British National Formulary (BNF) 69

Nobody working in healthcare can afford to be without the latest edition of the British National Formulary. Compiled with the advice of clinical experts and continually updated to reflect the latest evidence from all credible sources worldwide, this essential reference provides up-to-date guidance on prescribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medicines. Not only does the BNF include the widely accepted framework for the drug management of common diseases, it also includes details of medicines prescribed in the UK, with special reference to their uses, cautions, contraindications, side-effects, dosage and relative costs. This allows treatment to be tailored to the individual needs of each patient. The BNF is updated in print every six months by an expert team of pharmacists, with guidance and validation from a network of leading clinicians, overseen by a Joint Formulary Committee with representatives from all spheres of clinical practice.

BNF 69 (March 2015) has been revised and revalidated to reflect changes in product availability, emerging safety concerns and shifts in clinical practice. Access to the latest edition of the BNF is vital for healthcare professionals, as there are a large number of updates from one edition to the next.
Some of the significant changes in this edition include:

    Updated general guidance on drugs and driving in response to new regulations in force from March 2015
    Updated guidance on risk assessment and treatment in the management of arrhythmias
    Updated recommendations on minimising risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw and hypocalcaemia associated with denosumab following new MHRA advice
    New guidance on dose adjustment in renal impairment for atorvastatin
    New recommendations on concomitant use of drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system
    New guidance on dose adjustment in hepatic and renal impairment for zolpiclone
    Updated guidance on assessing cardiovascular risk and modification of blood lipids in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
    Updates to recommended regimens for prophylaxis against malaria for specific countries

The BNF evaluates clinical evidence from diverse sources with information validated by a network of clinical experts and published under the authority of a Joint Formulary Committee.