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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 9 - Nutrition and blood 
Notes:

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

09.01.02 Drugs used in megaloblastic anaemias

Cyanocobalamin

 
Restricted Drug Restricted

50 microgram tablets

Hydroxocobalamin has completely replaced cyanocobalamin as the form of vitamin B12 of choice for therapy; it is retained in the body longer than cyanocobalamin and thus for maintenance therapy can be given at intervals of up to 3 months.

For dietary deficiency Self Care:

  • Should not be prescribed in Primary Care or at Discharge
  • Advise patient to purchase

Entry reviewed April 2025

Folic Acid

Formulary

5mg Tablets
2.5mg/5mL Sugar-free Solution

See BLMK ICB Prescribing guidance for Vitamins and Minerals

 

Entry reviewed: March 2023

Folic acid 400 microgram tablets

 
Formulary

Self Care For routine supplementation in pregnancy - Self care

UK Chief Medical Offcers Chief Nursing Officers and Chief Midwifery Officers - Folic Acid Supplementation.pdf

Entry updated January 2025

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.