Practical and evidence-based, BNF is an integral part of the UK’s healthcare infrastructure and relied on by health professionals who prescribe, dispense, and administer medicines globally.  Containing guidance on best practice in prescribing, as well as legal and ethical considerations, BNF supports safe and effective decision-making at the point of care.

Extensive content updates in the BNF 88 edition include:

New monographs for:

Adacel ® [diphtheria with tetanus and pertussis vaccine] for immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, and passive immunisation against pertussis in pregnant women
Cytisine ® [cytisinicline] to aid smoking cessation
Domnisol ® [calcifediol monohydrate] for primary prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency
Ebglyss ® [lebrikizumab] for moderate to severe atopic eczema
Evkeeza ® [evinacumab] for homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
Litfulo ® [ritlecitinib] for alopecia areata
Rezzayo ® [rezafungin] for invasive candidiasis
SimAlvia ® [alverine with simeticone] for abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome
Slynd ® [drospirenone] for contraception
Velsipity ® [etrasimod] for ulcerative colitis
Veoza ® [fezolinetant] for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause
MHRA advice on:

Aripiprazole: risk of pathological gambling
Codeine phosphate linctus (codeine oral solutions): reclassification to prescription-only medicine
Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid ®): be alert to the risk of drug interactions with ritonavir
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Omacor ® / Teromeg ® 1000mg capsules): dose-dependent increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with established cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors
Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride: very rare risk of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS)
Quinolones: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate
Semaglutide (Ozempic ®), Liraglutide (Saxenda ®): vigilance required due to potentially harmful falsified products
Valproate: new safety and educational materials to support regulatory measures in men and women under 55 years of age
Vitamin B12: advise patients with known cobalt allergy to be vigilant for sensitivity reaction
Other significant changes include updated guidance on:

Bromocriptine: update to important safety information
Budesonide dosing for modified-release capsules
Controlled drugs and drug dependence: control of nitrous oxide
Management of diabetic hyperglycaemic emergencies in individuals aged 16-18 years
Empagliflozin use in renal impairment and new indication for chronic kidney disease
Ezetimibe for prevention of cardiovascular events
Hyoscine butylbromide: update to important safety information
Insulin degludec (Tresiba ®): potential for inappropriate dosing of insulin when switching (Tresiba ®) products [National Patient Safety Alert advice]
Malaria prophylaxis
Meningococcal vaccines
Metformin hydrochloride for type 1 diabetes mellitus
Pneumococcal vaccine
Prescribing in renal impairment: removal of race from CKD-EPI equation
Management of type 2 diabetes
Vaccination, general principles: for individuals with asplenia, splenic dysfunction, or complement disorders
Valproate: organisations to prepare for new regulatory measures for oversight of prescribing to new patients and existing female patients [National Patient Safety Alert advice]
Varicella-zoster vaccines: immunisation against herpes zoster (shingles)