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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
09.06.04 Vitamin D
Guideline for the Management of Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults from 18 years of age in Primary Care Simple Vitamin D Deficiency guidelines for children and young people up to 18 years in Primary and Secondary care (Excluding those with renal failure eGFR <30mL) (Pan Beds use)

Colextra D3® (Colecalciferol 20,000 unit)
(Capsules)

GREEN
First Choice

Refer to the Prescribing Guidelines below for a guide to dosing for treatment and prevention in adults and children.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency (serum vitamin D level <25 nmol/L) with a high dose/loading course regime:

Adult dosage: 2 capsules once weekly, for 7 weeks

Entry reviewed: October 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Colextra® (Colecalciferol 800 units)
(Capsules)

SELF
First Choice

800units = 20micrograms

Entry reviewed May 2025 

BNF BNFc SPC

InVita D3® (Colecalciferol 50,000 units/1ml )
(Oral solution unit dose ampoules sugar free)

GREEN
Second Choice

Refer to the Prescribing Guidelines below for a guide to dosing for treatment and prevention in adults and children.

If the patient has a swallowing difficulty or is a vegetarian.

For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency (serum vitamin D level 

Adult dosage: 1ml once weekly, for 6 weeks

Entry reviewed: October 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Stexerol D3® (Colecalciferol 1000 unit)
(Tablets)

SELF
Second Choice

 

Entry reviewed: May 2025

 

BNF BNFc SPC
SPS Article: Choosing an oral vitamin D preparation for vegetarians or vegans

Calcifediol 266 microgram capsules (Domnisol®)

GREEN
Formulary

Adult dosage: One capsule a month for the treatment or prevention of vitamin D deficiency or an adjunct in osteoporosis in patients with or at risk of deficiency.

First line for those with impaired hepatic function (alanine transaminase (ALT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are twice the upper limit of normal), malabsorption, or obesity.  

Second line option when adherence is poor or when patients are unable to become replete with first line options.

Entry reviewed: August 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 10,000 units/ml
(Oral Drops (10mL))

Amber SPA
Restricted Drug Restricted

For Paediatric patients only

Refer to the joint prescribing guidelines below for a guide to dosing for treatment and prevention in children.

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 3,000 units/ml liquid

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

[Update Feb 2025]

As per EoE vitamins guideline. For use in NICU.

 

BNF BNFc SPC

Desunin® (Colecalciferol 4000 units)
(Tablets)

Amber SPA
Formulary

When a higher maintenance dose is required as advised by a specialist.

BNF BNFc SPC

Ergocalciferol
(Intramuscular Injection)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

7.5mg/1mL (300,000 unit) Injection

Only prescribe when patients unable to take or comply with oral treatment. Refer to the joint prescribing guidelines below for a guide to dosing for treatment and prevention in adults and children.

Shortage until April 2025 in the interim use colecalciferol IM.

[Update Jan 2025]

BNF BNFc SPC

Alfacalcidol

RED
Formulary
1microgram/0.5mL Injection
BNF BNFc SPC

Alfacalcidol (One-Alpha®)

GREEN
Formulary
0.25microgram & 1microgram Capsules
2microgram/1mL Oral Liquid
BNF BNFc SPC

Calcitriol 250nanograms, 500nanograms
(Capsules)

Amber SPA
Restricted Drug Restricted

For renal patients only.

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol and Calcium Carbonate
(Chewable tablets)

GREEN
Formulary

Hospital contract brands will be supplied in secondary care. Currently Adcal D3 - contains: colecalciferol 400 units / calcium carbonate 1.5g (500mg calcium)

Primary care, first line chewable once daily tablet options:

Calci-D,

Accrete D3 One a Day,

TheiCal-D3.

Most cost effective brands to be advised via OptimiseRx

Entry reviewed March 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol and Calcium Carbonate
(Effervescent tablets)

GREEN
Restricted Drug Restricted

For swallowing difficulties and enteral feeding tube administration only.

Hospital contract brands will be supplied in secondary care. Currently Adcal D3 Dissolve - contains: colecalciferol 400 units / calcium carbonate 1.5g (500mg calcium)

Primary care options:

Adcal-D3 Dissolve, One effervescent tablet contains approximately 42.03mg of sodium.

Cacit D3 Dissolve. One sachet contains a total of 5mg of sodium.

Most cost effective brands to be advised via OptimiseRx

Entry reviewed July 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol and Calcium Carbonate
(Film coated, non-chewable tablets)

GREEN
Restricted Drug Restricted

Hospital contract brands will be supplied in secondary care.

Primary care, non-chewable options:

Accrete D3,

Adcal-D3.

Most cost effective brands to be advised via OptimiseRx

Entry reviewed March 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol IM Injection
(300,000 units)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

Interim formulary status whilst shortage of Ergocalciferol IM. 

[Update Jan 2025]

Used only in exceptional circumstances  

BNF BNFc SPC
Non formulary items

Calcium and Ergocalciferol (Calcium and vitamin D Tablets)

 
Non Formulary

Calcium lactate pentahydrate 300mg / calcium phosphate 150mg
(equivalent to 100mg elemental calcium) PLUS ergocalciferol 10micrograms (400 units).

No longer recommended

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol (Kalcipos-D®)

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 1,000 units (Sunvit D3®)

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 25,000 unit liquid (Invita D3® )

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 3200 unit capsules (Fultium D3®)

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol 400 units (Tablets)

SELF
Non Formulary

400units = 10micrograms

National and local guidance advises that everyone living in the UK should take at least 400units of vitamin D daily. This will be continued in hospital if patients own not available but patients must purchase on discharge. This is a food supplement.

In Primary Care - self-care, purchase OTC. Not to be prescribed.

BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol and Calcium Carbonate (Calcichew-D3 Once Daily)

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol and Calcium Carbonate (Calcichew-D3® Forte)

 
Non Formulary
BNF BNFc SPC

Colecalciferol suspensions

DNP
Non Formulary

All of the below products are specials and should not be prescribed

Colecalciferol 1,250units/5ml oral suspension

        
Colecalciferol 30,000units/5ml oral suspension        
Colecalciferol 50,000units/5ml oral suspension        
Colecalciferol 6,000units/5ml oral suspension        
Colecalciferol 400units/5ml oral suspension        
Colecalciferol 1,000units/5ml oral suspension         
Colecalciferol 15,000units/5ml oral suspension        
Colecalciferol 20,000units/5ml oral suspension        

Colecalciferol 4,000units/5ml oral suspension

Entry reviewed: November 2023

        
BNF BNFc SPC

E-D3® (colecalciferol preparations)

DNP
Non Formulary

High-cost preparations

 

Entry reviewed: November 2023

BNF BNFc SPC

Paricalcitol (Zemplar®)

 
Non Formulary
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.