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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
Links:
BLMK ICB: Oral nutritional supplements guidance Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation Post Bariatric Surgery Guideline
09.01.03 Drugs used in hypoplastic, haemolytic, and renal anaemias and in sickle cell disease
NICE CG39: Anaemia management in chronic kidney disease
09.01.03 Erythropoietin
09.01.03 Iron overload
NICE CG39: Anaemia management in chronic kidney disease

Deferasirox 90mg, 180mg, 360mg (Exjade®)
(Film Coated Tablets)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

High Cost drug: prior funding approval required.

To be prescribed in line with local policy and the NHS England Commissioning Policy.

For all prescribing contact the Lead Pharmacist for Commissioning Drugs and Homecare on 8048.

Entry updated: October 2025

250mg and 500mg dispersible tablets discontinued

BNF BNFc SPC
Clinical Commissioning policy: Treatment of iron overload for transfused and non-transfused patients with chronic inherited anaemias Reference: NHS England Iron Chelator therapy for the Management of Iron overload in patients with Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) – BLMKICB Medicines Optimisation

Desferrioxamine Mesilate 500mg, 2g
(Injection)

RED
Formulary

High Cost drug: prior funding approval required.

To be prescribed in line with local policy and the NHS England Commissioning Policy.

For all prescribing contact the Lead Pharmacist for Commissioning Drugs and Homecare on 8048.

Entry update: November 2024

BNF BNFc SPC
Clinical Commissioning Policy: Treatment of iron overload for transfused and non transfused patients with chronic inherited anaemias Reference: NHS England: Iron Chelator therapy for the Management of Iron overload in patients with Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) – BLMKICB Medicines Optimisation
Non formulary items

Deferiprone (Ferriprox®)

RED
Non Formulary

10mg/1mL oral solution and 500mg tablets

Entry updated: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC
Classifications
GREEN
May be initiated in any care setting
Amber SPA
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Amber SPIS
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
SCG
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
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).
DNP
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
SELF
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.