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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 10 - Musculoskeletal and joint diseases 
Notes:

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

10.01.02.02 Local corticosteroids injections

Hydrocortisone acetate 25mg/1mL
(Injection, intra-articular)

Formulary

Methylprednisolone Acetate (Depo-Medrone®)
(Depo Injection)

Formulary
40mm/1mL, 80mg/2mL & 120mg/3mL Injection
For intramuscular, intra-articular, intrabursal, periarticular, intralesional administration or into tendon sheath.

Tramcinolone Hexacetonide 20mg/mL
(Intra-articular Injection)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

Prescribing by Consultant Rheumatologist only for use in paediatric patients.

Triamcinolone Acetonide (Adcortyl®)
(Intra-articular/ Intra-dermal)

Triamcinolone Acetonide 40mg/1mL (Intracinol®)
(Intra-vitreal Injection)

RED
Formulary

Triamcinolone Acetonide 40mg/1mL (Kenalog®)
(Intra-articular / intramuscular Injection)

Formulary

“Not for intraocular use” due to the increased risk of sterile endophthalmitis associated with benzyl alcohol.

To be discontinued 6.6.2025

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/shortages/discontinuation-of-triamcinolone-acetonide-10mg-ml-adcortyl-ampoules-and-40mg-ml-kenalog-vials-suspension-for-injection/

Entry reviewed May 2025

Non formulary items

Betamethasone (Betnesol®)

 
Non Formulary

Dexamethasone

 
Non Formulary

Dexamethasone Phosphate

 
Non Formulary

Methylprednisolone Acetate (Depo-Medrone® with Lidocaine)

 
Non Formulary
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.