Patients on long term continuous treatment or having frequent doses should have an Emergency Steroid Card.
Using oral or parenteral corticosteroids during breastfeeding (SPS July 2023)
NHS Somerset formulary Arthritis for parenteral corticosteriods
NHS Somerset for links to resources for the Emergency Steroid Card
| Therapeutic Area | Formulary Choices | Cost for 28 (unless otherwise stated) | Rationale for decision / comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucocorticoid therapy | Prednisolone | 1mg tablets: £0.76 5mg tablets: £0.85 | Can be crushed. Prescribing should be in multiple of 5mg for safety reasons. Prednisolone 25mg is non formulary. Prescribers are advised to use plain prednisolone. Enteric coated prednisolone has slower onset of action, less consistent blood levels and no proven evidence of GI protective effect. Recommended as a much cheaper (35%) alternative to soluble prednisolone. |
| as Prednisolone Dompe® | 1mg/ml oral solution £11.41 (2 x 5ml single dose units) | The package contains a measuring spoon dosing 3.75 ml, 2.5 ml and 1.25 ml corresponding to partial doses. | |
| Hydrocortisone | 10mg tablets: £2.63 (30) 20mg tablets: £2.60 (30) | Hydrocortisone oral solution 5mg/5ml is available via specials see link for NHS Somerset Specials guidance |