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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

02.06.02 Calcium-channel blockers

Lercanidipine tablet

Formulary

Entry reviewed: December 2022

Amlodipine

Formulary

Entry reviewed: December 2022

Delofine XL® (Felodipine XL)
(Tablets)

Formulary

An option after amlodipine and lercanidipine have been considered.

Prescribe as the cost effective branded generic. 

Entry reviewed May 2025

Diltiazem 120mg, 180mg, 200mg, 240mg, 300mg
(Capsules)

Formulary

ONCE A DAY dosing - 24 hour release profile.

Brands include: ADIZEM XL, DILZEM XL, TILDIEM LA. Ideally continue same brand if possible.

Primary care: Most cost effective brand to be advised via OptimiseRx






Diltiazem 60mg
(MR Tablet)

Formulary

THREE TIMES DAILY dosing (TWICE DAILY in elderly).

Diltiazem 90mg, 120mg, 180mg
(SR Capsules or Tablets)

Formulary

TWICE DAILY dosing.

Brands include Adizem SR, Dilzem SR and Tildiem Retard. Ideally continue same brand if possible.

Primary care: Most cost effective brand to be advised via Optimise Rx

Nicardipine 10mg/10mL
(Injection)

RED
Formulary

Nifedipine
(Prescribe by brand due to variations in release profiles)

Formulary
Twice daily preparations:
10mg & 20mg MR Tablets (ADALAT RETARD)
10mg MR Capsules (CORACTEN SR)

Once Daily preparations:
30mg MR Capsules (CORACTEN XL)
20mg, 30mg, 60mg MR tablets (Adalat LA)

Nifedipine 5mg, 10mg
(Capsules)

Formulary

Short-acting nifedipine no longer recommended for angina or emergency or long-term management of hypertension; their use may be associated with large variations in blood pressure and reflex tachycardia.

Licensed for the treatment of Raynaud's disease.

Verapamil

Formulary
40mg, 80mg & 120mg tablets
120 & 240mg Sustained Release Capsules

Verapamil

RED
Formulary
5mg in 2mL Injection

Nimodipine (Nimotop®)
(Tablets)

RED
Formulary
30mg Tablets

Nimodipine (Nimotop®)
(Intravenous infusion)

RED
Formulary
0.2mg in 1mL Intravenous Infusion

Nifedipine 20mg/ml
(Oral drops)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

unlicensed  For paediatric patients only.

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.