The BNF is a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It is published under the authority of a Joint Formulary Committee which comprises representatives of the two professional bodies, the UK Health Departments, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and a national guideline producer The Dental Advisory Group oversees the preparation of advice on the drug management of dental and oral conditions; the Group includes representatives of the British Dental Association and a representative from the UK Health Departments. The Nurse Prescribes' Advisory Group advises on the content relevant to nurses and includes representatives from different parts of the nursing community and from the UK Health Departments.
The BNF aims tD provide prescribers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals with sound up-to-date information about the use of medicines.
The BNF includes key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines. Medicines generally prescribed in the UK are covered and those considered less suitable for prescribing are clearly identified. Little or no information is included on medicines promoted for purchase by the public.
Information on drugs is drawn torn the manufacturers' product literature, medical and pharmaceutical literature, UK health departments, regulatory authorities, and professional bodies. Advice is constructed from clinical literature and reflects, as far as possible, an evaluation of the evidence from diverse sources. The BNF also takes account of authoritative national guidelines and emerging safety concerns. In addition, the editorial team receives advice on all therapeutic areas from expert clinicians; this ensures that the BNF's recommendations are relevant to practice.
The BNF is designed as a digest for rapid reference and it may not always include all the information necessary for prescribing and dispensing. Also, less detail is given on areas such as obstetrics, malignant disease, and anaesthesia since it is expected that those undertaking treatment will have specialist knowledge and access to specialist literature. BNF for Children should be consulted for detailed information on the use of medicines in children. The BNF should be interpreted in the light of professional knowledge and supplemented as necessary by specialised publications and by reference to the product literature. Information is also available from medicines information services (see inside front cover)
It is important to use the most recent BNF information for making clinical decisions. The print edition of the BNF is updated in March and September each year. Monthly updates are provided online via the BNF Publications website bnf.org, MedicinesComplete, and the NHS Evidence portal. The more important changes for this edition are listed on p. xvii; changes listed online are cumulative (from one print edition to the next), and can be printed off each month to show the main changes since the last print edition as an aide memoire for those using print copies.
The website (bnf.org) includes additional information of relevance to healthcare professionals. Other digital formats of the BNF—including versions for mobile devices and integration into local formularies—are also available.

Preface iii

Acknowledgements v

How the BNF is constructed ix

How to use the BNF xl

Changes for this edition xvii

Significant changes xvii

Dose changes xvii

Classification changes xvii

New names xvii

Deleted preparations xvii

New preparations included in this edition xviii

Guidance on prescribing 1

General guidance 1

Prescription writing 5

Emergency supply of medicines 7

Controlled Drugs and drug dependence 8

Adverse reactions to drugs 12

Prescribing for children 15

Prescribing in hepatic impairment 17

Prescribing in renal impairment 17

Prescribing in pregnancy 19

Prescribing in breast-feeding 19

Prescribing in palliative care 20

Prescribing for the elderly 25

Prescribing in dental practice 27

Drugs and sport 32

Emergency treatment of poisoning 33

Notes on drugs and preparations

1: Gastro-inlestinal system 44

2: Cardiovascular system 84

3: Respiratory system 180

4: Central nervous system 221

5: Infections 345

6: Endocrine system 454

7: Obstetrics, gynaecology, and urinary-tract disorders 526

8: Malignant disease and immunosuppression 562

9: Nutrition and blood 646

10: Musculoskeletal and joint diseases 701

11: Eye 740

12: Ear, nose, and oropharynx 765

13: Skin 780

14: Immunological products and vaccines 828

15: Anaesthesia 859

Appendices and indices

Appendix 1: Interactions 884

Appendix 2: Borderline substances 997

Appendix 3: Cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines 1034

Appendix 4: Intravenous additives 1051

Appendix 5: Wound management products and elasticated garments 1061

Dental Practitioners' Formulary 1089

Nurse Prescribes' Formulary 1091

Non-medical prescribing 1094

Index of manufacturers 1095

Index 1106

Medical emergencies in the community Inside back cover

中国医科院医学信息研究所