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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 2 - Cardiovascular system 
Notes:

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

02.04 Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs

Atenolol

Formulary
25mg, 50mg & 100mg Tablets
25mg in 5mL Sugar-Free Solution

Atenolol
(Injection)

RED
Formulary
5mg in 10mL Injection

Bisoprolol

Formulary
1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg & 10mg Tablets

Carvedilol

Formulary

Tablets 3.125mg, 6.25mg, 12.5mg, 25mg

May also be used for decompensation in liver disease (unlicensed), in line with 

Cirrhosis in over 16s: assessment and management NICE guideline [NG50] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng50

 

Entry reviewed: November 2023

Esmolol

RED
Formulary
100mg in 10mL Injection

Labetalol

Formulary

100mg & 200mg Tablets

Note: Labetalol may be used for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy.

Entry update: October 2024 

Labetalol

RED
Formulary
100mg in 20mL Injection

Metoprolol
(Injection)

RED
Formulary
5mg in 5mL Injection

Metoprolol
(Tablets)

Formulary

50mg, 100mg Tablets

Tablets can be halved

Entry reviewed April 2025

Propranolol

Formulary

10mg, 40mg, 80mg & 160mg tablets
80mg, 160mg MR capsules
10mg in 5mL sugar-Free Solution
50mg in 5mL sugar-Free Solution

 

May also be used for decompensation in liver disease (unlicensed), in line with 

Cirrhosis in over 16s: assessment and management NICE guideline [NG50] Published: 06 July 2016 Last updated: 08 September 2023

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng50

 

Entry reviewed: November 2023

 

Sotalol

Formulary
40mg & 80mg Tablets
Non-cardioselective beta-blocker with additional class III anti-arrhythmic activity used for prophylaxis in paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias.
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.