipressin (Glypressin®)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

1mg Injection Solution

Restricted - to initiation by Consultant Gastroenterologists for patients with bleeding varices not amenable to non-pharmacological intervention.

Restricted to hepatologist recommendation for Type 1 hepatorenal syndrome (see CG on intranet) -Approved DTC October 2024

Vasopressin (Pitressin®)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted
unlicensedunlicensed
Vasopressin is only used when argipressin is unavailable
06.05.02 Antidiuretic hormone antagonists
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.