MTW NHS Trust West Kent CCG

Drug Status Key

  • Preferred
  • Second Line
  • Third Line
  • Specialist Initiation
  • Hospital Only
  • Not Approved for Formulary

Non-opioid and compound analgesics

Drug Safety Update

June 2023: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): potential risks following prolonged use after 20 weeks of pregnancy

January 2018: Co-dydramol: prescribe and dispense by strength to minimise risk of medication error.

 January 2017: Intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for paracetamol overdose: reminder of authorised dose regimen; possible need for continued treatment with NAC. 

 December 2014: Treating paracetamol overdose with intravenous acetylcysteine: new guidance

 NICE CKS (Clinical Knowledge Summaries) Analgesia - management of mild to moderate pain September 2015

Paracetamol has similar efficacy to aspirin but has no anti-inflammatory effect and does not cause gastritis/gastric uleration.

Paracetamol injection is available for post-operative pain in selected patients only where the oral route cannot be used. 

 MTW NHS Trust Protocol for the use of intravenous paracetamol updated 2019

 Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Paracetamol overdose new guidance on the use of intravenous acetylcysteine.

A new weight-based dosing table and a technical information leaflet to help calculate the dose of acetylcysteine infusions to minimise the risk of dosing errors are available to download 

Methoxyflurane is approved for use within the Emergency Department ONLY for the emergency relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adults patients with trauma and associated pain, where they would otherwise require procedural sedation.

Please see eMC via link below to access the risk materials associated with this treatment (admin checklist and guide) . The Procedural Penthrox Checklist produced by MTW ED should also be used. Methoxyflurane should only be self-administered under the supervision of personnel trained and experienced in its use, using a hand-held Penthrox inhaler device. Patients should be given advice on appropriate inhaler technique and given a patient alert card (found via eMC link).

Pack Price
100 tablet £3.90
100 tablet (10 x 10 tablets) £2.47
1000 tablet £28.40
16 tablet (2 x 8 tablets) £0.36
30 tablet (3 x 10 tablets) £1.07
32 tablet £0.67
Pack Price
100 capsule (10 x 10 capsules) £3.30
16 capsule £0.50
32 capsule £1.00
Pack Price
100 tablet (10 x 10 tablets) £23.20
24 tablet (4 x 6 tablets) £10.64
60 tablet £8.80
Pack Price
100 ml £6.28
500 ml
Pack Price
100 ml £3.78
1000 ml
200 ml £7.56
Pack Price
100 ml £6.40
500 ml £31.70
Pack Price
100 ml £4.54
1000 ml £42.00
200 ml £9.08
500 ml £22.70
Pack Price
10 suppository £11.95
Pack Price
10 suppository £34.60
Pack Price
10 suppository £62.31
Pack Price
10 suppository £41.27
Pack Price
10 vial
Pack Price
24 tablet £0.50
48 tablet (4 x 12 tablets) £2.38
84 tablet £2.63
Pack Price
24 tablet £2.25
48 tablet (4 x 12 tablets) £1.00
84 tablet (7 x 12 tablets) £2.63
Pack Price
100 ml £2.16
150 ml £5.30
500 ml
Pack Price
56 tablet (4 x 14 tablets) £3.90
Pack Price
56 tablet (4 x 14 tablets) £7.50
Pack Price
100 ml

Consider prescribing codeine and paracetamol separately for greater flexibility of dosing and titration to pain.

Pack Price
100 tablet £3.27
1000 tablet
12 tablet
16 tablet
24 tablet
30 tablet £0.98
32 tablet
4 tablet
48 tablet
50 tablet
500 tablet
8 tablet

Consider co-prescribing with a laxative as this can cause severe constipation with more regular use

Pack Price
100 tablet £3.93
30 tablet £1.18
500 tablet
Pack Price
10 capsule
100 capsule £28.58
20 capsule
24 capsule
32 capsule £9.02

Consider co-prescribing with a laxative as this can cause severe constipation with more regular use

Pack Price
100 capsule £5.24
24 capsule
30 capsule
8 capsule

These tablets have a high sodium content reserve use for swallowing difficulty only and do not use in renal impairment

Pack Price
100 tablet £8.00
12 tablet
24 tablet
32 tablet £2.56
60 tablet

These tablets have a high sodium content reserve use for swallowing difficulty only and do not use in renal impairment

Consider co-prescribing with a laxative as this can cause severe constipation with more regular use

Pack Price
100 tablet £7.88
30 tablet
32 tablet £2.52
90 tablet

Co-dydramol is available in different strengths 10/500, 20/500 and 30/500 - when prescribing clearly indicate the tablet strength and dose

Pack Price
100 tablet £6.03
30 tablet £1.81
500 tablet

Approved for use within the Emergency Department only for:

Emergency relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adults patients with trauma and associated pain, where they would otherwise require procedural sedation

Pack Price
1 bottle £18.46