Syringe Driver Survey Database migration to MedicinesComplete - January 2023

Syringe Driver Survey Database has moved to MedicinesComplete and is no longer available on palliativedrugs.com.

It has been renamed to PCF’s Syringe Driver Database and is now accessed through Drug Compatibility Checker.

Drug Compatibility Checker, through MedicinesComplete is a new tool providing essential compatibility knowledge to support the administration of injectable drugs combining published data and clinical practice reports.

Find out more about Drug Compatibility Checker:https://about.medicinescomplete.com/publication/drug-compatibility-checker/

If you have a subscription to Palliative Care Formulary through MedicinesComplete, you will have access to PCF’s Syringe Driver Database through Drug Compatibility Checker, at no charge through 2023. 

To contribute to PCF’s Syringe Driver Database please continue to submit a clinical practice report using palliativedrugs.com here: https://www.palliativedrugs.com/syringe-driver-database.html

To learn more about a subscription to the Palliative Care Formulary through MedicinesComplete, please contact us here: https://info.medicinescomplete.com/sales

If you have any questions regarding access to PCF’s Syringe Driver Database or would like to renew your subscription to Palliative Care Formulary, please contact pharmpress-support@rpharms.com.

---

Sativex reclassified as schedule 4 part 1 Controlled Drug

23rd May 2013

Sativex (Cannabis sativa extract oromucosal spray; Bayer Heathcare and GW Pharmaceuticals) has been reclassified in England, Wales and Scotland as a Schedule 4 part 1 Controlled Drug (CD), with specific recording requirements applicable to possession and destruction. This has the following implications from the 10^th April 2013:

• prescription writing requirements (as for schedule 2 and 3 CD) do not apply to Sativex
• safe custody requirements (as for schedule 2 and 3 CD) do not apply to Sativex
• the destruction of expired stocks of Sativex and patient returns by healthcare professionals does not need to be witnessed by an authorized witness
• standardized private prescription forms i.e. FP10PCD, PPCD(1), WP10PCD and their requirements are not required when Sativex is prescribed privately
• a Home Office licence “for reseach or other special purpose” for Sativex is no longer required.

Although record keeping requirements are not required for schedule 4 part1 CDs, records must be kept for 2 years for cannabis-based medicines (1961 UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs). This includes the amounts of Sativex possessed or destroyed by those authorized to do so (patients and their representatives are exempt). The Home Office strongly recommends the use of the CD register to do this.

A guide to the legislative changes has been produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (access via pharmacist members). Further information can be found on the UK Government website.

click here to view