Drug breakdown: clopidogrel

Day 1: While searching for novel anti-inflammatory drugs in the 1980s, the prodrug #clopidogrel was discovered and launched worldwide in 1998 as an oral antiplatelet agent..

Statin treatment efficacy, risk and controversy

In a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, Cai et al (2021) aimed to assess the associations between statins and adverse events in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease,...

Electronic prescribing

This original research article published in the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy aimed to investigate any differences in rates of prescribing errors made by medical prescribers as compared to...

COVID-19 booster vaccinations

In November 2021 the UK Health Security Agency (2021) announced that those ‘aged 50 years and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk are being offered a booster dose of...

The role of bempedoic acid in the management of dyslipidaemia

Cholesterol is a molecule which is an essential component in the body’s ability to form healthy cell membranes, but as far back as the 19th century it was recognised that atheromatous plaques...

Changing the process of prescribing to procuring lymphoedema compression garments: a service evaluation

The main aim of this evaluation was to estimate the potential impact of changing the way compression garments are accessed from a prescription to a procurement process. The main objectives were to:.

Nurse-led early evaluation following corticosteroid prescription in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

A system for evaluation of patients starting corticosteroids was established at the start of March 2020 by the IBD CNS team at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. This followed a route-cause...

Prescribing e-cigarettes

Drug breakdown: sertraline

Day 1: The investigation of tametraline psychoactive compounds led to the discovery of #sertraline in the USA in 1983; not licensed until 1991. Indicated for the treatment and prevention of major...

Current and emerging approaches to lowering patient cholesterol

Recently approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), inclisiran may be a ‘game changer’ for people who have previously had a heart attack or stroke. NICE (2021) issued...

Nurse and midwife prescribing: principles, values and beliefs

This overview article in the advanced practice section of the British Journal of Nursing outlines the general principles of nurse prescribing practice in the UK and its current standing (Mitchell and...

The introduction of inclisiran

In January 2020, the UK Government's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced ‘a ground-breaking, in-principle agreement with Novartis’, namely, the introduction of inclisiran, (DHSC,...

Communication barriers that affect medication adherence in patients with learning disabilities

Nurse prescribing in end-of-life care in the community: meeting patients' needs

A significant amount of palliative care medicines management in the home is carried out by patients and their families or other informal carers, in the absence of direct contact and guidance by health...

Shaping and delivering services in primary care: benzodiazepine and opiate withdrawal service

Good practice in prescribing opioid medicines for pain should reflect fundamental principles in prescribing generally. The decision to prescribe is underpinned by applying best professional...