| Therapeutic area | Formulary choices | Cost (per pack size unless otherwise stated) | Rationale for decision/comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local anaesthetics | |||
| First-line Tetracaine | Ametop® (Tetracaine 4%) | Gel 4%: £1.08 (1.5g) | |
| Second-line Lidocaine for surface anaesthesia | Lidocaine ointment BP 5% | Ointment 5%: £6.18 | Note: Lidocaine 2% in an expensive extemporaneous preparation |
| Third-line Lidocaine with prilocaine | Emla® (Lidocaine 2.5%/Prilocaine 2.5%) | £2.25 (5g) £11.70 (5x5g + 12 dressings) |
|
| Antipruritics | |||
| First-line |  Calamine - suitable for self-care | Lotion: £0.96 (200ml) Oily lotion: £1.57 (200ml) | Calamine in Aqueous cream is non-formulary: may cause skin irritation, particularly in children with eczema, possibly due to sodium lauryl sulfate content. (MHRA DSU Mar-13) |
| Second-line | Care ViraSoothe® gel | £3.34 (50g) £4.86 (75g) | For symptomatic relief of chickenpox Glycerin, PEG-8, caprylyl glycol, sodium polyacrylate, carbomer, sodium hydroxide and purified water |
| Preparations containing Menthol | |||
| First-line | Arjun® cream | 0.5%: £15.50 (500g) 1%: £3.25 (100g) £15.30 (500g) 2%: £15.50 (500g) | Consideration should be taken to the fact that all Levomenthol cream BP formulations (including Arjun®) contain Aqueous cream and may cause skin irritation. |
